Mega Churches - Opinions?

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
shittim

shittim

Senior Member
#21
Dec 16, 2016
13,803
7,785
113
#21
The first "churches" were house churches, small intimate groups of believers where Holy Spirit would be invited and would come and minister.
I have yet to see a "mega church" invite Holy Spirit to come and minister.
It may happen, I have never seen it. A person in the audience may be inviting Him, I know I would , if I were there.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#22
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#22
Here's a video of the Mega Church of the Holy Sepulchre...(place where Jesus was buried).
Three separate denominations have control over the facilities. And this is what happens when a chair is moved a total of 12 inches.
 
Jesus_Leads

Jesus_Leads

Active member
#23
Aug 15, 2021
264
89
28
#23
JohnDB said:
Here's a video of the Mega Church of the Holy Sepulchre...(place where Jesus was buried).
Three separate denominations have control over the facilities. And this is what happens when a chair is moved a total of 12 inches.
Click to expand...
Why are they fighting ?
Are they Jews ?
 
O

Oblio

Guest
#24
#24
I'd like to find a home group of a dozen or less. That way I could get to know people. I also see it a place for people to start using their gifts. I think that if there were many small groups, perhaps some would specialize in certain areas. Like you have a main doctor who may refer you to a specialist.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#25
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#25
Jesus_Leads said:
Why are they fighting ?
Are they Jews ?
Click to expand...
No...not in THAT church...Church of the Holy Sepulchre? Joseph of Arimathea's tomb he bought but hadn't used...FOR JESUS? Although many of the people are Semetic in biology but they are very much Christian.

And that fight was over moving a monitor's chair 12 inches. (About 30 centimeters) The monitor is old so he needs to sit down to monitor the proceedings of the other denominations as they use the facilities. Visitors and tourists come and go all day long. And the chair has a hand written sign on it saying not to move it. (Big black sharpie...seen the chair myself)

But someone moved the chair.
 
Jesus_Leads

Jesus_Leads

Active member
#26
Aug 15, 2021
264
89
28
#26
Th
JohnDB said:
No...not in THAT church...Church of the Holy Sepulchre? Joseph of Arimathea's tomb he bought but hadn't used...FOR JESUS? Although many of the people are Semetic in biology but they are very much Christian.

And that fight was over moving a monitor's chair 12 inches. (About 30 centimeters) The monitor is old so he needs to sit down to monitor the proceedings of the other denominations as they use the facilities. Visitors and tourists come and go all day long. And the chair has a hand written sign on it saying not to move it. (Big black sharpie...seen the chair myself)

But someone moved the chair.
Click to expand...
That's sad, in that video's comment somebody mocked preachings of Jesus, this is a very bad example.
 
R

Ruby123

Guest
#27
#27
I am not a fan of the mega churches. The pastor usually lives a luxurious life, it becomes a business more interested in bringing in more and more money and the pastor is treated as a celebrity. One very popular pastor once said he refuses to talk about sin, the devil or hell as they are all negatives. o_Oo_Oo_O
 
Mission21

Mission21

Pathfinder
#28
Mar 12, 2019
913
805
93
#28
JohnDB said:
Oh I know for a fact that people go to listen to the sermons that tell them whatever it is that they want to hear.

It can be anything from rigid legalistic sermons to the "Christ is a buddy" who allows you whatever perversion you desire because it is all about you...just so long as you are financially supportive of this particular church.

I think the largest disparity is in South Africa where I seen literal modern cathedrals and absolutely exquisite architecture for the white people while the black church meets in a back store room of a shack that also serves as a black grocery store in the middle of a shanty town.


I've witnessed the open air churches of Honduras where anyone who can afford the microphone and amplifier with speakers is now able to LOUDLY broadcast his message to the whole town. Knowing that the real church in the town with walls and doors was built with drug money.

Then there's the more celebratory church in Brazil...
Those people like to celebrate. They always have skits and dancing during a worship service. Just on the edge of voodoo Christianity.
The pastors there teach the basics like "stay out of the whorehouses, stop getting drunk, feed your family and etc" obviously they have difficulties with biblical scholarship for a vast majority of them. Advanced theological discussions are going to be outside their reach.

Former Soviet Union countries?
Well the church on the town square is usually Catholic and exorbitantly ornate and guilded and painted.

I met an evangelical pastor who used to pray publicly during the picnic in the town square on May Day and then worry about it until February the following year. They have a REAL mistrust of Russians and strangers. They have classes for baptism that last two years before you can get baptized.

Then there's the Asian churches who rely upon the missionary's relationship with God and do not deviate from it however long ago that missionary came to Japan...or the Phillipines....or Malaysia... because "God lives in Time and a long portion of it with the same identical worship is needed to honor Him". So they think that changing an old Hymn popular in the 50's to be more upbeat is a really really bold thing. Singing the songs out of order is big doings as well. Bringing in a foreigner to take part in their service is ground shaking.

These are the "Mega Churches" that I've personally seen.
If you only have seen prosperity gospel churches... maybe you need to look a little more.
Click to expand...
Good post/observation..
- What is going on..around the world.
---
Interesting to note:
Some 'church models' are..from US.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#29
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#29
Jesus_Leads said:
Th

That's sad, in that video's comment somebody mocked preachings of Jesus, this is a very bad example.
Click to expand...
We toured the church when we visited Israel. We got to see it during it's partial renovation. (It's had several partial renovations and restorations)

But the chair was in it's place and untouched. So was the workman's ladder...right where he left it all those years ago.
 
Jesus_Leads

Jesus_Leads

Active member
#30
Aug 15, 2021
264
89
28
#30
JohnDB said:
We toured the church when we visited Israel. We got to see it during it's partial renovation. (It's had several partial renovations and restorations)

But the chair was in it's place and untouched. So was the workman's ladder...right where he left it all those years ago.
Click to expand...
What's with the chair why it shouldn't be moved ?
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#31
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#31
Ruby123 said:
I am not a fan of the mega churches. The pastor usually lives a luxurious life, it becomes a business more interested in bringing in more and more money and the pastor is treated as a celebrity. One very popular pastor once said he refuses to talk about sin, the devil or hell as they are all negatives. o_Oo_Oo_O
Click to expand...
Some do and a few do not. It's all about the moral fibre of the leadership. Salvation Army leadership is one that doesn't have luxurious lifestyles for their leadership. And it's huge. Just saying. On paper they are not the top most efficient with money...but that's just on paper. In reality they actually are.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#32
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#32
Jesus_Leads said:
What's with the chair why it shouldn't be moved ?
Click to expand...
Monitor's chair...of the other denominations that use the facilities. There are three different denominations that use the facilities.
Orthodox, Armenian and I'm forgetting the last one.
 
Jesus_Leads

Jesus_Leads

Active member
#33
Aug 15, 2021
264
89
28
#33
JohnDB said:
Monitor's chair...of the other denominations that use the facilities. There are three different denominations that use the facilities.
Orthodox, Armenian and I'm forgetting the last one.
Click to expand...
Ohh thanx, I'm not gonna move that chair when I go there.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#34
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#34
Jesus_Leads said:
Ohh thanx, I'm not gonna move that chair when I go there.
Click to expand...
That would be a very good idea.

I didn't bother going into the shrine inside. I was uninterested. I know that Jesus isn't in there. I was extremely interested in all the architecture and carvings and ornate fixtures...it's beautiful craftsmanship of a bygone era. People don't have the skills to do it anymore. The wood is all very dark from age...not wood stain.

And it's in the Old City just off the Via De La Rosa. (Way of the cross) and not far from where Simon the Cyrene picked up Jesus crosspiece. (Spice market)
It's hard to figure out where you are in there because the vendors have all covered the road signs and those offering to give you directions want money. The most honest group is the money changers...just saying. Maps are almost worthless and GPS is too.

But it is not impossible to navigate without a guide. Patience and fortitude is necessary.
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#36
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#36
shittim said:
Or sit in it, might bring about the rapture (?)-
Looks like our friend JohnJB might have forgotten the Roman Catholic church among the 3 main ones that use it, that alone might cause some to have kittems.....

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_the_Holy_Sepulchre
Click to expand...
The place where Jesus was crucified I am going to disagree with. The "skull" is a location of a natural crossroads. Currently the bus terminal.

Crucifixion was a process all centered on humiliation and pain and frustration. Just saying.
 
Jesus_Leads

Jesus_Leads

Active member
#37
Aug 15, 2021
264
89
28
#37
JohnDB said:
That would be a very good idea.

I didn't bother going into the shrine inside. I was uninterested. I know that Jesus isn't in there. I was extremely interested in all the architecture and carvings and ornate fixtures...it's beautiful craftsmanship of a bygone era. People don't have the skills to do it anymore. The wood is all very dark from age...not wood stain.

And it's in the Old City just off the Via De La Rosa. (Way of the cross) and not far from where Simon the Cyrene picked up Jesus crosspiece. (Spice market)
It's hard to figure out where you are in there because the vendors have all covered the road signs and those offering to give you directions want money. The most honest group is the money changers...just saying. Maps are almost worthless and GPS is too.

But it is not impossible to navigate without a guide. Patience and fortitude is necessary.
Click to expand...
At this point, I might take someone I know who have been there already,
 
Jesus_Leads

Jesus_Leads

Active member
#38
Aug 15, 2021
264
89
28
#38
JohnDB said:
The place where Jesus was crucified I am going to disagree with. The "skull" is a location of a natural crossroads. Currently the bus terminal.

Crucifixion was a process all centered on humiliation and pain and frustration. Just saying.
Click to expand...
Hey, is Mount of Olive a grave now ?
I saw it in a documentary somewhere on youtube, they said mount of olives is used as grave for 2000+ years now. Is that true ?
 
JohnDB

JohnDB

Well-known member
#39
Jan 16, 2021
6,214
2,522
113
#39
Jesus_Leads said:
Hey, is Mount of Olive a grave now ?
I saw it in a documentary somewhere on youtube, they said mount of olives is used as grave for 2000+ years now. Is that true ?
Click to expand...
Yes and no...
It's a church surrounded by olive trees. But there's two hills there with a deep valley between the temple mount and the hill.
imresizer.com.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.