In an era where bigger often means better, one Texas pastor is challenging the notion that churches should be an exception. Pastor Ed Young of Fellowship Church in Grapevine has ignited a firestorm of debate by labeling critics of megachurches as hypocrites, thrusting the contentious issue of church size back into the spotlight.
Young’s provocative stance comes at a time when American religious landscapes are shifting dramatically. With church attendance dwindling and the number of megachurches on the decline, his defense of large congregations has touched a nerve in both religious and secular communities alike.
“‘It’s too big. It’s a megachurch,'” Young said in a recent Facebook video, mimicking his critics. “Well, that’s got to be one of the most hypocritical statements someone can make because the person making the statement goes to massive concerts. They would go to a game, a football game. They would go to a massive mall.”
Young’s comments come at a time when the landscape of American religious life is undergoing significant changes. According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, the number of megachurches – defined as churches with 2,000 or more weekly attendees – has decreased from 1,750 in 2020 to approximately 1,170 in 2023.
Despite this decline, megachurches continue to play a significant role in American Christianity. The 2024 Outreach 100 report by Lifeway Research lists 15 churches with at least 20,000 attendees, and 69 with 10,000 or more. The largest, Life Church in Oklahoma, pastored by Craig Groeschel, reports 76,000 weekly attendees.
Young argues that the size of a church should be proportional to its community. “If a church is around a lot of people, it should be big in the context of being big,” he stated. He even drew a comparison to the Christian concept of heaven, saying, “If you think the church is too big, then you’re not going to like heaven because heaven is going to be a big place.”
However, megachurches represent only a small fraction of American religious institutions. A 2020 Lifeway Research study found that the average U.S. church seats about 200 people, with a median weekly attendance of just 65 worshippers. Megachurches account for only 0.5% of churches nationwide, serving approximately 4 million weekly congregants.
The debate over church size comes amid broader changes in American religious participation. A Gallup analysis from March 2021 revealed that fewer than half of Americans are formal members of a specific house of worship, marking the first time in nearly 80 years that church membership has fallen below 50%.
Age appears to be a significant factor in this trend. While 66% of traditionalists (born before 1946) have formal church membership, only 36% of millennials do. The number of Americans expressing no religious preference has also grown from 8% in 1998 to 21% in recent years.
This is not the first time the size of churches has been a point of contention. In 2016, Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church in Georgia sparked controversy by suggesting that large churches are better equipped for spiritual development, particularly for children and youth.
“This is one reason why we build big churches,” Stanley said at the time. “People say, ‘Why do you have to make them so big?’ Let me tell you why.” He argued that larger churches can provide separate environments for different age groups, something smaller churches often struggle to do.
As the religious landscape continues to evolve, the role and relevance of megachurches remain topics of debate. While they offer extensive resources and programs, critics argue they may lack the intimate community feel of smaller congregations.
Young’s defense of megachurches underscores a broader question within Christianity about the nature and purpose of the church in modern society. As religious participation patterns shift, particularly among younger generations, the conversation about church size and structure is likely to continue.
Whether megachurches will adapt to these changing trends or face further decline remains to be seen. What is clear is that the discussion about the optimal size and structure of religious communities will remain a significant aspect of the ongoing dialogue about the future of organized religion in America.
Loading ...