Earlier this week a local pastor friend Lee Coate from The Crossing re-posted a Top 10 list from a local church that will remain unnamed. The pastor of a church of under 100 people in size posted the Top 10 reasons to attend a smaller church. Here is what the pastor wrote:
Do you think this list is worth posting? Why post something attacking big churches in your neighborhood or community? Are any of the 10 exclusive benefits to a small church or can you find these things in big churches too? I would love to hear your thoughts on this seemingly brash post by a small church pastor.
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08/08/2009
Posted in Spiritual
I personally do not think this is a brash posting. As a matter of fact I have been a member at 2 mega churches, Lakewood Church in Houston Texas, and then Central Chriatian Church in Las Vegas. Also, I have been a member of smaller churches (I move a lot due to my husband's job). I love both the megas churches and the smaller ones. However, in my individual, unique, case, I perfer smaller churches. Several of the reasons why I do perfer smaller churches the pastor posted like #9, #8,#7,#6,#4, and of course #1..
I did notice that when I was a member at a smaller church, I was able to build up stonger realationships with others in the congregation, the pastor and elders/decons were more readily available to assist anyone in need, and there was more spiritual accountability thus helping me in my my spiritual walk with God.
Thanks for reading and replying. I grew up in a small town and a smaller church, so I can see things from all angles. I guess my question in response to your first comment is do you think that of the list of things above are exclusive benefits of attending a smaller church? Or can you find #9, #8, #7, #6, #1 in a big church?
I really do think that the list above "feels" like exclusive "benefits" and maybe to a certain extent thay are because it can be a bit difficult to get these "benefits" at a mega church for the exact same reason that the congragation is so large. But at the the same the bigger the church the more organization is needed and so sometimes in the process, personal attention is put on the back burner.
I am not attacking big churches, but in my very humble,humble opinion, I think smaller churches are the way to go. Also, just to let you know, I'm still currently a member at Central Christian Church in Las Vegas at the Henderson Campus. Now the main reason why I stil go to Central is because I have not found a "smaller church" to where I feel is right for me and because the preaching is great and anointed. Services are great. However, I need more than what is being given at Central. Anway, you gotta love the chocalate cherry cremoso's
Glad you love the Cremoso's.
I did not take either of your comments as attacking and we are glad you apart of the Central family.
Hey benji, great topic you brought up here. I used to be in the camp of that pastor who wrote that post. I think for me it came down to why I go to church. My intention is not to offend anyone, but I am going to be a little blunt here. If you look at each one of those reasons for attending a small church, you will notice that they are all focused on YOU. What YOU will get, what kind of access YOU will have to the pastor, what kind of parking space YOU will have. I personally want to be a part of a church that says YOU can make a difference in someone else’s life, a difference in the community. I definitely don’t think that these things are unique to larger churches. I’ve been a part o small churches that do these things…the catch is that they don’t stay that way
if a church is more concerned with the people outside of their walls and making a difference in the lives of those around them, they will not stay small for long.
I heard someone say once, “it takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.”. I know that everyone is looking for something different, but I will ALWAYS choose to be a part of a church… big or small…that looks first to others.
My friend, lee coate (actually he works at the Crossing Church in Vegas) posted this on his blog a couple of days ago. It seems to have a lot of bitterness in the top ten reasons.
I don’ know who did this, but man does it sound like they are making it a competition. Its not people. And all of those reasons they listed are true in “mega” church world.
This list just seems to have no point in it and seems to be one of those you know you go to a small town church when….you write a list about why you like going to that small little town church.
I am not trying to player hate on this list, just give my 2 cents worth.
My friend, lee coate (actually he works at the Crossing Church in Vegas)(note: I just read your post again and saw your mention of lee) posted this on his blog a couple of days ago. It seems to have a lot of bitterness in the top ten reasons.
I don’ know who did this, but man does it sound like they are making it a competition. Its not people. And all of those reasons they listed are true in “mega” church world.
This list just seems to have no point in it and seems to be one of those you know you go to a small town church when….you write a list about why you like going to that small little town church.
I am not trying to player hate on this list, just give my 2 cents worth.
Thanks for your thoughts Kyle. I stole the idea from Lee. I liked Matt's reply over on his blog as well: http://mattandryan.wordpress.com/2009/08/05/small…
Fascinating. This is like a online Rorshach test in that it is likely to push some buttons in both the pastors and laity of large and small churches. Some of the assumptions are false (like the earplug thing – at The U in San Antonio we offer both ear-plug and ear-plug free options – otherwise known as traditional and contemporary.) But otherwise, it is a great case study in ecclesiology. What exactly is the church anyway? What is the role of the pastor? What do we need and expect from the church to engage our journey of discipleship. I kind of wish I had seen this when I was doing my teaching series on the book of Acts. I am not sure if it is great marketing but it is a great discussion starter.
Will – thanks for reading and your thoughts. I agree that this post opens a can of questions that I don't think any one person can answer and all of us will have differing views. But yes it is a great discussion starter.
I am not sure why this could be considered "bashing". I guess that similar lists of benefits of living in a small town would be considered "bashing" by some who live in big cities. "Bashing" as if used in "bashing someone in the head with a tire iron" speaks more of the motivation and evil motives of the person than the "evil" of the tire iron. Some people who are holding a tire iron are actually changing a tire and THANKFUL they have a tire iron, a jack, a spare, a car, someone who taught them how to change a tire.
Thanks for your analogy Alan, but the word was "brash" not "bash". But I digress, my question still remains the same: are any of those 10 things exclusive to just small churches? Is it justifiable to post a Top 10 reason list to attend any church based on that list?
The rest of my comment didn't get posted but I intended to say… I rejoice when healthy churches produce healthy growing disciples. I must be careful with my personal preferences/prejudices or I could be the one asking…. "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?"
I don't know if I would say the top 10 reasons are "exclusive" to a smaller church. I have attended two small churches, and Central – the only "Mega Church" I've ever attended. I think it is possible to receive the top 10 at a Mega Church, however, YOU, the person attending, MUST GET INVOLVED. You will not get to know people if you do not try to get to know people – in either a small or large church setting. Similarly, if you don't join in some type of study group you are likely not to learn much biblically. n the case of a Mega Church I think this is accomplished through Small Groups. I believe this is where the deeper teaching occurs. We don't have a Wed. night bible teaching meeting. I have to note, that only about 20-25% of the congregation of the two small churches I attended faithfully attended Wed. night Bible Study. I will agree that a smaller congregation can allow people to get to know one another more easily, however, I found that the "core" group at a smaller church could either leave you feeling "in," or "out.," much more easily than a larger congregation depending upon how you fit their view of a Christian. If a smaller church encourages the wearing of suits on Sunday… you could feel "out," if your a jean wearing Christian. If you don't "fit" their type-cast – you can feel the "unwelcome" stares, and they are more readily felt in a smaller congregation. In the end, I believe you get what you put in out of anything. I'm speaking as someone who is not currently a member of a Small Group. I know I need to join one, but for me it's like dating. I dislike checking out a group, then feeling like it isn't a good fit for me, and leaving. I feel bad saying I don't feel like it is a good fit, but the alternative is to lie, and make up some reason that is not true. As for being cared for by the pastor better at a small church, I attended a church of 200 +/- and separated from my wife. I went from being in the choir and being involved to zero. Overnight. I was never contacted by my Deacon (who lived 2 blocks from me), and never contacted by my Pastor (whom I was on a first name basis with). So this idea is just untrue. The church is a gathering of people – not a building. People are imperfect, and thus every church is imperfect. I've often thought that most Christians I know would be deeply fearful of confessing their deepest, darkest sin to a brother at church, for fear of being judged, rather than being embraced, and having someone really care for them and be there for them, and pray with them, and stay in contact with them. Far too many Christians hear a real confession, then say, "I'll be praying for you," and when the person who just confessed turns and walks away, they wipe their brow and think, "Man, if he is saved, I know I'm there!!" The church should be a hospital for sinners – NOT a showcase for Saints!!!
Focus in on this pastor's #1 reason (because putting it as #1 means it is supposed to be focused on): "You will become a stronger more mature Christian". Had he stopped after #2, then this would be more of a debate of style of worship which I have no issue with. But his #1 is the real issue. I think this one was put and said in a bashing (not brash) sort of way. The implicaiton is that at a smaller church, you will grow more than at the bigger church. This issue has nothing to do with the church you attend but rather as Mark pointed out, has to do with the person individually, regardless of size. So while to this pastor, it might seem that his preaching will make his parishoners more likely to become stronger and more mature Christians, there is nothing to back this up with complete certainty. It also brings in to question what is his church doing about following the great commission and reaching the lost? Neither style of church is universally better than the other on ANY of these topics. It simply comes down to Christian to discover which is better for their spiritual growth and that of their family. Afterall, in the end the only church membership role that matters is the book of life.
As a pastor of 32 years who has worked in both small (tiny) and large churches, I prefer small churches. I love these “reasons” and believe they are unequivocally true. In the past I have “lost” parishioners who have left for megachurches and my reaearch has shown they left because they wanted to “be where the action is.” I find this no different than worldly reasons people would rather go see a rock concert than listen to a guitarist perform solo at a coffee house. It is a herd mentality and this, in my opinion, is anti-thetical to the gospel. Biblically it smacks of the kind of worldly rivalry that the apostle Paul encountered at Corinth. It is the “cult of personality” (no apologies for the “pun” here) that pervades our sick American culture.