Fellow Christians, What is your opinion of these mega churches and celebrity pastors?

I dislike them because they distract people from the *true* purpose of going to church and having faith--worshipping God. It is too easy for people to worry about how they look, how much money they have, are they going to the "right" church, etc.

The most thriving and vital churches are usually the smaller ones that are actually active in the community and look out for each other. How many people in the mega-churches know the people sitting two rows behind them?

As for celebrity preachers...all I have to do is recall Jim Baker (committed adultery), Oral Roberts (locked himself into a tower and wouldn't come out until millions of dollars had been donated), and other who have misled thousands of believers down the wrong paths. It is too easy for them to bask in the glow of being exalted--sinful pride.

I find that most of the mega churches are for money only. I attended one at one time. I tithed every week and then when times got tough I asked for food, they declined. but they spent over $10 million to built a new church which is less than half full every week (just so it could be the biggest church in town)..the pastor always got a 2 week paid vacation to an expensive place completely paid.. expensive house.. expensive NEW car every few years.. EVERY expense he had paid. When it was time to give the offering if you didn't give, they made you feel guilty for not giving. I went to a small church once and the pastor took money out of his own pocket to buy people he had NEVER met food to eat. that's the difference in a real church and a money church.

As for celebrity Christians , like with 700 club and places.. they just want money.. just listen to them. "God will bless you IF you send us a donation"..

The Bible says that its OK for those who bless people spiritually to have them bless you materially or financially.

Most of today's Mega-churches, got big by doing things right.

I know of 3 Mega-churches which started out since I finished college.

Meaning I knew them when they were still small.

They grew because the founders had a more interesting way of presenting the Gospel than others.

I was one of four un-paid leaders of a church which grew from 10 to 12,000 and none of the four of us were ever paid a salary.

I was never even reimbursed for my out of pocket expenses.

So these are about Christianity. Not money.

No one goes there to praise the Pastor.

I've been to 3 of them. I know 2 of the three pastors face to face.

Your question, has, in my experience of these three Mega-Churches, no basis in actual fact.

I don't judge their motives or their hearts or even their money. The only thing I wonder is if they aren't setting some Christians up for problems in life, by their incorporation of modern philosophies into their message.

The facts are that this is the hard part of life, we have no guarantees of health or wealth, no matter how much faith we have and the only thing we can cling to is Christ.

The thing is, churches are to be judged from within. And by God. I don't attend any such church and will not make such a generalization as you have here.

I go to church to worship God, but I also have to like the pastor, frankly, if he is to be able to "feed me."

First off, to anyone who judges them I would ask if they know these people personally? Do you know their hearts? Do you know what type of relationship they have with God?

If you answered NO to any of those questions, then you shouldn't judge them in any way.

As for me.... I believe they'll be known by their fruit. There have been crooked ones in the past that cause skeptics among the communities. Currently, there's an issue with Joel Olsteen. What do I think about the whole thing? I just think that God will judge Joel by the fruits of his life and I should worry about my own issues before I start to point them out in another's life. (Matthew 7:3)

Look any preacher whoever they are, if they do not preach the genuine gospel that God gave to us is a fraud! And sadly all these mentioned pastors and mega-churches do not believe in it or preach it, therefore all of them will be standing before God on the terrible day protesting their innocence..and all they will hear is these frightful words..'Away from Me! you who practice lawlessness, for I never knew you!" (Matthew 7:21-23).

But the wise seek the truth and believe in it despite all these lies....and the truth can be found within these Free Christian Books: www;nlmnewzealand.com.

I have no opinion of them. What they do is between them and God. He knows their hearts. When it comes to this sort of a thing, I will fall back, and say that I know only Christ, and Him crucified. I study what is between me and God, and leave what is between others and God , between others and God.

Well personally, I rather DO like Cathedrals.

Only God knows what is in their heart. I listen to their words. As long as they stay in agreement with the Bible I have no problem with them.

As with everyone, they will reap what they sow.