5 Marks of Harmful Megachurch Culture

Megachurches are a modern phenomenon. More specifically, they're a modern American phenomenon. An article from the University of Washington written nearly a decade ago sums up both the definition of a megachurch and just how effective they have been:

Megachurches, or churches with 2,000 or more congregants, have grown in number, size and popularity in recent years, coming to virtually dominate the American religious landscape. More than half of all American churchgoers now attend the largest 10 percent of churches.

Megachurch services feature a come-as-you-are atmosphere, rock music and what [James] Wellman calls a “multisensory mélange” of visuals and other elements to stimulate the senses, as well as small-group participation and a shared focus on the message from a charismatic pastor.

The researchers hypothesized that such rituals are successful in imparting emotional energy in the megachurch setting – “creating membership feelings and symbols charged with emotional significance, and a heightened sense of spirituality,” they wrote.

Although that is a great summary, there's much more to examine when it comes to megachurches. A church culture that has been influenced by this movement often features some harmful elements. These "marks" can actually be a hindrance to the Christian priorities of gospel proclamation, theological clarity, and biblical admonishment and encouragement.

To be sure, much of the harmful megachurch culture that people experience stems from unbiblical theology and philosophy, which can vary greatly. An examination of those things is best done on a case-by-case basis. This article is about the culture itself, which seems to be very similar across a variety of churches. Read More

Megachurches are not an exclusively American phenomena. One of the world's largest megachurches is found in South Korea.