JohnPaul
Soldier of Jehovah and Christ
When I think of Megachurches I think of the Swaggarts and Bakers, and Osteens, all out to make money and sucker the people so they can live lavishly.
Megachurches
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Stan B
Well-Known Member
Hey Truman, same here. I just had a chair lift installed in my home so I can get up and down stairs. I haven’t been to church in 5 years, but a do have a home church in Florida where we always spent time in the winter: Indian Rocks Baptist Church in Clearwater. They have over 10,000 people attending, who are accommodated by three services on the weekend. They have a huge facility covering many acres, with space and buildings set aside for every age group from youth to seniors, which even includes a seniors living facility. I get to hear their weekly services on my TV via YouTube connection. They also have years of past services archived. It is sort of the home church for the entire family.
The small local churches are disappearing as people have much wider choices with options provided with modern transportation.
I am not meant for churchianity and churchianity is not meant for me.
My parents had a place in Zephyr Hills. I like it down there.
Stan B
Well-Known Member
The parents of my kid’s wives bought a condo near the church in Florida, as their parents did before them, where they spend half the year. Zephyr Hills is close by.
Not saying that churches should be social clubs, but megachurches are only really social clubs for those with groups of friends at that particular megachurch they go to, for outsiders visiting a megachurch, my experience is they aren't that inviting, and it's easy for a new comer to get lost in the crowd, there's not that sense of community or fellowship, if you know what I mean, I went to Planet Shakers once and we left there without meeting anyone new, same thing at Hillsong..... And you don't usually get to shake the preacher man's hand or meet them....
And Paul's megachurch had sound doctrine, the megachurch back in the first church days were of a different breed to the majority of megachurches today, it was a powerful weapon, even though they were violently persecuted, the Gospel of Jesus spread like wildfire, and Paul did not preach a prosperity gospel, he had to learn to be content in all circumstances whether if he had lack or plenty, he knew what it was like to be in other people's situations.
Phillipians 4:10-16
"10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 14 Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need."
In saying all this though there are still some good megachurches around with some sound doctrine and as Angelina said they do help fund missionaries, but the seasons are a changing.
I remember when I first heard Hillsong. It was back in the 90s and they were unknown. They started running a worship time on T.V. on Saturday nights. At first, I thought they were like Vineyard, which was the big music movement in the church at the time.
They looked the same and they sounded the same, but there was something different. Try as I might, I couldn't get into it. I watched every week for a few months before I finally gave up.
I was a Vineyard worship leader in the midst of renewal. I led in my local fellowship 3 or 4 times a week. I started every day shut in my music room, seeking the Lord in prayer and song 3-4 hours a day. I went to renewal meetings at the Toronto Airport Vineyard at least 2 times a week for years. Worship was my life.
Hillsong later got huge, but I just couldn't relate. I still don't know why.
They looked the same and they sounded the same, but there was something different. Try as I might, I couldn't get into it. I watched every week for a few months before I finally gave up.
I was a Vineyard worship leader in the midst of renewal. I led in my local fellowship 3 or 4 times a week. I started every day shut in my music room, seeking the Lord in prayer and song 3-4 hours a day. I went to renewal meetings at the Toronto Airport Vineyard at least 2 times a week for years. Worship was my life.
Hillsong later got huge, but I just couldn't relate. I still don't know why.
Stan B
Well-Known Member
Hillsong has finally imploded with affiliated churches in the US distancing themselves from the filth oozing from Hillsong. They have been trying to cover up the activities of the founder who is serving prison time for bedding down little boys 7 to 10 years of age. As the gross immoral activities of the current group were revealed, 9 out of 16 campuses have separated this year.
amigo de christo
Well-Known Member
The same reason i could not relate . A lamb cannot find true peace and joy in that which is not truly of the LORD .
Hillsong is dangerous my friend . We simply cannot support that music of theirs either . It funds them churches too .
The Hillsong history is rather to recent to be able to make heads or tails of at the moment. It will take a number of years for the truth to be spoken about without fear of being burdened with libel suits.
The son suffered the same delusions as his father had, but the delusions were very different. Both began to act God like in what they were doing.
I listened to Brian, the senior of the Australian Hillsong, many years ago at a conference here in Australia and his message was more on personal development rather than on developing a personal relationship with Christ.
One of the Worship leaders within the Sydney Hillsong Church, who had penned many worship style songs, fell away from his relationship with God, probably because of burnout from performing.
Large Churches often do not know how to protect their ministry teams from burnout and falling from God's grace.
Shalom
The son suffered the same delusions as his father had, but the delusions were very different. Both began to act God like in what they were doing.
I listened to Brian, the senior of the Australian Hillsong, many years ago at a conference here in Australia and his message was more on personal development rather than on developing a personal relationship with Christ.
One of the Worship leaders within the Sydney Hillsong Church, who had penned many worship style songs, fell away from his relationship with God, probably because of burnout from performing.
Large Churches often do not know how to protect their ministry teams from burnout and falling from God's grace.
Shalom
i've never been to a big megachurch but the church that i used to attend was preety big, there were all kinds of small Bible study groups and a big pastorial staff, the church we attend now is much smaller
marksman
My eldest granddaughter showing the result of her
So far I haven't read much about what scripture teaches. I did a two-year study of the New Testament Church and read about 60 books on the subject. As a result, the New Testament Church (NTC) was mainly Jews or was started amongst the Jews. Note they went to the synagogue first. The Jerusalem Church was almost totally Jews. They did not meet in the temple as Christians. They met as Jews because they did not stop being Jews when they because followers of Jesus. That is why they were known as "The Way" and seen as a subset of Judaism. 10,000 or more did not meet at the Temple because it would not have held that number.
Their main meeting place was the home. Each evening they would gather for a meal during which they had fellowship, prayer, and teaching. If we did the same, we would be much more powerful and committed. That means the largest gathering would be about 30 people who would meet in an upper room. This is the clue as to why their evangelism was so successful. Their love for each other was evident in how they conducted their lives. in Roman society, widows were a lost cause. In The Way, they were cared for and looked after. In Roman society, if you had nothing to eat, tough luck. In The Way, they made sure everyone had a meal every day.
There was only one church in each town, known as The Way. It met in homes all across the town. So every church was a mega-church but they did not meet in one large building and they did not have one senior leader. They had a plurality of Elders who were the leaders in the NTC.
Their main meeting place was the home. Each evening they would gather for a meal during which they had fellowship, prayer, and teaching. If we did the same, we would be much more powerful and committed. That means the largest gathering would be about 30 people who would meet in an upper room. This is the clue as to why their evangelism was so successful. Their love for each other was evident in how they conducted their lives. in Roman society, widows were a lost cause. In The Way, they were cared for and looked after. In Roman society, if you had nothing to eat, tough luck. In The Way, they made sure everyone had a meal every day.
There was only one church in each town, known as The Way. It met in homes all across the town. So every church was a mega-church but they did not meet in one large building and they did not have one senior leader. They had a plurality of Elders who were the leaders in the NTC.
JohnPaul
Soldier of Jehovah and Christ
marksman
My eldest granddaughter showing the result of her
I have noticed how so many organisations, have adjusted to the changing times. Churches are really not that much different because they are led by the needs of their community. Mega churches will not go the distance. I think we will be going back to house gatherings again.....
marksman
My eldest granddaughter showing the result of her
Megachurches today or megachurches in the New Testament. As a New Testament specialist, you will find that all their churches were mega but not like mega-churches today. In the New Testament, there were no denominations and there was only one church in each town as in the church in Corinth, the church in Ephesus, the church in Colossians etc. Each church was governed by a plurality of Elders, not a pastor. None of the Elders were paid a salary.
None of the churches spent money on buildings because they met from house to house on a daily basis. Their meeting together was at the meal table where they had fellowship, discussed the apostle doctrine, and prayed. No sermons. They sang a song to finish the evening.
People have got the wrong idea that they met in large numbers in the synagogue. They did not meet in the synagogue as Christians (they would not be allowed to). Because the Jerusalem church was made up of converted Jews that did not stop being Jews so they still met as Jews on the Sabbath. So they met one day a week as Jews who were "Christians" and six days a week as members of The Way in each other's homes.
The New Testament church would not have any notion about a megachurch that was a law unto itself. All they would know is a mega-church where every believer who lived in a particular town was part. In other words one church. No one would ask what church they were part of. If you lived in Corinth you were part of the Corinthian Church as that was the only church in that town.
The scripture says they met from house to house. There can be two interpretations to that. They didn't always meet in the same house but moved around. Or they met in various houses in the town, meeting in the same houses all the time. Whatever one you choose it avoided the disaster the church is today. The churches had their problems which are revealed in scripture but they were never warring tribes trying to be the best or biggest in town.
None of the churches spent money on buildings because they met from house to house on a daily basis. Their meeting together was at the meal table where they had fellowship, discussed the apostle doctrine, and prayed. No sermons. They sang a song to finish the evening.
People have got the wrong idea that they met in large numbers in the synagogue. They did not meet in the synagogue as Christians (they would not be allowed to). Because the Jerusalem church was made up of converted Jews that did not stop being Jews so they still met as Jews on the Sabbath. So they met one day a week as Jews who were "Christians" and six days a week as members of The Way in each other's homes.
The New Testament church would not have any notion about a megachurch that was a law unto itself. All they would know is a mega-church where every believer who lived in a particular town was part. In other words one church. No one would ask what church they were part of. If you lived in Corinth you were part of the Corinthian Church as that was the only church in that town.
The scripture says they met from house to house. There can be two interpretations to that. They didn't always meet in the same house but moved around. Or they met in various houses in the town, meeting in the same houses all the time. Whatever one you choose it avoided the disaster the church is today. The churches had their problems which are revealed in scripture but they were never warring tribes trying to be the best or biggest in town.
EclipseEventSigns
Active Member
I didn't last long in a mega church. I started attending and then wanted to get involved and meet people. I am musically gifted and decided to volunteer for the powerpoint operator. They were happy to have me help out. I was required to get there early on Sundays and stay until after the last service - after lunch time. They required us to clean the place before the service, set up the equipment, and have a run through. Mostly ok. But it was a lot of work. All volunteer. It would have been ok, IF there would have been a friendly atmosphere. Instead, it was all business and ego driven. Power hungry producer wanna-bes. Then I noticed there were 2 classes. The people in charge who were buddy-buddy with the pastor staff. And then us peons. The head pastor would go around and chitchat with his buddies about the movie they had gone to the night before. Or the restaurant they were going to after service. Or the "worship conference" they all planned to attend. Never a word of greeting to the actual workers.
If you wanted to "move up" to the worship band, you had to put in at least 6 months of volunteer work before they would even consider you for a "life evaluation" or audition.
The final straw came when they added another service to Sunday and they expected us to get there before 6 am and stay til 2. I approached the senior pastor to say that this was really disrespectful and expecting too much. He told me that he expects loyal people and I was "invited to leave" if I didn't like the way it was run. He said there were lots more people who would gladly replace me to be a part of what he was doing for God there.
I left.
I heard he's been "rewarded" by taking on an even bigger mega-church in California.
If you wanted to "move up" to the worship band, you had to put in at least 6 months of volunteer work before they would even consider you for a "life evaluation" or audition.
The final straw came when they added another service to Sunday and they expected us to get there before 6 am and stay til 2. I approached the senior pastor to say that this was really disrespectful and expecting too much. He told me that he expects loyal people and I was "invited to leave" if I didn't like the way it was run. He said there were lots more people who would gladly replace me to be a part of what he was doing for God there.
I left.
I heard he's been "rewarded" by taking on an even bigger mega-church in California.
GRACE ambassador
Well-Known Member
Wondering if maybe that's the one I heard about that was so proud when they "reached the
50,000 water ( not for today ) baptisms"?
So sad to hear this. There always seems to be a struggle between performance orientated churches and churches that preach the bible, have a worship team that is not perfect or super talented but they are willing to give it a go anyway. I think some of the big issues tend to be about a Minister/Pastor who uses the church for their own personal ministry rather than teaching members and training them up to do the work of the ministry individually, in their own sphere of influence. More people come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ that way....
Pathfinder7
Well-Known Member
It seems that some churches focus on 'status/recognition & money'..too much..
- especially, mega churches.
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I was involved in several churches..
- during my spiritual journey.
- especially, mega churches.
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I was involved in several churches..
- during my spiritual journey.
