Comments on: The Mega-Freeloader Church http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church Welcome. I'm a husband, a father, an ordained minister, and a postmodern pilgrim. You can check out some of the projects I'm involved with below. In this space I mostly write about the intersections of Christianity and culture. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:51:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Pastoralia » The Arrogant Bastard Church http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-76 Pastoralia » The Arrogant Bastard Church Tue, 20 Oct 2009 19:02:01 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-76 [...] since I wrote The Mega-Freeloader Church I’ve been thinking about a blog series that examines different cultural organizations in the [...] [...] since I wrote The Mega-Freeloader Church I’ve been thinking about a blog series that examines different cultural organizations in the [...]

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-75 Jason Coker Sat, 29 Aug 2009 06:43:04 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-75 Ouch indeed Steve. I think we all resemble, to one extent or another, the issue raised in this post. Thanks man! Ouch indeed Steve. I think we all resemble, to one extent or another, the issue raised in this post. Thanks man!

]]> By: Steve Watson http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-74 Steve Watson Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:27:00 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-74 Ouch, which side of the 8 percent do I often fall into? I totally agree, when a church reaches a certain size, it's too easy to conclude that somebody else will pick up the slack! Although I don't think the size of a church necessarily mandates that fewer people will participate, participation has to come from the individual's commitment to following God, it is much more easy to become lost in the crowd at a mega-church. In my own experience, I had much more growth when I was attending smaller churches! Ouch, which side of the 8 percent do I often fall into?

I totally agree, when a church reaches a certain size, it’s too easy to conclude that somebody else will pick up the slack! Although I don’t think the size of a church necessarily mandates that fewer people will participate, participation has to come from the individual’s commitment to following God, it is much more easy to become lost in the crowd at a mega-church. In my own experience, I had much more growth when I was attending smaller churches!

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-73 Jason Coker Mon, 27 Jul 2009 05:31:32 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-73 You make some great points Mike. I think good leadership does indeed challenge us beyond our apathy, our expectations, and even our accepted limitations. I pastor I respect (of a very large mega-church, incidentally) often says, "God doesn't call us to do what we can, he calls us to do the impossible through Him." Thanks for you comments! You make some great points Mike. I think good leadership does indeed challenge us beyond our apathy, our expectations, and even our accepted limitations. I pastor I respect (of a very large mega-church, incidentally) often says, “God doesn’t call us to do what we can, he calls us to do the impossible through Him.”

Thanks for you comments!

]]> By: Mike http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-72 Mike Sun, 26 Jul 2009 17:45:58 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-72 The reason we remember JFK fondly was that he challenged us to do more than we thought we could. (The Peace Corps and moon landing are testaments to the desire of people to do more than they had done before.) The Salvation Army and the Mormon church are successful in part because they ask - demand - active service. But within the most of American Christendom (excluding small startups), only a fraction do the work. As the church grows, the modern model is to hire professionals to "do church" while the rest are often<strong> discouraged </strong>from leading. The "barely mega" church I attend gives few benefits and many disincentives to formally joining, so many come, drop off their kids for an hour, sit-n-soak, leave a tip in the plate and then the family goes home, thinking they have done the "christian thing" for the week. Barna and Schwartz tell us to expect more from the congregants and you will get more. Ephesians says "To him who is able to do exceedingly more than we can think or imagine, be glory in the church." We as leaders should dream big, and pray for the workers our Father has promised to send. The reason we remember JFK fondly was that he challenged us to do more than we thought we could. (The Peace Corps and moon landing are testaments to the desire of people to do more than they had done before.) The Salvation Army and the Mormon church are successful in part because they ask – demand – active service. But within the most of American Christendom (excluding small startups), only a fraction do the work. As the church grows, the modern model is to hire professionals to “do church” while the rest are often discouraged from leading.

The “barely mega” church I attend gives few benefits and many disincentives to formally joining, so many come, drop off their kids for an hour, sit-n-soak, leave a tip in the plate and then the family goes home, thinking they have done the “christian thing” for the week.

Barna and Schwartz tell us to expect more from the congregants and you will get more. Ephesians says “To him who is able to do exceedingly more than we can think or imagine, be glory in the church.” We as leaders should dream big, and pray for the workers our Father has promised to send.

]]> By: Shopping Malls and Altar Calls « headsparks* http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-71 Shopping Malls and Altar Calls « headsparks* Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:38:36 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-71 [...] can I give? but, rather, What can I gain? As my friend Jason Coker points out in a recent post, The Mega-Freeloader Church: The long-standing (and deeply-resented) cliche’ thrown about in church leadership circles is [...] [...] can I give? but, rather, What can I gain? As my friend Jason Coker points out in a recent post, The Mega-Freeloader Church: The long-standing (and deeply-resented) cliche’ thrown about in church leadership circles is [...]

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-70 Jason Coker Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:31:35 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-70 Good comments Alan, but I think you've simply restated my point. You're not really part of the family if you're not participating in the life of the family. Good comments Alan, but I think you’ve simply restated my point. You’re not really part of the family if you’re not participating in the life of the family.

]]> By: Alan http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-69 Alan Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:45:47 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-69 Attendance isn't membership, and I think your comparison to a family is off. It's not so much one family, as it's a family and guests. And most of the bigger churches I've seen cater to guests. I think the problem is more that the guests rarely become part of the family, than that the family is lazy and needs to stop freeloading. Attendance isn’t membership, and I think your comparison to a family is off. It’s not so much one family, as it’s a family and guests. And most of the bigger churches I’ve seen cater to guests.

I think the problem is more that the guests rarely become part of the family, than that the family is lazy and needs to stop freeloading.

]]> By: Jason Coker http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-68 Jason Coker Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:40:31 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-68 Hey Brad, That is a tough one, especial because hospitality is such a clear expression of God's heart in scripture. I'm not sure there are any hard and fast rules, just case-by-case relationships. I hope things are well with you guys! Thanks for the comment. Hey Brad,

That is a tough one, especial because hospitality is such a clear expression of God’s heart in scripture. I’m not sure there are any hard and fast rules, just case-by-case relationships.

I hope things are well with you guys! Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: Brad http://pastoralia.org/church/the-megafreeloader-church/comment-page-1#comment-67 Brad Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:30:22 +0000 http://www.undergroundvineyard.org/?p=343#comment-67 Whoa. Really good food for thought. I was disappointed in the church structure when I thought it was 20%. I guess it's an ends and means debate. "But how long would you keep doing that?" That's the real toughy. Whoa. Really good food for thought.

I was disappointed in the church structure when I thought it was 20%.

I guess it’s an ends and means debate.

“But how long would you keep doing that?” That’s the real toughy.

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