Mega-Church
Originally scheduled for November 11
One of the recent developments in church
history is what is called a mega-church. One of these churches
recently opened its new building; for those who grew up in a country
church, it’s quite a change.
The first thing to strike you is a fantastic
quality of the audio and video productions. Most preachers don’t get
to have a high definition, 40’ x 60’ screen behind them for their
audiovisual aides. The impact of the site and the sound reminded one
most of all of a rock concert. The preacher was his usual self —
humble to a fault, humorous as always with a heartfelt message. As
befits a church this size his presentation was detail perfect. In
fact, the entire thing is not described as a “worship service” but
is officially known as a “weekend experience.”
Of course the church I grew up in had something
similar — in a way. Well, we had a piano (an organ with just a
little too expensive) and there were hymn books in the pew racks.
People knew how to sing, even in four-part harmony. The preacher’s
messages were simple, but it must be noted that his collection of
jokes was rather small and often repeated. It was a simple church;
simple, but sound.
It’s hard to think of two churches that are
more different, but one thing they had in common — right down to the
last detail. That one thing was Communion. Both churches use the
same simple plastic cups, filled with the same stuff. The little
wafer of bread was identical. The trays were identical.
Both churches offered the fruit of the vine as
a memorial to the blood of Christ. Just as Christ commanded, both
churches remembered his blood shed on the cross. Both churches
offered the bread as a memorial to the body of Christ. Both churches
did so in imitation of what the Lord instituted at the Last Supper.
These two churches are so different; how is it
that this part of their worship is the same?
·
Both of these churches serve the same
Lord — one Lord, one faith, one birth.
·
Both of these churches honor the same
sacrifice by that Lord — his death on the cross as atonement for our
sins.
·
Both of these churches celebrate the
same victory. On Easter Sunday that one Lord they both serve walked
out of the tomb, alive.
He lives; we serve a risen Savior – the same
Lord, the same remembrance.
