Business Week Studies Mega-Churches: Is Bigger Necessarily Better?

I found an interesting article the other day in Business Week. It was titled Earthly Empires and it focused on how some of the largest churches in America are experiencing unprecedented growth largely by following tried-and-true business models.

Joel Osteen, pastor of the largest church in American, Lakewood Church in Houston, has had so much growth in recent years that his church can barely keep up. The article reports that:

Osteeen is laying out $90 million to transform the massive Compaq Center in downtown Houston -- former home of the NBA's Houston Rockets -- into a church that will seat 16,000, complete with a high-tech stage for his TV shows and Sunday School for 5,000 children. After it opens in July, he predicts weekend attendance will rocket to 100,000. Says Osteen: "Other churches have not kept up, and they lose people by not changing with the times."

Now this, on one hand, is simply fabulous. I mean, 100,000 people. That's astounding. And the more people, more chance of actual transformation and change. That can't be a bad thing.

And I think a main reason why so many people don't actually believe in Christ is not because of Christ, but because they've never been presented with the message and story of Christ in a way that seems relevant or meaningful to their lives. I think a large part is the failure of the Church. Though I suppose, lot of folks could disagree with me.

But what bothered me most was this paragraph in the article:

As they thrive, though, there are growing tensions, with some mainline Protestants offended by their conservative politics and brazen marketing. "Jesus was not a capitalist; check out what [He] says about how hard it is to get into heaven if you're a rich man," says the Reverend Robert W. Edgar, general secretary of the liberal National Council of Churches.

Especially controversial are leaders like Osteen and the flamboyant Creflo A. Dollar, pastor of World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga., who preach "the prosperity gospel." They endorse material wealth and tell followers that God wants them to be prosperous. In his book, Osteen talks about how his wife, Victoria, a striking blonde who dresses fashionably, wanted to buy a fancy house some years ago, before the money rolled in. He thought it wasn't possible. "But Victoria had more faith," he wrote. "She convinced me we could live in an elegant home...and several years later, it did come to pass." Dollar, too, defends materialistic success. Dubbed "Pass-the-Dollar" by critics, he owns two Rolls Royces and travels in a Gulfstream 3 jet. "I practice what I preach, and the Bible says...that God takes pleasure in the prosperity of his servants," says Dollar, 43, nattily attired in French cuffs and a pinstriped suit.

Now, in terms of MegaChurches, I'm a huge fan of some of them. WillowCreek Church in South Barrington, Ill. is a place I love to attend. Every time I go there, I come out so amped for God's, it's amazing. I've been there for about four conferences, and each time, I come out just weeping. I get the feeling like they're really struggling to deal with what it means to be multi-ethnic, and apolitical and a force for good to the needy in the Chicago community. There is nothing in the messages presented by that church that makes me anything other than proud to be a Christ-follower.

But on the other hand, I'm a little leary of the idea of using marketing tactics. I mean, is that okay? Does God really need to use marketing techniques to grow His church? Are people "demographics?" Are cities nothing more than "target populations" with capitalistic cravings the church can use (some might say exploit) for the sake of the Gospel?

Is big necessarily better? If an organism is growing, then it's healthy. So if your church isn't growing, are you doing something wrong?

I'm not interested in throwing stones at other congregations I know nothing about. But as a member of a church, I am interested in figuring out how to be the most effective in my community.

I'm interested to hear what you think.