First, this is some funny shit right here:
What is with these ampitheaters for churches? Am I going to see the Rolling Stones are am I going to get the Word? -lol

Second, Helllll Naaawwww, that’s not what God intended for his churches. It’s all about interaction and closeness with your pastor, your priest, whatever and your Lord and savior. I like my church. Mt. Zion in Manassas, Va is just below large not to be called large, but it’s not too small either. It’s just the right size for the congregation size.

On specialty Sundays such as Easter or so, the church would be more packed than regular Sundays and there’s an adjoining room where through closed circuit, folks can still see the mass in session.

But it’s personal enough for the Pastor to recognize the faces in his church. I’d feel comfortable going to him and he still knows my name and who I am. The parking spaces barely accomodated the parishoners who did show up in cars, but it was all good. Very rarely were folks a ways down the road and a long hike to the church.

Those mega churches are pretty scary though luv. It seems like someone completely forgot that it was a church they were building and just said fine and built something else in its place…

Well, I happen to attend a megachurch, some 25,000 people in attendance. I scratch my head when people get in an uproar over megachurches. Funny… I never have a problem finding a parking space. Heck, the place ain’t even full, and I sit wherever I want to. And I absolutely HATE crowds, and it is rarely crowded. And I get figuratively beat all upside the head because I go there. Hilarious!

If it ain’t the place for you, then it’s not the place for you. Find a church that fits your needs and go. Period. THAT’S what’s important. I don’t get it. It just so happens to be the place for me, and I am in a city where there are approximately 5000 churches. So I could easily go to a church with 50 members. But I happen to go to where I go because that is where I get my spirtual guidance, period. My salvation doesn’t depend on whether my pastor knows me by name or not. But hey, to each his own. If that is what you prefer, hey, go for it. I’ve had some foul experiences with that when I was growing up, and as a result, I tend to shun that for myself.

Just interested in my personal relationship with God and that being fostered. Yep, I get in trouble for that, but whatever. But I’ve been there six years… had some good pastoring, good counseling, a great creative writing course (I NEVER saw that one coming), a lot of help I could never imagine that I would get out of such a large place… Even my sister, who wasn’t a member, got much help through some of the career services ministries that I didn’t even know were available to members and nonmembers. I’m just glad I was in the right place for ME at the right time, to receive a lot of what I was praying for and about for myself and my family… And that- whether one attends a megachurch or church with 10 members- is what is truly important…

in my personal view, attending a place so large seems to miss the point. but i haven’t attended a regular church in years. my spirit wasn’t being fed. my soul wasn’t satisfied. now i’m on a different path myself outside of the realms of a church.

I dont think this post was a personal attack on anyone who attends a megachurch… just questions their existence, which you can defend or not. But no one should take it personally.

I went to a mega church in atlanta… and it wasnt for me. It took me an hour to get out of the parking lot. I was seated in a nosebleed section and I wasnt that late or anything. There were no seats.

True you can hear the word. And if that is what you come to church for, then you get what you need. And there are great services that the mega churches can afford to offer that smaller churches cant. (ie. creative writing)

To each his own. If a megachurch doesnt meet your needs, you can attend a smaller congregation. Where everyone knows everyone… but they are also all up in your bidness, and they cant offer the same programs that a mega church can offer.

Each has good and bad. For me though… I choose the church of my home. I believe that my relationship with the creator isn’t dependant on any physical structure or pastor… just my direct connection.

Good thing I have great friends and family to speak for me. Cause I dont have a pastor that knows me either… lol

Okay, I get your point. And I see your point… I was just stating my opinion on the whole matter… Didn’t see it as an “attack” or any of that… I didn’t mean to imply that you said that salvation is based knowing the pastor (although I’ve met a plethora of peeps who believe this to be true). It just leaves me a bit perplexed because I don’t see what the big deal is. Go where your soul and spirit is taken care of and your needs are met, whether it’s a small or large church.

And like you said, for you, it is important to have a spiritual relationship with your pastor. I am glad you are doing what is good for YOU. You realize how many peeps aren’t doing that?

So what do you do if your church continues to grow? I read that a megachurch is defined as a church with over 2000 members (which I think is a ridiculous definition). As Cymple said above “BIG churches don’t start off BIG”. I remember my current church having about 100 people some 20 years ago and it just grew.

You asked an interesting question? Is this what God intended? I think he intended for us to go where our needs get met. Period. And you said something I most definitely agree with …”the real church is the people”. So the semantics shouldn’t matter, right? I feel that people are getting blessed whether they go to a megachurch or a small church, period. Find the balance of doing what is best for you… I run into very few people who are even happy with there places of worship, which I find insane… And let’s not forget the real purpose anyway… getting the Word.

Alright Nikki, I’m a big fan of your blog… don’t ban me, LOL.

I believe God intended for his flock to be fed in many different ways. But I don’t believe ever wanted that flock to go lacking in certain aspects of their worship towards Him. Megachurches seem to be a double edged sword. I couldn’t agree more, I want my minister to KNOW me and not have to ask two nights before my homegoing celebration who I “was”. A minister is more than someone who delivers the Word to the congregation, he is also a leader and advisor. One who should be able to counsel his congregation and really be connected to. That’s impossible with 30,000 members at one church. And you’re right it becomes like this political meeting where everyone has wireless headsets and are directing “traffic” inside the church. Churches no longer look like churches.

They have become big businesses. And lest you don’t make it to worship an hour prior, your chances for even getting a seat where you can actually see what is going on is very low. The minister is like some celebrity and no one can come in contact with him, not without security permission, or you just get sidetracked to the assistant minister or whatnot.

I wouldn’t be surprised if you had to actually pay a fee to use the church building if you have a wedding or funeral. I live in Houston and take the paper, I don’t think I’ve ever seen an obit where the funeral was to take place at Joel Osteen’s church. And I shouldn’t even be calling it Joel Osteen’s church, because it’s not his. But that’s what you know it as.

The church begins to lose it’s identity when they become so large. That much needed intimate part of worship and fellowship is lost.

Well Nikki, normally I agree with you but experiences taught me a lesson about the Pastor knowing you or more precisely knowing your Pastor. Coming from a medium size church (about 750 members) I hope to never be in a congregation that doesn’t allow me to worship with anonymity.

The politics and the “business” of church are amplified the smaller it gets and to many that is nerve wrecking. I would rather hike to my worship center and disappear in a sea of people if that meant I could worship in peace without knowing how much of the Pastor is skimming off the church plate or which member of the praise team he is sleeping with.

I have learned the bigger the church the you see of the leaderships flaws. I want to believe that my Pastor and his leadership staff is living what he is preaching, but in smaller congregations its harder to hide certain sin. Sin that I believe each Pastor has and sin I would much rather not know about.