Mega Churches?

[Aquila]

Christianity grew the fastest when it didn't focus on building an empire with buildings, programs, concerts, etc. A faith of home and hearth. Even today, the fastest growing movements are in regions too poor to build large churches and establish programs or regions where the church faces persecution. The church in China is EXPLODING and they are networked with home based meetings. We often focus on being "a church" and forget that this is a "kingdom".

[Sam]

As one Chinese immigrant asked many years ago when solicited on the street for money from a Christian, "Is your Jesus always broke? Is that why you are always asking for money?"

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Arphaxad

So that's why Raiders fans are Raiders fans?

I think that's a much darker pathology at work.

Either that or Raiders fans just like to play "dress up."

[pelathais]

Originally Posted by Aquila

Christianity grew the fastest when it didn't focus on building an empire with buildings, programs, concerts, etc. A faith of home and hearth. Even today, the fastest growing movements are in regions too poor to build large churches and establish programs or regions where the church faces persecution. The church in China is EXPLODING and they are networked with home based meetings. We often focus on being "a church" and forget that this is a "kingdom".

I dunno. Christianity "grew fastest" in antiquity when it "took over the Roman Empire." Of course, in the end it actually just sort of morphed into the Roman Empire. After that, Christianity was spread by the sword. Just ask the Saxons, Slavs and Avars.

In terms of sheer numbers of growth I think Christianity has spread the most when it was backed by powerful interests and it was in a person's self interests to "convert." This of course leads to internal wars when Christendom is riven by sects, thus we have the development of Secularism to "remove religion" from the public sphere.

Secularism breaks down however when people find the "private" devotions lead to a shallow spiritual experience and they want to "break out" from the confines of Secularism. This leads to a growth in Fundamentalism which leads to another round of sectarianism which leads to more internal warfare. This says nothing of the constant internal wars that Secularism has over the distribution of resources.

We're stuck on a wheel that can only go 'round and 'round. I'm certain that there's a more optimistic way to look at this but my mood is suddenly gloomy.