The Word in Focus with Dr Larry Taylor

Megachurches & Huge Parachurch Organizations

What could possibly be wrong with huge Christian ministries? They can reach more people and have more impact than small groups. Why settle for a rowboat if you can command a battleship? There are large ministries that are ethical, focused on mission, and do a great deal of good.

Then there are others that use business marketing techniques to hone their images, promote their programs, and dominate targeted areas. Most are organized with a minimally accountable (almost always white male) person in charge. He may be called “senior pastor,” but in reality, he is the CEO who demands unconditional loyalty. 

Far too often he exemplifies Lord Acton’s famous words: “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men, even when they exercise influence and not authority; still more when you superadd the tendency of the certainty of corruption by authority.” 

Far too often, they prove Lord Acton’s less famous quote as well: “Despotic power is always accompanied by corruption of morality.”

Extravagant high six-figure salaries, benefits, perks, golden parachute retirement plans, expensive cars, private jets, multiple houses, free world travel, lucrative jobs for family members, nearly unlimited expense accounts, private body guards, legal fixers, personal shoppers (especially for the wife), boards of directors made up of hand-picked sycophants who rubber-stamp whatever the head man wants, ghost-written books, marketers, promoters, image-makers – all extremely common among leaders of very large churches and parachurch organizations. 

Publishing houses approach big name ministers, pitch a topic, assign someone to write it, vet the manuscript through people who know the big guy, market and sell the book. The big guy hasn’t written a word of it, and often hasn’t even read it before it’s published.

Cruises, trips to the Holy Land, tours of Egypt or Turkey (or wherever) can also be highly lucrative for the head pastor. Typically, travelers (AKA, “pilgrims”) are charged enough extra so that the leader can get one in 10 (or one in 5, 15 or 20) free trips. He uses them to travel free and take his family. If there’s money left over, he gets it in cash. 

A tour leader once approached me with a deal. Let’s say the trip costs $3,000/person – I bring 100 people (2 bus loads); I get one in 10 free – that’s 10 free trips. My wife and I are paid for and they give me $24,000 (8 x 3,000) cash. Then, when we get to wherever we’re going, deals have been made with merchants, vendors and restaurants ahead of time, so the guide and I get a percentage kick back of whatever is spent by my tour group. Not bad for two-week’s work. I never took anything other than free trips, but this sort of scenario is common place. 

Most large churches and parachurch ministries in the United States mine, harvest, and monetize personal data without the knowledge or consent of individuals. By doing so, they make many millions of tax-free dollars, all defended with an “end justifies the means” argument. They scan their parking lots and auditoriums for credit cards, drivers’ licenses, anything that emits a signal, gather personal information, and sell it to marketing agencies. It’s huge business. That’s why you get all that junk mail and spam. It is not illegal, but it’s unethical and unbiblical. 

The senior pastor of a massive church told me that he had a real estate tycoon on staff who, using church money, was buying, selling, and leasing enormous amounts of corporate real estate, which was flooding the church coffers with money. I know of other large churches that own ranches, farms, restaurants, retail shops, theaters, and office buildings. I know of a couple of has-been megachurches that now have more people on staff than attend their services. They don’t need a congregation; they have investments.

I’m personally familiar with very large ministries that are notorious for underpaying employees, violating employee rights, firing employees without cause, and insisting on 60–100-hour work-weeks. And we’ve all heard of the Christian leaders who have abused children, sexually assaulted women, and maintained toxic workplaces.

Though by no means limited to large churches and parachurch organizations, there are some that are wedded to the radical political right. One of the largest churches in the country holds “worship services” in which they sing the national anthem, pledge allegiance to the flag, endorse unethical despots for office, and embrace nationalistic jingoism. Large parachurch ministries sometimes support right-wing lobbying in Congress. 

To quote Søren Kierkegaard: “To win a crowd is no art; for that only untruth is needed, nonsense, and a little knowledge of human passions. But no witness to the truth dares to get involved with the crowd.” 

All of this lack of ethical behavior is justified by scripture. Toxic theology leads to atmospheres ripe for exploitation by narcissistic charismatic leaders. Thousands of people wind up emotionally devastated. Add to all of this the real and perceived rejection of LGBTQ+ folks, lack of environmental concern, support for wars and other killings, and the one issue focus of the pro-life movement, and it is no wonder churches are hemorrhaging members and an entire generation wants nothing to do with Christianity. 

Attempting to stave off the exodus, some big churches double down on the marketing. The dominant megachurch in our area is running television ads proclaiming that following God is a great adventure. Scenes of motorcycle trips, hang-gliders, rock bands, and international travel flash before us. Your best life now. Fun and adventure. No mention of dying to self, taking up one’s cross, laying down one’s life, washing the feet of the least, housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, eschewing violence, nationalism, racism, and materialism, or forgiving enemies. A study in missing the point. God doesn’t replace spiritual formation with the fun-filled escapades of joyous Gen-Xers.

All of this I take as very good news. 

Although thriving in the Bible belt, nationwide, megachurches are waning. Many, especially younger people, are sick of the show and the hype. They are seeking authentic spirituality and genuine relationships in a nonjudgmental atmosphere that welcomes questions and doubt, embraces diversity, values differing viewpoints, advances social and environmental justice, and has concern for the marginalized. They are meeting in small groups in homes, pubs, and various other venues. They are active in causes of concern. They are joining with the crucified and risen one in making all things new.