Mega-Church Vs Small-Church

[John of Japan]

I belong to a mega-church, but I am always amazed by the number of people, including fellow Christians, who have very strong negative opinions, about each and every mega-church, without any real knowledge about every mega-church?
There is no perfect church on planet earth and no church is good or bad, because of it’s size. Mega-churches tend to be well-known, because of their size, and therefore news about any issues or problems in them , spread far and wide, which sometimes creates the perception that those things only happen in mega-churches. On the other hand, small churches are less known and attract little or no interest, therefore News of any issues or problems in them, does not go far or is hardly noticed or heard of.
All in all churches, regardless of size have similar experiences, negative or positive .

The number of those who ate was five thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 14:21

The preceding scripture, only gives us the number of men, who were the heads of households, but when we add the men plus the women and children, the number could well be over ten thousand people. This was many centuries ago, when the world population was much smaller than it is today. Jesus preached to mega-crowds, which today would equal the size of a mega-church. So, if Jesus could preach to mega-crowds, why would anyone automatically assume, that there is something wrong with every mega-church, in our time?

Now those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children - Matthew 15:38

Here again, if we add the number of men plus women and children, the number would be almost or over ten thousand, another mega-crowd. In a perfect world, most churches would be mega-churches, because there are far more people today, than centuries ago, when Jesus preached to mega-crowds. And there is nothing wrong in being a small church, but a small church should not remain small forever, it should grow just like everything else.
We live in a time, when we have mega this and mega that, like mega stores or mega farms, because small stores or small farms can no longer adequately meet the needs of a growing population. Furthermore, goods that used to be produced in small amounts and in small industries, are now mass produced or mega produced.
We are in mega times and that is the trend for the future, the past is not coming back. Mega is not perfect and neither is small.

When Jesus preached to 1000s it was technically mass evangelism, and certainly not a mega church. This is not to say I'm against mega churches, but they must:

1. Give the clear and certain Gospel of Christ. I know a mega church in our area where the Gospel is never given. I've talked to people who went there and never heard it.
2. Fulfill the Great Commission in personal and mass evangelism in their immediate area.
3. Fulfill the Great Commission by being strong supporters of worldwide missions. Years ago I was supported as a missionary to Japan by two mega churches. These were otherwise good churches, but neither church ever exceeded the average amount of missionary support (compared to my other supporters).

Our church is not a mega church, but runs a pretty good average. We have a very strong program of evangelism, have started other churches in our area, and have Bible college and seminary which has sent out many, many missionaries. Right now, five of my former students are on deputation to go to various countries. Now that's a biblical church!

 

[John of Japan]

Tonight in our prayer meeting we had three missionaries which we support. One from S. Africa finishing up his furlough, one from Cameroon starting his (I've been there), and one from the Middle East who spoke and informed us about what is happening in Iran (which he knows intimately). I wonder. What mega church would afford this opportunity to rub shoulders with that many missionaries in one night. I hope there are such.

 

[Ben1445]

Let us stay focused on the theme of this thread and avoid introducing our personal preferences, there distorting the original thread.

And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature -


Welcome to the imperfect world, with it’s imperfect people! And I apologize to you, on behalf of all the rude and imperfect people, that you encountered in Christian circles.
Most normal people are a work-in-progress, with many flaws. Don’t expect to run into perfect Christians. And next time, you go to church focus on the message and not the people.
Anyway, enough of that. Let me return to the theme of this thread.

And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature - Mark 16:15

Just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples or follower, past, present and future, to go into all the world and spread the gospel. Now, does that sound like establish a small church, where everyone knows everyone and forget about the world, beyond your church walls? How many small churches have gone into the world or anywhere? Maybe you can’t go to foreign lands, so how many small churches have gone into all their country, state, city, town or village? How many small churches, have the revenue to go into all the world?
Should we really count on the small churches to go into all the world?
On the other hand, mega-churches are not perfect, just as small churches are not perfect either and probably everyone has several examples of mega-churches that have been involved in scandalous behavior. But let us not forget that through out the Bible, God worked with imperfect people, some with very scandalous behavior. This is not a defense for sin or scandalous behavior in the church, which must be condemned by all decent people,
Every day all over world, people hear the gospel, for the first time via imperfect mega-churches and not small churches. Mega-churches whatever their flaws are responsible for bringing millions of people to Christ, around the world.
While we are waiting for perfect preachers and churches to go into all the world, imperfect mega-churches are leading the charge and getting things done.
When people are starving, it does not matter, who gives them food, but it is those who are comfortable who complain about the character of the donors.
Before the digital age, going into all the world was physical and not easily affordable for a small church. Later there were other means like radio and tv, but still air time costs so much, that very few, if any small churches can afford.
Lastly let us all celebrate the fact that millions of people will spend eternity with Jesus, because of imperfect mega-churches.

I’m happy to say that it is not only mega churches that are doing anything for the gospel. I grew up in what I think was a large church. 100-150 if I had to guess. We supported over 40 missionaries at one point. (Whether or not we were doing it the best way could be another thread) I remember several times when we went out and canvassed for church plants.
I’m even happier to say that I am meeting with some folks tomorrow to see what can be done to help with another.
Our church right now (not the same church) is a group of about ten family groups.
We may not have the money that comes with mega churches but we have the same responsibility.
I don’t think a mega church is the only church that can get the gospel out. From what I see, the church that is going to be planted is being done by a small church with the help of small churches.
I have known mega churches to be effective in evangelism and I have also seen (from a distance) the mega churches that are more of a club membership than church membership.
It really is not a matter of the size of the church. It’s not the quantity in the church, it’s the quality of the church that matters.

 

[Salty]

Story 1) Back around 1975, I drove up to Dallas - on a Sunday night, I visited First Bap of Dallas. (Wally did not preach - he was sick) -
Well, I sat down and there happened to be an older fella so we exchanged greetings. He asked me if I was a member of first Baptist.
He was also a Vet - so we talked about the military.

Story 2) When I first met my wife - she had been attending a mega-church. After we started dating - I invited the pastor over for lunch - and my future "Mrs" prepared Sunday dinner for us. After the pastor left, my better half stated that her former pastor (at the mega-church ) would probably never have lunch at a majority of their church members homes!

So that got me to thinking (which can be dangerous at times!)
1) If you don't know all the church members - that church may be too big
2) A pastor, should be able to visit every member of his church at least once a year.

 

[Word101]

I’m happy to say that it is not only mega churches that are doing anything for the gospel. I grew up in what I think was a large church. 100-150 if I had to guess. We supported over 40 missionaries at one point. (Whether or not we were doing it the best way could be another thread) I remember several times when we went out and canvassed for church plants.
I’m even happier to say that I am meeting with some folks tomorrow to see what can be done to help with another.
Our church right now (not the same church) is a group of about ten family groups.
We may not have the money that comes with mega churches but we have the same responsibility.
I don’t think a mega church is the only church that can get the gospel out. From what I see, the church that is going to be planted is being done by a small church with the help of small churches.
I have known mega churches to be effective in evangelism and I have also seen (from a distance) the mega churches that are more of a club membership than church membership.
It really is not a matter of the size of the church. It’s not the quantity in the church, it’s the quality of the church that matters.

I agree with you for the most part, except that no one said mega-church are the only ones getting the gospel out. What I said, was that mega-churches are leading the charge or playing the major role, because of their vast resources.
Mega-churches can afford to go to more places, they can afford to buy air time on multiple tv and radio station, hire on-air translators proficient in local languages and translate literature.

 

[Ben1445]

I agree with you for the most part, except that no one said mega-church are the only ones getting the gospel out. What I said, was that mega-churches are leading the charge or playing the major role, because of their vast resources.
Mega-churches can afford to go to more places, they can afford to buy air time on multiple tv and radio station, hire on-air translators proficient in local languages and translate literature.

I hear you. I don’t know that I agree with you. I’m happy that mega churches have resources and use them.
But not hearing about the work that is being done by smaller churches because it gets less air time or advertising doesn’t mean that it is getting less done.
I don’t really think it’s a great idea for any size church to decide that the Lord’s work is best accomplished by them for any particular reason, be it size or money.
If megachurches are not doing grassroots work, they are not covering any ground. It’s not quantity, it’s quality.

 

[John of Japan]

I agree with you for the most part, except that no one said mega-church are the only ones getting the gospel out. What I said, was that mega-churches are leading the charge or playing the major role, because of their vast resources.

I was supported for my 33 years in Japan by a megachurch and then about 27 years by another. Not a single pastor or staff member from those churches visited our ministry in Japan. One pastor from a church of about 1000 did, but then he was my uncle. Many other individuals visited us, but not from megachurches, unless you count the professor friend from my Bible college, which was under one of those churches. One of those supported us by $30 under our average support, and the other by about the average--the same for all our time in Japan, though inflation and the weak dollar took its toll.

One of my favorite supporting churches was out West in a town of 600 or so. They ran about 150, and supported us faithfully with more per month than either megachurch. Now that's a true megachurch! My best supporting church ran about 300 and gave $200 or so a month.

So in my experience, megachurches do not do more on average than many smaller churches. They can, they should, but they don't.

Mega-churches can afford to go to more places, they can afford to buy air time on multiple tv and radio station, hire on-air translators proficient in local languages and translate literature.

Never heard of a church, mega or otherwise, who hired translators for a radio ministry. That's a bad idea. You certainly don't hire non-Christians to do God's work. Here is an awesome radio ministry with dedicated, sacrificial believers giving the Gospel around the world, including some very difficult places in the Middle East: Home - Christian Radio International. No megachurch is directly involved in this ministry, though some may support it.

About being able to travel more, see above. Maybe they can, but they didn't. Neither us nor any one of the many missionary friends I knew ever had a visit from a megachurch pastor or staff member. However, our church of about 400-500 has a full time missions pastor who is gone most of the time visiting our supported missionaries on many mission fields. And our pastor has personally visited dozens of mission fields, and serves on the board of a mission.

 

[John of Japan]

Here is a list of US megachurches: List of megachurches in the United States - Wikipedia

Many of these are Charismatic, which means they are doing great harm on the mission fields of the world. I have been to Africa to train nationals in Bible translation, and the Charismatics are all over the continent. They have spread their "health and wealth" Gospel, their fake healing, their "apostles" and "prophets" all over, and have deceived many people. There are good, godly, humble African pastors losing their members to the Charismatic heretics.

My point is, any generalization about a megachurch is bound to be right about some and wrong about others.

 

[Word101]

I hear you. I don’t know that I agree with you. I’m happy that mega churches have resources and use them.
But not hearing about the work that is being done by smaller churches because it gets less air time or advertising doesn’t mean that it is getting less done.
I don’t really think it’s a great idea for any size church to decide that the Lord’s work is best accomplished by them for any particular reason, be it size or money.
If megachurches are not doing grassroots work, they are not covering any ground. It’s not quantity, it’s quality.

There is no doubt, that small churches are making their impact, but there is also no doubt that whoever is on tv or radio in multiple countries and can rent huge arenas, is reaching far more people, with the gospel of salvation.
Most mega-churches regardless of their flaws or shortcoming, preach Romans 10:9-10 and through their ministry millions have acknowledged and confessed Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, and this is on going.
True after gaining salvation, not everyone is fortunate enough to be in an environment or setting, where they can grow spiritually or get quality teaching, to improve their Christian walk. But one thing is guaranteed and no can take it away from them, and that is the fact that they are born again Christians and will spend eternity with Jesus. Surely it would be nice and wonderful, if every born again Christian, knew much more about the Word of God, but we don’t live in a perfect world and sometimes, we have to accept what we can get and not wish for what may not be possible, for any number or reasons.
It is much better to have a billion or billions of born again Christians, who only know about salvation and nothing else, than to have only a million born again Christians, who know everything about the Bible.
For the most part, tv, radio and event evangelisms, focuses on introducing people to Jesus and not in-depth Bible teaching. The more solid teaching of the finer points of Christianity, is for local churches, if you can find one.

 

[Salty]

It is much better to have a billion or billions of born again Christians, who only know about salvation and nothing else, than to have only a million born again Christians, who know everything about the Bible.

Well, its been said - that if a pastor were to disciple one man for one year - he would have one convert - then if they both disciple one person the following year then .....

Year
1- 1 convert 2- 2 converts 3) 4 converts 4) 8 converts 5) 16 converts 6) 32 converts 7) 64 converts 8) 128 converts
9) 256 converts 10) 512 11) 1,024 12) 2,048 13) 4,096 14) 8,192 15) 16,384 16) 32,768 17) 65,536 18) 131,072
19) 262,144 20) 524,288 --- If a mega church had 1,000 baptism per year - that would be 20,000 --- about 4% of the small church that each member would disciple one person per year - and starting mission churches.

 

[Ben1445]

There is no doubt, that small churches are making their impact, but there is also no doubt that whoever is on tv or radio in multiple countries and can rent huge arenas, is reaching far more people, with the gospel of salvation.
Most mega-churches regardless of their flaws or shortcoming, preach Romans 10:9-10 and through their ministry millions have acknowledged and confessed Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Savior, and believe that God raised Him from the dead, and this is on going.
True after gaining salvation, not everyone is fortunate enough to be in an environment or setting, where they can grow spiritually or get quality teaching, to improve their Christian walk. But one thing is guaranteed and no can take it away from them, and that is the fact that they are born again Christians and will spend eternity with Jesus. Surely it would be nice and wonderful, if every born again Christian, knew much more about the Word of God, but we don’t live in a perfect world and sometimes, we have to accept what we can get and not wish for what may not be possible, for any number or reasons.
It is much better to have a billion or billions of born again Christians, who only know about salvation and nothing else, than to have only a million born again Christians, who know everything about the Bible.
For the most part, tv, radio and event evangelisms, focuses on introducing people to Jesus and not in-depth Bible teaching. The more solid teaching of the finer points of Christianity, is for local churches, if you can find one.

I fear for the televangelist community of preachers. Many someone’s are going to be the subject of this verse…

Matthew 7:22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

I have often thought about what the wonderful works are that people refer to here in this verse. There is certainly plenty of room in this verse for the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. They are responsible for the majority of televised casting out of devils.
I am not the Judge. I can only apply what God’s Word says to what I know.
It is just a verse that make me think.

 

[Word101]

I fear for the televangelist community of preachers. Many someone’s are going to be the subject of this verse…

Matthew 7:22
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

I have often thought about what the wonderful works are that people refer to here in this verse. There is certainly plenty of room in this verse for the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. They are responsible for the majority of televised casting out of devils.
I am not the Judge. I can only apply what God’s Word says to what I know.
It is just a verse that make me think.

Matthew 7:22 is not referring to people who receive salvation or are born again, because salvation can not be undone or canceled. Once you acknowledge and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no expiration date. Salvation or being born again is knowing Jesus and Jesus knowing you.
The people in the preceding scripture, are those who believe that by simply joining a church or denomination, they are saved, even though they have never acknowledged and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10),but call Him Lord anyway.
There are many people, who falsely believe, that their church or denomination doctrine is salvation or gives them salvation, rather than what Jesus and the Bible say about salvation.

Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God - John 3:3

Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ said, that salvation is only achieved by being born again from spiritual death to spiritual life, by acknowledging and accepting Jesus as the Lord and Savior, and believing that God raised Him from the dead, but some churches or denominations, reject, make fun of and despise, the idea of being born again or anyone who claims to be born again.
These are the people, who claim to be Christians, without Christ.

 

[Ben1445]

Matthew 7:22 is not referring to people who receive salvation or are born again, because salvation can not be undone or canceled. Once you acknowledge and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no expiration date. Salvation or being born again is knowing Jesus and Jesus knowing you.

I didn’t intend for it to sound otherwise.

The people in the preceding scripture, are those who believe that by simply joining a church or denomination, they are saved, even though they have never acknowledged and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9-10),but call Him Lord anyway.
There are many people, who falsely believe, that their church or denomination doctrine is salvation or gives them salvation, rather than what Jesus and the Bible say about salvation.

Undoubtedly these people will be church goers, people who think that they are doing the work of God. I have met few who believe they are doing the work of God in spite of churches and without them.
It just strikes me that while there are many denominations that near completely fit the Matt. passage, many will likely be members of churches like yours and mine. People who draw nigh with their mouths but their heart is far from God.

 

[JesusFan]

I agree that size doesn't (or shouldn't) matter. The crowd of 5000 men, plus women and children, was not a church. A better example in my view would have been from Acts:

“Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added [to them].” (Ac 2:41 NKJV)

"Them" was the local church at Jerusalem.

My main concern is that many so called Mega Churches today seem to be into teaching heresy such as word of faith, blab it and grab it etc

 

[Word101]

My main concern is that many so called Mega Churches today seem to be into teaching heresy such as word of faith, blab it and grab it etc

Christians that can read, have no one to blame, but themselves if they are led astray. Every Christian is supposed to double-check, the scriptures for themselves and not just listen to whatever the preacher says.
And if you feel uncomfortable with any message or teaching, you have the option of leaving that church or that preacher. No one is going to really look out for you, but yourself.