Dear mega-churches, this is why we make fun of you.

Hey mega-church, it's easy to make fun of you without feeling bad. Really easy.

Perhaps no one ever told you why because you're so huge and imposing. No worries. I'll let the cat out of the bag.

As long as you promise to not crush my puny self with your giant mega foot.

Alright, enough with the big jabs. Without further ado, here are 5 reasons why people and pastors of smaller churches make fun of bigger churches and their fancy selves.

1. We don't know you.

It's so easy to make fun of something that doesn't have a face. Mega-churches like 'Uncle Sam', 'Wal-mart' or 'The man' don't have faces to those who point the finger. All we see is a giant thing.

You know, I've met a lot of people who passionately poke at the big churches in their town. Irony is I'm not sure I've ever met one who has actually ever sat down to get coffee with someone at that church.

We make fun of you because we don't know you, your story, your vision or anything about you.

2. We are sitting on the sidelines.
 
Love the way Mark Driscoll put it (paraphrased): "Here's a guy who is doing something that's saving thousands. Here's another guy who isn't but he doesn't like the way the first guy is doing it"

Wanna hear the harsh truth?

Most people who make fun of big churches are almost always a part of a church that's dying. (if u can't say amen, say ouch).

I'm not saying only mega-churches are doing great things for the kingdom. I'm just saying when you are kingdom minded and in the game rather than sitting on the sidelines, it's really hard to be super critical about someone else God is using in his kingdom.

3. We are jealous.

Yea you heard me. We are jealous. It's like back in Junior High when my buddy's dad bought him the newest baddest video game (Super Nintendo). I couldn't stop going off about how spoiled he was. Can you blame me? It was the only way I could suppress my deep envy.

Funny thing is, I asked my dad for a SNES. You see, deep down I wanted what spoiled kid with patchy facial hair had. Just like most pastors who are openly critical of big churches are secretly asking God for what 'those big churches' have. But who's gonna say that out loud?


4. We are hypocrites.

One minute we show you the book of Acts and go wow! look at how all those thousands of people are getting saved. The next minute we point you to the church down the road and assume they must not be teaching the bible because they have thousands of people attending.

Oh look at the community in the book of Acts. 3K people shared everything. Wow. It must be God.
Oh look at that mega-church. How could that many people ever have community? It must be a show.

Hypocrisy defined.

5. We are arrogant.

We make fun of you because we believe our way is the right way. The only way. Also the Jesus way. The Holy Spirit way. The bible way. i.e If you're not doing it the way we are, then you aren't spiritual or spirit filled.

We don't believe that there are different expressions to the church. We don't believe that churches can hold the same biblical truth while looking different. Diversity? Nah. It's our way or the highway.

So, there it is big guy. This is why I make fun of you... well, that's not exactly true. Let me try that again. This is why I "used" to make fun of you.
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See, I decided a long time ago that I would not be caught pointing a finger of criticism at you.

I'm not saying it's easy, I'm just saying I'm sick and tired of being jealous and hypocritical from the sidelines. I'd rather get to know you over a cup of coffee or a game of poker. 

I'd rather be kingdom minded and be a team player than hate, which is why you'll never hear me say a bad thing about Cedar Creek (the largest church in my area) and you'll probably be confused as to why I always defend them.

By the way, I'm not saying all big churches are automatically "Jesus honoring churches" or that you and I can't have a legitimate concern about a big church outside of doing any of the 5 things I listed above. Sure we can.

Just saying most of the time, our response to the mega church that's rocking our city usually says more about our hearts than the church itself. 

What are your honest thoughts/concerns/problems with mega churches?
Do you go to one? Would you ever go to one? Why or why not?