Contrast of The Mega Church with the Bible Believing Church

[Depleted]

There are big things happening right now. Stuff is going down.

It's probably scary for a lot of church-goers, probably very uncomfortable. But despite this...

The reality is that the church should probably start taking a look at being more word-centered, hardcore, sold-out.

If the signs of the times are any indication at all, we're on trial. This is the last time to be messing around with anything but what life actually means according to the gospel and why, so far as i can tell.

Actually, you've got the wrong generation going in this. The old folks in the churches came in during the last revival -- The Jesus Movement. We remember it because we were it. So new people overflowing churches doesn't scare us considering our group were the new folks and many of us were strung out.

But as for something coming? Same thing they've been saying for the 44 years I've been a believer. I see a huge falling away. Not a huge coming in. I welcome the world being Jonah's Nineveh. I see it being the Nineveh that failed later.

The signs of the times do show me that. I am so grateful God is still in control.

 

[Yet]

Actually, you've got the wrong generation going in this. The old folks in the churches came in during the last revival -- The Jesus Movement. We remember it because we were it. So new people overflowing churches doesn't scare us considering our group were the new folks and many of us were strung out.

But as for something coming? Same thing they've been saying for the 44 years I've been a believer. I see a huge falling away. Not a huge coming in. I welcome the world being Jonah's Nineveh. I see it being the Nineveh that failed later.

The signs of the times do show me that. I am so grateful God is still in control.

I believe you're right. Apostasy worsens up to His return. He has a remnant, sheep hat hear Him and will not follow another.

But because you are not My sheep, you refuse to believe (My word). My sheep listen to My voice, I know them and they follow Me.
John 10:27

But they (My sheep) will never follow a stranger, in fact they will run away from him because they do not recognize a strangers voice. John 10:5

From these verses I'm compelled to think that anyone who vehemently bucks against sound doctrine, against clear teaching, like so many do on this site concerning a legal assembly, the body corporate, given to us by Paul and others, may not even be His.

To get so angry, to get their tail so bent out of shape, to not answer the word but instead attack the deliverer of that word with such angst and bitterness, to accuse and berate and slam anyone teaching, not obscure portions of the word, but teaching clear unmistakable portions, is evidence of an apostate 'church', a people following men rather than God.

Believing every piece of drivel falling from the pulpit but denying the word of God that contrasts that drivel in no uncertain terms.

So you tell me. The mega church with its rock stars, new age bunkum, and hellywood multi dollar personalities or storefront struggling Bishop Andersen

doing 'church' his way, totally foreign to God's holy writ?

Has God told you to run yet? Can you not hear Him? Or are you still listening to a stranger?

If you still cant figure it out im sorry for you.

 

[notuptome]

Thats amazing. The first century assemblies were 'dinky' and florished spiritually. They met in homes. They turned the 'world upside down' for Christ. When the heathen emperor Constantine started building church buildings for big crowds, the clerics took over, the every member participation died making impotent he body of Christ along with the pagan influences.

Thats what we have today.

And Yet Jesus spoke to the multitudes. Why do you presume to counsel the Lord?

Did the apostles ever attempt to upstage Jesus when He was preaching?

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[KohenMatt]

The Mega Church
Compared and Contrasted with the Bible Believing Church​

Bigger does not necessarily mean better.

Bigger does not necessarily mean bad either.

 

[notuptome]

o.k., real bit of my life right here : I attend a large 1500+ people multiple service church. full band, lights, etc.. on mother's day, I went with my mom to her small country church. now, living in a college town, I can tell you most 20 year olds ain't going to a church that has a 6-8 member choir, piano, and hear a man just stand up and yell LIVE RIGHT OR ELSE!

young people want sound doctrine, Biblical history, hear the historic backdrop of Bible time periods, and also be told to live righteous lives and make good choices. so, there is my personal " mega church" story.

and, nothing wrong with small churches with simple styles, and fire and brimstone messages. but that is not going to fit with everyone. sound doctrine can be and is delivered with different styles.

different does not mean wrong.

Where is the sound doctrine of which you speak? In the band? Or perhaps the lights? Yeah probably the lights. Do you even have a pulpit let alone a man to stand therein and break forth the word of God?

Sound doctrine will bring conviction about sin both to the unsaved and to the believer.

Want to know why the young people are not in the small church? Their parents never made them face the need to commit their lives to serving the Lord with their lives. They have stolen from the Lord and want to live for their own pleasure not sacrifice unto the Lord. They seek a form of religion but deny the Christ that died to save them.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Willie-T]

Bigger does not necessarily mean bad either.

Yeah, we know for a fact that some of the assemblies gathered to hear Christ (and even the Apostles) numbered way up in the thousands.... and, in those day, those were relatively MUCH larger crowds than they would be today.

 

[Willie-T]

Where is the sound doctrine of which you speak? In the band? Or perhaps the lights? Yeah probably the lights. Do you even have a pulpit let alone a man to stand therein and break forth the word of God?

Sound doctrine will bring conviction about sin both to the unsaved and to the believer.

Want to know why the young people are not in the small church? Their parents never made them face the need to commit their lives to serving the Lord with their lives. They have stolen from the Lord and want to live for their own pleasure not sacrifice unto the Lord. They seek a form of religion but deny the Christ that died to save them.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

I can just hear the Jewish parents....

"Yeah, those young kids like John-Mark are only flocking to see Jesus because He puts on good shows, like making wine out of water, raising dead people, giving sight and hearing, and feeding thousands. They need to be sitting here in the Synagogue with us, being told how bad they are, and learning how to commit their lives to doing proper animal sacrifices."

 

[Willie-T]

Probably not many, Bruce, probably not many. The veil is thick.

 

[Grace777x70]

Probably not many, Bruce, probably not many.

One day we all will!!!

 

[Willie-T]

One day we all will!!!

I just wish we didn't have to wait for.... "one day."

 

[MsSuzanna]

Obviously they did more than preach the gospel, despite your denial. Thousands at a time showed up.

Obviously huh? alrighty then

 

[notuptome]

I can just hear the Jewish parents....

"Yeah, those young kids like John-Mark are only flocking to see Jesus because He puts on good shows, like making wine out of water, raising dead people, giving sight and hearing, and feeding thousands. They need to be sitting here in the Synagogue with us, being told how bad they are, and learning how to commit their lives to doing proper animal sacrifices."

Congratulations you is one of them. Set all doctrine aside and do what feels good.

Still unable to eat strong meat. Lost your taste even for milk.

Tares and wheat will get separated. Goats to the left.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Magenta]

Obviously huh? alrighty then

Obvious to any who have read the testimony of the apostles, yes Unless you don't believe them?

 

[notuptome]

Obviously they did more than preach the gospel, despite your denial. Thousands at a time showed up.

They came for the free lunch and left when Jesus gave them doctrine.

Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

Jesus worked miracles to establish that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus came in fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus sought not fame nor fortune but to save lost souls.

Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[MsSuzanna]

You're projecting a cultural musical preference onto what your PERCEPTION of Godly worship is.

That's a mistake.

There are so many wonderful worship songs out there that are Christ-centered and lift Him up in worship and praise.

-JGIG

The mistake here is that you think I am just speaking of music! LOL
Its much much more than that.

 

[Magenta]

They came for the free lunch and left when Jesus gave them doctrine.
Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
Jesus worked miracles to establish that He was the promised Messiah. Jesus came in fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus sought not fame nor fortune but to save lost souls.
Joh 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
For the cause of Christ
Roger

John says close to the beginning of chapter six, And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Proving my point once again: preaching is not all that was done to draw crowds. Thank you.

 

[notuptome]

John says close to the beginning of chapter six, And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. Proving my point once again: preaching is not all that was done to draw crowds. Thank you.

Granted but when Jesus gave them doctrine they turned and ran away. Crowds are not difficult to attract as is evidenced by the mega church but they come for the wrong reason and like the seed along the road are readily carried off by the birds.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[JGIG]

I have considered that in this day and age the preaching of the whole gospel is not heard but most want their ears tickled and that is why MOST churches that are large have the fruit exemplified in the OP.

I just re-read the comment above, and MsSuzanna, there is NO 'fruit' exemplified in the OP. There are NO specific churches identified, NO real data, NOTHING but opinion and generalizations. That is FAR from 'exemplified fruit'. What you're basing your opinion on is 'imaginary fruit'!

Even the disclaimer at the end states,

Note: These statements are generalizations for the purpose of clarifying basic positions and principles. This does not mean that every so-called Mega Church is guilty of everything described in the left hand column. Neither does this mean that every Bible-believing church faithfully embodies everything stated in the right hand column. ​

That statement negates the credibility of the entire chart.

It's someone's OPINION about a style of church organization that THEY disagree with. I was disappointed to see that such an article came from Middletown Bible Church - they have some otherwise sound stuff on their site. That article is pretty much an overgeneralizing hit piece.

-JGIG

 

[MsSuzanna]

Granted but when Jesus gave them doctrine they turned and ran away. Crowds are not difficult to attract as is evidenced by the mega church but they come for the wrong reason and like the seed along the road are readily carried off by the birds.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

Amen!
As Voddie Baucham said" What you draw them with is what you draw them to"

 

[MsSuzanna]

I just re-read the comment above, and MsSuzanna, there is NO 'fruit' exemplified in the OP. There are NO specific churches identified, NO real data, NOTHING but opinion and generalizations. That is FAR from 'exemplified fruit'. What you're basing your opinion on is 'imaginary fruit'!

Even the disclaimer at the end states,

Note: These statements are generalizations for the purpose of clarifying basic positions and principles. This does not mean that every so-called Mega Church is guilty of everything described in the left hand column. Neither does this mean that every Bible-believing church faithfully embodies everything stated in the right hand column.
​

That statement negates the credibility of the entire chart.

It's someone's OPINION about a style of church organization that THEY disagree with. I was disappointed to see that such an article came from Middletown Bible Church - they have some otherwise sound stuff on their site. That article is pretty much an overgeneralizing hit piece.

-JGIG

I just re-read the comment above, and MsSuzanna, there is NO 'fruit' exemplified in the OP. There are NO specific churches identified, NO real data, NOTHING but opinion and generalizations. That is FAR from 'exemplified fruit'. What you're basing your opinion on is 'imaginary fruit'!

Stick around.This is just an introductory OP. Im getting to the meat. I needed to give out some milk first so the readers dont choke. Ill be revealing more bad fruit than one would care to swallow Im sure