Should I attend a megachurch? What are the pros and cons of going to a megachurch (mega-church)?

TL;DR:

While megachurches aren’t inherently bad, large churches with many people tend to have a more seeker-friendly atmosphere and possibly a more watered-down approach to the Gospel. Whether a megachurch is healthy depends on its commitment to God’s Word, strong leadership, and shepherding each member well.

what does the bible say?

In the United States, a megachurch (or mega-church) is usually defined as any Protestant church whose weekly attendance averages two-thousand or more people. While the number of megachurches has rapidly grown in the past generation, many still question the pros and cons of attending these larger churches.

The Bible doesn’t address church size, specifically, but it does provide some principles that can guide those considering attending a mega-church. For instance, one concern about a mega-church is the ineffectiveness of leadership and inability to personally shepherd the congregation. But it depends on how the church handles that issue. For instance, perhaps the mega-church has multiple leadership roles, with each responsible for helping smaller groups within the congregation. A model for this type of leadership would be when Moses was overwhelmed by his duties, and his father-in-law suggested delegating authority (Exodus 18:13-23). Believers considering attending a mega-church should also be sure that the church is biblically sound and teaches biblical truth; many mega-churches are seeker-friendly, preaching what draws people in rather than the truth (2 Timothy 4:3). Believers should recognize that large numbers in a church do not always mean that the church is sound (Matthew 7:13-14). With mega-churches or any church, Christians should do due diligence to determine if the church’s mission and teaching aligns with God’s (John 7:17; Acts 17:11).

from the old testament

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, instructed an overwhelmed Moses to delegate various leaders to oversee smaller groups (Exodus 18:13-23). Some mega-churches follow this pattern by having more leadership and delegating them to specific tasks within the congregation to avoid compromising shepherding the flock.

from the new testament

Sometimes people assume that if so many people are attending a church, it must be spiritually sound. But content, not number of people, matters. In fact, Jesus warned that the majority will not follow the truth: “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:13-14).
Many mega-churches are known for being “seeker-friendly,” a term indicating that they tailor their messages to attract people rather than presenting biblical truths that might offend those who want their sin accepted. Paul warned Timothy, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Timothy 4:3). Churches should never compromise about teaching biblical truth, even if that means that fewer people will come to church.
Mega-churches may make it difficult to focus on each and every member of the church. In Jesus’ Parable of the Lost Sheep, He points out the importance of searching for the one lost sheep from a flock of one hundred and the joy of finding and bringing it back to the flock. Jesus compares this to the joy in heaven when one sinner repents. But in a mega-church, it could be easy for members who are troubled and backslide into sin to get the shepherding that would bring repentance and restoration.

implications for today

A church is like a body: it can be big and strong or big and unhealthy. To determine if a mega-church you’re considering going to is healthy, some basic starting points are looking at the statement of faith and denominational affiliation. If that looks good, attend to listen to the sermons and interact with church leaders and congregants. Doing that can provide insight into the strength and quality of the church.

The worship environment of the church is often a matter of preference, but still important. Megachurches often offer either one or more large contemporary worship services or multiple services in a variety of formats to reach different groups of people. This is a secondary issue but still worth considering.

Other considerations are the church’s ministries such as youth ministry, special needs programs, opportunities to use gifts (e.g., music, singing, etc.), and more. One benefit of megachurches is that they tend to offer more options for those interested in specialized ministries.

Above all, does the church care about communicating God’s word and glorifying Him? If that question is “no,” then none of the other factors matter. Some mega-church senior pastors are celebrated or heralded like celebrities, which is a warning sign of a spiritually unhealthy environment. A church’s focus should be on God.

understand

Mega-churches are usually defined as Protestant churches with weekly attendance of two thousand or more.
Some mega-churches are “seeker-friendly,” which means they prioritize pleasing people to draw them to church over preaching God’s Word.
Large numbers of people in a church do not indicate the spiritual health of the church.

reflect

How does the size of your church affect your ability to connect with others and grow spiritually?
How do you evaluate whether a church’s teaching and leadership align with God’s Word before committing to attend?
What role do you play in supporting the spiritual health of your church community, regardless of its size?

engage

What are some warning signs that a church, large or small, may not be spiritually sound or biblically faithful?
Why do you think megachurches have grown so rapidly, and what impact does that have on the local church culture?
How can churches—especially large ones—ensure that worship remains God-centered and not just entertainment-focused?