1. Refuse to participate in the demonization of megachurches.
Hollywood has it wrong about megachurches. The size of a church has nothing to do with its health or positive impact.
Sure, there are unhealthy megachurches run by egotistical pastors. But there are plenty of small churches run by egotistical pastors, too. They’re just not as well-known.
Jesus said, John 13:35“>“By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” I think the reverse is also true. Putting down another Christian doesn’t enhance the gospel. It makes it even harder for people to see the love of Jesus in me.
No, megachurches and their pastors are not above criticism. We need to express legitimate concerns about our obsession with growth and the dangers of it. I’ve been known to call out faults and wrong attitudes when I see them in many posts on this site, including faults I see in many small churches, too.
But I’ve never demonized a pastor or church.
Demonization is not legitimate criticism. Count me out.
2. Stop idealizing megachurches.
Megachurches aren’t better, just bigger.
Yet, as I mentioned earlier, some church leaders have idealized megachurches to the point of idolatry. That doesn’t help anyone. And it only adds to the cultural perception of megachurches being ego-driven.
Pastoring a megachurch has its own burdens. We see their successes. But every one of their faults (whether real or imagined) is also blown up for the world to see. As are their sorrows and tragedies.
As I wrote in The Grasshopper Myth, “pastoring a healthy megachurch is a special and rare gift. I have learned to be grateful that I have not been burdened with it.”
3. Don’t idealize small churches either.
I love small churches. But they aren’t better than megachurches.
If you worship and serve Jesus better in a small church, great! If you worship and serve Jesus better in a megachurch, that’s great, too.
Or maybe you prefer a house church, a simple church or a café-style-venti-dark-roast-hold-the-whip church.
Just be in a church. A good, healthy, outward-focused church where you can worship Jesus, love others, learn, grow and minister.
