Ministry News

Debating the Demise of Evangelicalism

Details: Tuesday, 17 March 2009 13:42

QUOTE: "[Michael Spencer] lumps all megachurches together and describes them as being more interested in relevance than doctrine. He says of megachurches that they are ‘compromised and weakened in their ability to pass on the faith.' The author concludes that he expects the ‘landscape of megachurch vacuity to be around for a very long time.' How awful. What could be worse than a bunch of churches across America that are so effective at lifting up the name of Jesus that huge crowds gather? What could be worse than having so many people meeting Jesus and having their lives transformed by Jesus, that they just can't stop telling their friends? I'm determined to celebrate what God is doing wherever it is happening. Whether it is in a gathering of three people or 3,000 or 3 million. I don't have enough brains or time to figure out the motives of the hearts of the leaders in another church. I'll just celebrate what they are doing and let God sort it out later." -Tim Stevens, executive pastor of Granger Community Church (a megachurch) in Granger, Ind., taking issue with blogger Michael Spencer's widely circulated predictions of "The Coming Evangelical Collapse"-which included an unflattering take on "pragmatic, therapeutic, church-growth oriented megachurches" as part of a movement that made "buildings, numbers, and paid staff its drugs for half a century." [leadingsmart.com, 3/16/09]

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Comments

0 #5 Robert Ricciardelli 2009-03-18 00:46

The article is filled with truth. Probably less prophetic because we are witnessing it today all around us. This is the trend of what we are witnessing, and those who lead must reckon with this if they want to have an impact in ministry. I applaud any and everything that will challenge us and motivate us to think beyond our own traditions and paradigms.

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0 #4 sandie medlin 2009-03-17 13:48

Thank you so much for the comments concerning mega churches. If you've been around for awhile like I have you certainly know the difference. Superficial is the word. That does not mean that God is not there or desperately trying to get in, if only some of the well known back patting pastors, Evangelists, Iayman, etc. would get out of themselves long enough. You can't fool the souls searching for God with social get togethers. People are sick to death of talk. Jesus was a man of action. He met needs because it was his desire. He thought much more of others then he did of himself. I know for a fact that God can and will, save, heal, deliver and meet your deepest needs...not in your time, but in his. He has to teach you some stuff first. Be willing to learn. You may think you are going to die, but its by dying to this life that we truly live and become effective. You won't miss what you lose to gain. TRUST ME ON THAT.

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0 #3 Charles Bivens 2009-03-17 13:01

Mega-Churches like Mega-Malls have become vendors of goods contributing to the consumeristic mentality of America. We shop the Mall looking for the best deals while shopping the churches seeking what's for me, what will feed, me, what new program will excite me, what new preacher will captivate me and so on. There is little depth and much programmed Christianity to be found there. Although I do not think the Mega-Church pastors and leaders ever thought they would actually contribute to the demise of Evangelicalism, their often goofy brand of Christianity certainly has done that.

As a pastor who was on staff at a Mega-Church and now finds himself the senior pastor of a NOT Mega-Church, the differences are obvious. I left the Mega-Church because it reminded me too much of my local mall and packaged Jesus in the latest marketing techniques to sell Him to the crowds.

God is not impressed.

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0 #2 Jay Satterwhite 2009-03-17 12:27

"What could be worse than a bunch of churches across America that are so effective at lifting up the name of Jesus that huge crowds gather? What could be worse than having so many people meeting Jesus and having their lives transformed by Jesus, that they just can't stop telling their friends?"

Better comments could not have been made to prove Spencer's point.

Jesus drew huge crowds who were simply following to see if He would feed them again. He said difficult things to hear for the purpose of separating those who were just coming to get the blessings from those who really were seeking the kingdom of God. If Jesus is being lifted up so prominently then why are there statistics on Granger's congregation that state 56% of their people don't believe Jesus is the only way?

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0 #1 Andrew 2009-03-17 12:15

I can't speak for all mega-churches, I can only speak for the ones that I have either seen on TV or been to. I have never seen one that teaches true Christianity and being a follower of Christ. All the ones that I have seen preach prosperity doctrine. They say follow the Lord and you will be blessed with prosperity, job success, and your dreams fulfilled. Well I got news for them GOD DID NOT COME DOWN TO THIS EARTH AND DIE ON THE CROSS FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF MAKING YOUR LIFE BETTER. I have never heard this message taught. I have never heard the message of true Christianity is serving the Lord without expecting anything in return for it. Many Christians follow Christ and lose everything, get beat up, thrown in jail and even killed for it. I have seen several Joel Osteen sermons, he does not preach 52 sermons a year, he preaches the same sermon 52 times. It is just positive motivation with a few scripture references (usually taken out of context) thrown in. And that is my beef with mega-churches, preach whatever needs to be said to fill the seats, not what the occupants of the seats need to hear, but may not want to hear.

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