MegaChurch Envy

I suspect that some (but only some) of the criticism of Joel Osteen and other megachurch pastors is rooted in jealousy of the astounding success of some churches to spring up from bare ground to thousands of members in a handful of years.

The first church that I joined after I became a Christian was a megachurch -- Hunter Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama. Pastor Buddy Gray baptized me himself in a moving experience on a Wednesday night. Hunter Street, which billed itself as "The Church With a Purpose" was a God-driven church, whose members were focused on letting Jesus really change them, and making a difference in the community. Dr. Gray was (is) a brilliant preacher, who worked hard to write sermons that challenged his flock to abandon sin and follow Christ.

Hunter Street was also a source of some derision among other Christians in the community. It was called "The Galleria Church" -- a reference to its huge size and close proximity to a large shopping mall. There was grumbling and resentment at Hunter Street, which had led so many people to Christ, but few specific charges. I think that, at the core, some people resented how thriving and alive Hunter Street was, and how lethargic their own churches could be. Such jealousy was understandable, but unbecoming of a Christian. Let us rejoice whenever God uses a person or institution to spread His Word, even if it is not us.

Many criticisms of megachurches focus on a watered-down, me-centered theology and preaching, or more commonly, an over-emphasis on building numbers (attendance and stewardship) instead of correct theology and challenges to transform the inward, sinful nature of members. Where such problems exist, they should be called out. But I have heard Christians explain sustaining or declining membership as proof of good things going on at their churches, rather than address real problems and fixing them.

Discernment in these issues is difficult, but I encourage Christians to reflect upon inward motives before reflexively criticizing megachurches.