The Church Report has released its annual list of America’s 50 Most Influential (Protestant) Churches and, as with last year’s list, several Houston megachurches made the list.
Lakewood Church and the ubiquitous Joel Osteen come in again as the highest-rated local church at fifth, while Kerry Shook’s Fellowship of The Woodlands dropped from no. 17 last year to 41 this year, and KirbyJohn Caldwell’s Windsor Village United Methodist dropped from no. 43 to 49. Surprisingly, Ed Young’s Second Baptist Church — one of Houston’s original megachurches and arguably its most influential — dropped out of the top 50 list altogether after being listed at no. 33 last year.
The list is interesting in that it includes churches from both ends of the current political debate that is raging among Protestants regarding the core nature of megachurches. Osteen, Shook and a number of others on the list preach what traditionalists criticize as a feel-good gospel that views God as sort of a cosmic bellhop who exists to meet desires of humans and to make them feel comfortable with material wealth. Dallas’ T.D. Jakes (Potter’s House – 8) even denies the orthodox doctrine of the Holy Trinity, although the rest of his message has a harder edge than that of either Osteen or Shook. On the other hand, the list also includes a number of church leaders — including notably John MacArthur (Grace Community – 31), John Piper (Bethlehem Baptist – 42) and Dallas’ Tony Evans (Oak Cliff – 44) — who advocate the more traditional Christian theology that emphasizes Christ’s divinity, justification by faith, sacrifice and stewardship.
Meanwhile, the Catholics just shake their heads and go off to Mass. ;^)
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Do you get a good sense of what this is supposed to tell us?
That is to say, I understand that a survey was mailed out to various Church leaders, it was returned, and the results were tabulated.
But should we read anything deeper into this popularity contest? I’m not being facetious or argumentative, but I guess when I get to the part of “what does it mean and what difference does it make?” I’m lost. It’s not the first time of course. 😉
Kevin, my sense is that the survey best reflects the growth in popularity of the megachurches such as Lakewood that are more committed to addressing market forces for religious observance than the traditional Protestant churches. Whether that growth will last and whether that growth actually makes those churches more influential than traditional churches is far less clear.
Shaking my head at what I see as bubble-gum theology being said at many of the mega-churches here in Houston. If you want Christianity-lite you’re more than welcome to it.
If you want to feast on the teachings of Jesus, go attend your local Catholic Church. Experience the Mass. See Jesus in person in the Eucharist!!!
“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”
–John 6:48-58
Mega churches are fine if they are teaching and preaching Jesus and the way to salvation. Most of what I know about mega churches comes from TV viewing. Most are preaching what I call the bubble world christianity. Believe, Pray, and you will get it. Everything will be a bed of roses. I come from a small Baptist church down Brazoria County way. We have a very loving, active, giving 128 members. They are some of the best Jesus loving people that I have ever met. They don’t believe in beds of roses.
I can’t speak for all mega churches but I can speak for Lakewood. I am a member of Lakewood Church and the comments that are being made here about Lakewood are false. The only thing Joel’s message quarentees is that you can have joy in the Lord. I invite you to attend a service and see what Lakewood is all about.
Thank you Tom for posting this information, it is fun to see, but I am with Kevin. It is a popularity contest and doesn’t mean a whole lot.
MikeMurphy,
When Joel Osteen fumbles a softball question on Larry King Live (CNN June 20, 2005) about salvation outside of Christianity, a lot of red flags pop up.
KING: What if you’re Jewish or Muslim, you don’t accept Christ at all?
OSTEEN: You know, I’m very careful about saying who would and wouldn’t go to heaven. I don’t know …
“I don’t know.” is Joel Osteens response.
This is one of the most fundamental questions that Catholic Christians and non-Catholic Christians know the answer and agree upon.
One is that Joel Osteen doesn’t understand the sacrifice of Jesus to the world.
Two, Joel Osteen is all about ‘feeling good’ and not about suffering for your sins.
I’ve seen him, he’s a nice guy. But his Bible knowledge is palpable and his theology nearly non-existant (if any).
I’m a Unitarian-Universalist, so all of this talk about salvation and the Holy Trinity is sort of lost on me. I’ve watched Joel Osteen preach and he seems to me to have no more knowledge of theology than the average man on the street, nor any better idea of how to live one’s life successfully than a routine Kiwanis Club speaker. But he is one hell of a salesman and I give him credit for his commissions.