Much Ado About Megachurches

Some Christians and many nonbelievers are critical of churches that have unusually large congregations. One photo I saw online showed the huge sanctuary of a well-known church with the added caption, “Instead of building mega-churches, how about building mega homeless shelters?” How many of these critics practice what they preach by letting homeless people live in their houses? Very few I suspect. Incidentally, the church in question (Lakewood Church in Houston) has ministries reaching out to the needs of the homeless.

When evangelizing I occasionally meet people who say they don’t like going to large churches because they seem so impersonal. Walking into a new church can be a somewhat intimidating experience particularly for those who haven’t been in one for a while. That’s why many fellowships have greeters who go out of their way to make first-time visitors feel welcome. Nevertheless, a person can feel lonely in any church whether there are only ten or thousands in attendance. Proverbs 18:24 says, “A man who has friends must himself be friendly.”

I’m the product of a megachurch. In February 1991 I first visited Living Word Christian Center, a large church in suburban Minneapolis. After committing my life to the Lord a month later, I eventually became a member of Living Word. It was there I got firmly grounded in the Word of God and learned to become a soul winner (megachurches can teach multitudes of people how to share the gospel). In recent years, I’ve resumed attending meetings at Living Word during extended visits to the Twin Cities area.

Large churches doing the work of the Lord are having an impact on their communities and nations. David Yonggi Cho pastors the largest congregation in the world. Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, South Korea has about 830,000 members. Dr. Cho pioneered the cell group concept that plugs individuals into smaller groups connected with the church. Back in 1962, only 2% of South Koreans were Christian. Today it is around 30%.

Heaven will be like a megachurch. Revelation 7:9 talks about “...a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb...” During His earthly ministry, Jesus sometimes ministered to thousands of people at once such as when He multiplied the loaves and fishes. Wouldn’t He be more pleased seeing huge crowds gathered in His name instead of at a sporting event?

Scripture doesn’t state the ideal size of a congregation that can provide sound biblical teaching and opportunities for spiritual growth. So whether it’s a megachurch, a smaller local fellowship, or even a new one just starting up, the best church to go to is the one God has assigned you to. If you’re not already plugged in somewhere, ask God to show you where that place is.

“But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.” - 1 Corinthians 12:18

My Message to a Moonie

Sun Myung Moon, the founder of the Unification Church, died earlier this month at the age of 92. A short time later, I received an email from a man who’s on my newsletter mailing list. I met Richard three years ago inside a government building in Washington, DC. We joined other God-fearing individuals in taking a stand against same-sex marriage being legalized in the nation’s capital. Richard has an organization educating youth to become leaders who understand the importance of reserving sex for marriage. I didn’t know until this month that Richard is also a disciple of Rev. Moon. His email listed the details of last weekend’s “victorious ascension ceremony for Father Moon” followed by Richard’s personal testimony. I emailed this message in response…

Dear Richard,

I received the testimony you emailed me a few days ago and was pleased to read about you giving up drugs, avoiding fornication, and most importantly how you met the Lord Jesus Christ. Since you probably needed time to grieve over the death of Sun Myung Moon (plus I wanted to learn more about the Unification Church), I’ve waited until now to send you this note. As a minister of the gospel, I need to point out things in your testimony that were very troubling.

You refer to “Father and Mother Moon” as your “True Parents.” A true spiritual father or mother would not willingly teach ideas opposing God’s word. Just in your email alone, you shared ideas that were inconsistent with Scripture...

“I returned the next day (Tuesday) to hear about the Fall on Man [sic]. I thought that the story of how Eve has tempted by the archangel and committed a sexual sin was interesting and it made sense.” 

Genesis 3 makes no reference to sexual sin at all! The Fall of Man simply resulted from Adam and Eve disobeying God’s commandment not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.

“I asked Jesus if Father Moon had really come to carry on Jesus' mission. I received an emphatic yes, and I am sure if you ask Jesus the same thing, you will receive the same answer.” 

Jesus’ mission for all His disciples (not just full-time ministers) is clearly listed in Mark 16:15-18. Just out of curiosity, how many people were saved, healed, and delivered from demons through Rev. Moon’s ministry?

You referred to “…the Messiah, the Second Coming of Christ (not Jesus himself) would come in the east.” Jesus warned in Matthew 24 that in the last days false prophets and false Christs would rise up and deceive many.  There is no way Sun Myung Moon could be a Second Messiah. Otherwise, wouldn’t he still be alive?

“It is not necessarily an easy thing to meet with and to align with the New Truth.”

1 John 5:3 says, “His commandments are not burdensome.” All revelations from the Lord Jesus Christ would agree with Scripture, not contradict it.

I hope Sun Myung Moon made it into heaven for God doesn’t desire anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). But unless he repented before his death, Sun Myung Moon will have to answer to God for all the souls he deceived into worshipping him instead of Jesus. In the meantime, I pray that you recognize the Unification Church as a cult and ask God to forgive you for your involvement in it.

In Christ,

Todd R. Post

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - 1 John 1:9