Contrast of The Mega Church with the Bible Believing Church

[Depleted]

We used to call these things "Cell Groups".

LOL We STILL call them Cell Groups. And the Cell Groups are part of the Home Church. And there are five Home Churches in Philly alone, because not everyone is fitting into the original building/church building and each Home Church represents the five sections of the city, while Cell Groups are just where neighbors get together for Bible Study. And when the Cell Groups start growing up from unsaved or recently-saved neighbors, then it's time to consider a church planting,

That dinky church we belonged to was a church planting that didn't take. Most of the time, they become part of the local neighborhood -- again, because not everyone is fitting into that one building.

Presbytery means gathering. That's why 20 churches (at last count) become one presbytery. But each church is also a presbytery. And then the national presbyteries gather once a year to deal with problems that arise within the denomination.

America's Founding Fathers created the government based on how Presbyterians work things out. Local trusted people represent the members of a Presbytery and then have to go to "Congress" to present problems and try and deal with them. The only difference is our representatives cannot vote on an issue, if it's that presbyteries issue. They can argue their points, but can't vote. Too bad the Founding Fathers didn't take the whole plan. At least members can be heard by representatives and are able to debate points with them too.

 

[Depleted]

Most mega churches are all about the worship service. The music/singing and such. Not much meat of learning in them, so people never grow. They're all about making you feel good about yourself when you leave the service. That's why so many members of those churches fall for aberrant theology so easily.

Give me a small church that has a pastor that simply preaches out of the Word of God, any day.

Mega church is kind of like the word "rich," anyone who has more than you fits the definition. Unfortunately, that also voids the definition because then it is individually interpreted.

 

[MsSuzanna]

Mega church is kind of like the word "rich," anyone who has more than you fits the definition. Unfortunately, that also voids the definition because then it is individually interpreted.

Mega church is kind of like the word "rich," anyone who has more than you fits the definition.

Ah! Now I see where the misunderstanding is. It is alot more than money that is the focus. ALOT MORE THAN THAT. Lets start with the bible not being adhered to.

Quite frankly, I am very surprised you are defending a wof prosperity church. But thank you for allowing me to understand you more clearly

 

[MsSuzanna]

Hmm, yeah we do have lots in common! Thats a comfort
Idk if we will be able to talk to them. We know by scripture that we will be in our glorified bodies so everything will be as we cannot imagine. They are there 24/7 around the thrown. They are always moving unlike the 24 coronated and elevated saints. The living beings seem to still be very busy working in this inner circle of sorts.

THRONE and not thrown......I apologize that I missed that

 

[ladylynn]

Sure, but you could have swapped columns and, when generalizing, the same thing would have happened. Some of that is true of any given church, so the end just bothered me more. Generalizing never works for matters this important.

H E L L O ! ! !

 

[posthuman]

how did we go from "mega church" to "wof prosperity church" ? what are you even talking about?
and how do you know this is the "sad state of affairs" ?

how many of these churches have you been to, been to not only one service, but joined yourself to their small groups and participated in outside study groups, and talked to elders in these places about what they actually believe and teach?

how many? even one?
have you even been to a single one of these churches and fully immersed yourself in them searching out what is being taught and what is believed and what is behind their ministry?

or didja just see a youtube video about how hillsong is a secret illuminati deathgroup, and decide to judge every church with more than 200 people in it in one big swoop based on that conspiracy vid?

'cause it's getting to be less clear that this thread has any particular focus.

 

[posthuman]

also, it just hit me that Suzanna probably has me on ignore anyway.
because i told her that if she wanted to be seen as kind and loving she ought to act kind and loving, and that if she acted judgmental and mean-spirited, not to be surprised when people think of her as judgmental and mean-spirited.

*shrug*

 

[MsSuzanna]

[TABLE="class: cms_table"]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100%, bgcolor: #FFFFFF, colspan: 2, align: left"]The mega church “would proudly proclaim that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. But they have redefined salvation. Salvation is not simply, under the new gospel, the forgiveness of sin and the imputation of righteousness. It is not a deliverance from the wrath of God upon an undeserving and rebellious people. The new gospel is a liberation from low self-esteem, a freedom from emptiness and loneliness, a means of fulfillment and excitement, a way to receive your heart’s desires, a means of meeting our needs. The old gospel was about God; the new gospel is about us. The old gospel was about sin; the new gospel is about needs. The old gospel was about our need for righteousness; the new gospel is about our need for fulfillment. The old gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing; the new gospel is attractive.” –Gary E. Gilley, The New Gospel
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Salvation on the sinner’s terms[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Salvation on God’s terms[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Seekers are drawn by convenience.[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Seekers are drawn by conviction (John 16:8).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] The world is assimilated into the church.[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] The church is to be separate from the world (2 Cor. 6:14-18).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Looking to make sinners comfortable [/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Looking to the Comforter to convict sinners[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Seeks to make people happy[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Seeks to make people holy[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] The attendees are seeking personal fulfillment: How can my life fulfill my desires and needs?[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] The attendees are seeking personal faithfulness: How can my life be well pleasing to the Saviour (2 Cor. 5:9)?[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Friendly seekers assemble to have their itching ears scratched (2 Tim. 4:3).[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] God’s people assemble to hear the God-breathed Scriptures which are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16-17).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Emphasis on pleasing the sinner[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Emphasis on pleasing the Saviour who died for the sinner[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Overriding concern for numerical growth[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Overriding concern for spiritual growth.
(God rewards faithfulness, not numerical success–1 Cor. 4:2)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] “We have made it easy for hundreds superficially to ‘accept Christ’ without ever having faced sin and with no sense of need. We are healing slightly the hurt of this generation, trying to treat patients who do not even know they are sick” –Vance Havner[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] “They that are well need not a physician, but they that are sick” (Luke 5:31).

“And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Worship services are casual.[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Worship services are formal (in the sense of dignified, reverent, worshipful, respectful of WHO GOD IS). We are not attending a ball game or going to the beach or going to a rock concert; we are worshiping the King of Kings.[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Come just as you are.[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Come desiring to be more like Christ, to reflect SELF less and less, to reflect CHRIST more and more (2 Cor. 3:18).[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 50%, bgcolor: #FFFF99, align: left"] Entertainment–What can this service do for me?[/TD]
[TD="width: 50%, align: left"] Reverence–What an awesome God! I adore Him! How can I please Him? (Heb. 11:6)[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="width: 100%, bgcolor: #FFFFFF, colspan: 2, align: left"] “If I see aright, the cross of popular evangelicalism is not the cross of the New Testament. It is, rather, a new bright ornament upon the bosom of a self-assured and carnal Christianity. The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it” –A.W. Tozer (If only Tozer could see us now!)


Hello!!!!

[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[MsSuzanna]

how did we go from "mega church" to "wof prosperity church" ? what are you even talking about?
and how do you know this is the "sad state of affairs" ?

how many of these churches have you been to, been to not only one service, but joined yourself to their small groups and participated in outside study groups, and talked to elders in these places about what they actually believe and teach?

how many? even one?
have you even been to a single one of these churches and fully immersed yourself in them searching out what is being taught and what is believed and what is behind their ministry?

or didja just see a youtube video about how hillsong is a secret illuminati deathgroup, and decide to judge every church with more than 200 people in it in one big swoop based on that conspiracy vid?

'cause it's getting to be less clear that this thread has any particular focus.

How does a church get to be MEGA? Focus on prosperity!
The WOF mention also goes hand and hand with the prosperity church.
I hope that clears it up for you.

 

[GaryA]

"I was thinking about posting on this thread --- but, I think I will wait until the 'argumentative spirit' dies down first..."

 

[Yet]

How does a church get to be MEGA? Focus on prosperity!
The WOF mention also goes hand and hand with the prosperity church.
I hope that clears it up for you.

Nothing will clear things up for those that don't know the word and have no spiritual discernment.

 

[MsSuzanna]

"I was thinking about posting on this thread --- but, I think I will wait until the 'argumentative spirit' dies down first..."

Are you referring to the spirit that saw fit to send me three separate critical PMs ?
I blocked you sir.

 

[Depleted]

Ah! Now I see where the misunderstanding is. It is alot more than money that is the focus. ALOT MORE THAN THAT. Lets start with the bible not being adhered to.

Quite frankly, I am very surprised you are defending a wof prosperity church. But thank you for allowing me to understand you more clearly

First, it really has nothing to do with money in my mind at all. It's just that Mega Churches and rich people have turned into catchphrases like anyone who has anything to do with either is suddenly EVIL incarnate.

I read your list for "the Bible-believing church" too, ya know. Just because someone can slip in a verse that kind of sounds good doesn't mean the intent of the explanation is Biblical. What I got out of that description of a "Bible-believing Church" was a lot of Church Lady (warning, not funny, since it's too close to true, also definitely not a link to a Christian clip) taking on grace-only people as if one really is better than the other.

If the anchor is the Bible being adhered to, then explain how song choices, fashion-sense, drill-sergeant discipline tactics, and avoiding the world fits into "Bible-believing."

 

[Depleted]

how did we go from "mega church" to "wof prosperity church" ? what are you even talking about?
and how do you know this is the "sad state of affairs" ?

how many of these churches have you been to, been to not only one service, but joined yourself to their small groups and participated in outside study groups, and talked to elders in these places about what they actually believe and teach?

how many? even one?
have you even been to a single one of these churches and fully immersed yourself in them searching out what is being taught and what is believed and what is behind their ministry?

or didja just see a youtube video about how hillsong is a secret illuminati deathgroup, and decide to judge every church with more than 200 people in it in one big swoop based on that conspiracy vid?

'cause it's getting to be less clear that this thread has any particular focus.

Wait! Hillsong is a secret illuminati deathgroup?

(I really have to join the 21st century eventually to figure out what hillsong or the illuminati is some day, don't I?)

 

[MsSuzanna]

First, it really has nothing to do with money in my mind at all. It's just that Mega Churches and rich people have turned into catchphrases like anyone who has anything to do with either is suddenly EVIL incarnate.

I read your list for "the Bible-believing church" too, ya know. Just because someone can slip in a verse that kind of sounds good doesn't mean the intent of the explanation is Biblical. What I got out of that description of a "Bible-believing Church" was a lot of Church Lady (warning, not funny, since it's too close to true, also definitely not a link to a Christian clip) taking on grace-only people as if one really is better than the other.

If the anchor is the Bible being adhered to, then explain how song choices, fashion-sense, drill-sergeant discipline tactics, and avoiding the world fits into "Bible-believing."

If the anchor is the Bible being adhered to,

Thats the whole point! Christ is the truth! The word is Christ. He is the MAIN focus in biblically sound churches. A biblically sound church does not add in all the worshiptainment. They dont need to

 

[posthuman]

How does a church get to be MEGA? Focus on prosperity!
The WOF mention also goes hand and hand with the prosperity church.
I hope that clears it up for you.

i guess that's how thousands of people joined the church on the day of pentecost.

Peter was preaching prosperity and wof. sure.
((guess i should go back and re-read Acts -- because that's not how i remember it .. suppose i find out there is less that i know every day! hmm!))

well, you kinda answered my other questions with this reply -- thanks.
safe to assume that you don't actually know what any of these "mega" churches actually teaches -- you just guess that if their parking lot is a certain size, it must be heresy?
and your info on them doesn't actually come from any personal experience or actual study?

thanks tho.

 

[posthuman]

(I really have to join the 21st century eventually to figure out what hillsong or the illuminati is some day, don't I?)

Lynn -

nah, don't bother.

​

love,
post

 

[MsSuzanna]

i guess that's how thousands of people joined the church on the day of pentecost.

Peter was preaching prosperity and wof. sure.
((guess i should go back and re-read Acts -- because that's not how i remember it .. suppose i find out there is less that i know every day! hmm!))

well, you kinda answered my other questions with this reply -- thanks.
safe to assume that you don't actually know what any of these "mega" churches actually teaches -- you just guess that if their parking lot is a certain size, it must be heresy?
and your info on them doesn't actually come from any personal experience or actual study?

thanks tho.

Comparing pentecost to mega church ?
Its never same to assume . I was once in the crowd of the mega church. I do know from whence I speak.
Its never safe to assume. I wont be responding to you anymore. It is pointless.

 

[posthuman]

Its never safe to assume. I wont be responding to you anymore. It is pointless.

wouldn't that you announcing that you're going to be making assumptions about me from now on?

LOL

 

[GaryA]

"I was thinking about posting on this thread --- but, I think I will wait until the 'argumentative spirit' dies down first..."

Are you referring to the spirit that saw fit to send me three separate critical PMs ?
I blocked you sir.

No - I was referring to the direction this thread seems to be going in...

And, I would be more than happy to post all of the PMs - for all to see - because, I truly had no intent whatsoever to 'harass' you ( as you stated in your last PM ); rather, I was simply trying to be [ Texas ] friendly...

"I am sorry, but you misunderstood... Honest... So help me God, I am telling you the truth..."

So -- please accept my sincere apology and...

I will do my best to never PM you again.

Fair enough?