Andy Stanley
You could say that Andy Stanley is responsible for Megachurched. Stanley served as my introduction to the megachurch world when I saw him back in 2007 when I accompanied a friend to Stanley’s Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.
There, the idea for Megachurched shaped itself in my mind. This was a new world for me and I needed to know more about it.
Since then, I grew to admire Stanley’s balanced approach to Christianity; calling for unity and tolerance over the homosexuality debate and generally evoking a subdued, muted approach to politics, refusing to ingrain himself in divisive politics like some others.
So I was dismayed to hear Andy Stanley’s off the mark comments in a sermon on February 27th. In the sermon, Stanley calls those who prefer small churches “selfish” and sang the praises of why it is more “beneficial” for children to attend megachurches.
His remarks leave a sour taste in the mouth, if only because Stanley’s name is rarely attached to such Trump-style battle language.
Among Stanley’s claims is that megachurches (such as Northpoint) benefit children’s growth by exposing them to larger groups of people. His theory follows that larger groups mean more diversity, so that children grow up to be more comfortable in social situations.
The argument makes sense on its surface. It’s hard to argue that children benefit from exposure to different types of people. A child is less likely to grow up with prejudiced views if he meets people of other races and backgrounds. This is partly why a child growing up in rural West Virginia is more likely to think more tribalistic than a child growing up in Brooklyn. Neither is better or worse of a person, it’s all in their level of exposure.
The hive mind is created through lack of real diversity
However, there are holes in Stanley’s logic. When we think diversity, our minds usually veer towards race or creed. And we do want our children mingling with kids of other races and cultures. But diversity doesn’t end there. Diversity also includes sharing space with those of differing ideas and opinions.
And this is where there may be a problem with Stanley’s assertions.
Due to various factors, such as socioeconomic status and location, megachurches tend to be homogeneous in terms of ideology. Rather than a den of debate, megachurch members seem to be largely on the same wavelength, especially when it comes to political issues.
In Stanley’s defense, the pastor did apologize for his comments, claiming that even he would be offended by his words. The video was, for a time, removed because of “copyright concerns”. But it’s at least a big move to admitting fault. (NOTE: Sermon video is back up last time I checked)
However, Stanley’s words deserve to be analyzed because a split emerges between those who believe that bigger churches are inherently better than small churches.
It’s more likely that a megachurch is simply a different experience, neither better, nor worse. Shopping at Target is a different experience than shopping at a vintage clothing shop, but quality can differ among them. We’ve all experienced miserable customer service at a local shop or a big box retailer, just as we’ve had experiences that send us out the door smiling. Size is immaterial to quality.
Picture courtesy of Patheos.com
By setting up these either/or scenarios, Christians risk launching an unnecessary rivalry that divides followers rather than unites.
Big organizations have advantages, which is why the federal government and big charities, such as the Red Cross or Oxfam, handle certain functions. Other situations require a more personalized approach, which is where smaller charities and municipal government take control.
Churches are no different. Big and small churches contain their own strengths and weaknesses based on their size. Rather than compete, churches should learn to work together and understand each other’s niche in order to properly aid their communities most effectively.
Megachurches must be aware of branding or else they won’t last. And it’s not necessarily their fault. We respond to branding in all its glory (one of the major reasons why Trump is killing it in the primaries). If we don’t like what the brand is selling, then we don’t buy. Consider the king of branding at the moment, Donald Trump. You may not like him, but he’s clear about what he’s selling, such as potential solutions to immigration issue and advocating for smaller government. He has made his ‘brand’ very clear.
“Maybe if this president thing doesn’t work out, I’ll start a megachurch”
Just like Trump, megachurches have to clarify what they are ‘selling’, which manifests in their specific beliefs (along with additional amenities). Potential customers buy into these core beliefs and purchase the product.
I hate to put it in such crude business terms, but that’s how it is.
So back to Stanley’s argument. While the children may be exposed to more people, they may not be exposed to enough different people, at least in terms of ideas.
This clustering can produce a hive effect, where all members think the same. The natural result is a stagnation of ideas and an unyielding grip on the past, which never seems to work out so well.
Christianity has lasted so long partly because of its ability to adapt to the culture while maintaining its core values of peace, forgiveness, faith and good works.
We may have gotten a bit off track
Taking away the freedom to deviate from the group only ends up boring and outdated. With the hive mindset, new technologies wouldn’t have been invented and unfair laws wouldn’t be abolished.
Rather than exposing our kids to more people, maybe we should be more concerned with exposing them to more types of people.
