re: Anyone here go to a mega church?

For about a year we went to one of the satellite campuses of Andy Stanley's North Point Ministries. The praise band played entirely too loud and 90% of the time the message was shown on a big screen from the main church in Alpharetta.

I was never really a fan, but my wife loved that the praise band played the same songs that the local Christian music station played. We quit going after we lost our twins. We pretty much stopped doing/going to any of the same places and things after that.

I wouldn't say it was a scam, but it felt very impersonal. I grew up going to churches where you knew most of the other people in the congregation that you met in Sundays. North Point, and a few other big churches in our area, expect you to get involved in small group ministries that are grouped by stage of life (singles, newlyweds, new parents, etc.) that meet evenings during the week.

My In laws used to go to a mega church and the whole thing felt like a scam. From selling concessions, to the hundreds of unpaid volunteers staffing the place, to the cheesy gospel rock concert to start, to the overly positive "nothing is your fault" message. It all felt like a grift.

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Define "Mega Church".

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Like those churches that look more like Six Flags Over Jesus than a church. They worship Erika Kirk and Israel more than Jesus.

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Define "Mega Church".

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If it has a row of reverse ATM's in the lobby.

I did when I was married. One month was "Pastor Appreciation Month" and they harped on giving more that month to show appreciation to our head pastor....when he drove a Lexus and and lived in a 3 million dollar home.

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Bestbank Tiger

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so true

I grew up going to non-denom mega church type environment. I never liked it and hated it when they would gaslight the congregation for money. I started going to Mass after moving to NOLA and never looked back.

My church does about 5k heads a Sunday over three services. The Holy Spirit comes into that room every Sunday and moves in a powerful way. I know some people look down on churches like mine but I believe that comes from a place of spiritual pride. I love my church.

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I haven't been divorced, been addicted to drugs, been broke, had a child die, or any other life altering event. So no, I haven't had the need to be saved by a mega church.

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You are lucky that you have had such a good life. But let me ask you something my brother, do you think it is possible that your attitude may come from a place of spiritual pride? I am reminded of the words of our Lord, "Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

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Beliefs did not seem all that far apart from catholicism

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Wait. What?