For my Media in Worship class, we have had to go to a couple churches in my area to learn about how they implement media in their services. Both of these having huge congregations; what normal churches would call ‘mega churches’. The people that are in charge of these programs are very nice people who are very knowledgeable in their field, and I learned a lot from them. We learned video from Kevin McPeak from Eastlake Community Church and lighting from Mark Bennett from the Rock church. They both came into class and talked with us about media, and then we went to their churches to see them in action on Sunday morning. Now, I’m not saying that mega churches are bad, or that people who attend them are bad; I simply feel that they’re not for me.
My first three years of college at PLNU, I tried to find a church to attend while I was here. I visited many churches in the area, like The Rock, O.B. 1, First United Methodist Church, P.B. Presbyterian, and First Church of the Nazarene in San Diego. All of these churches had something I enjoyed, whether it was the nice facility, great music, good pastor, welcoming community, etc. There was just something about them though that bothered me. For every one good thing I found, there was something that counteracted it. Generally, it was the church’s size and the music.
My home church back in Vacaville has an average of 80 to 120 people attending each Sunday. I’m used to the small church feel, and I am very comfortable in that setting. People are generally more friendly, they care about you, and they talk to you every week instead of ignore you. I am lucky enough to be a member of a church that even though it is small, has a great pastor and a wonderful worship team. I guess I haven’t found a church that is close enough to that. Am I being too picky?
I had visited The Rock once before, and while I generally like their music and I like their pastor, Miles McPherson, the whole experience left me frustrated. The music portion of the service felt like (and was presented like) a concert. I know that they have been blessed with the funding to buy high quality lighting and equipment, but just because you have the good stuff doesn’t mean you need to use it like everyone else does. Churches do need lighting for the stage, and being able to set a mood with colors on stage is great. I do draw the line at using Gobos and other stage effects though, unless it is for a specific purpose other than “It looks cool”. I feel like they should leave the ‘flash & trash’ to performing artists outside of the church.
The arrangements of the songs were a little weird, and the worship leader’s vocal style was like a jazz singer, but those were just slight distractions rather than complaints. I do have a problem with the implementation of secular songs into a worship service. For example, I went to Eastlake Church on Super Bowl Sunday, and they played a whole Foo Fighters song as if it was a part of the worship service, even though it didn’t mention Christ at all! At The Rock last Sunday, they played the intro to ABC by the Jackson 5 in their version of “Trading my Sorrows”. I find that irritating because there was no reason for it, they probably though “Hey, it works, and it sounds cool, let’s do it!” I feel like there is a better way to attract new believers to the church without having to inject the world’s culture into our churches. Keeping up with technology is one thing, but playing secular songs in worship services is another.
I also feel like mega churches are completely impersonal. I do realize that huge churches like Eastlake and The Rock rely on small groups and bible studies for community and fellowship, but would it hurt to talk to other people before or after the service on Sunday morning? Every time I went to these services, the only people that sad hello to me were the greeters (that’s their job) and the people I was meeting for my class, Kevin and Mark. No one else said anything to me to make me feel welcome. At least in smaller churches, you’ll get little old ladies who will come up to you and say hi and make you feel good about being at their church.
I guess I’m kind of conflicted on my ‘final verdict’ so-to-speak on mega churches. I know that their intentions are pure, and that they’re trying to do the same things as regular churches are (just with a lot more funding and man-power behind it). They’re not bad people! I just don’t like my church to feel like they’re putting on a concert every week. Church is not about glorifying the worship team like we do our favorite rock and roll artist, or viewing the pastor as someone above the congregation. These are great people doing great things for their communities, I just need to find somewhere else…smaller.
