Double Standard?

I attend a mega church. It is the largest church in Lexington, Kentucky. I attended a mega church when I lived in Las Vegas. I like mega churches. They usually have the types of programs that are of interest to me. They have the best music in town (with such a large talent pool from which to draw, how could they not?). They are easy to "hide in" if I so choose, yet offer small groups where I can go deep and become genuine with a group of like minded people. I like mega churches.

So when a mega church decides they want to expand, they have outgrown their existing facilities and need to provide more room so more people can become a part of this, why is there so much push back?

The church I attend here in town recently announced they have received a budget of $30 million to purchase and build out a dilapidated former mall here in town. Immediately there were cries of outrage, in the paper, on the radio, and most likely from the pulpits of some of the smaller churches. How could they even consider spending so much? If this property becomes a church, the city (which is experiencing a budget crisis) will no longer be generating property tax revenue. Blah, blah, blah ...

Another church, one of the 10 fastest growing churches in America in 2009, located in Fullerton, California is in a very similar predicament. For 40 years this church has been on the same location. Two years ago their long-time pastor chose to retire. The search group settled on a great replacement, a man with experience growing churches while encouraging them to grow deep in their faith. Within months of the new pastor's first sermon, the church had grown from 1,500 to nearly 2,000 in weekend attenders.

Today, less than two short years into pastor Gene's ministry with the church, they are averaging over 4,000 each weekend.

The church was already in a building campaign when Gene was called. Due to the incredible growth, however, leadership has realized due to issues associated with being land-locked, construction costs, etc. it would not be prudent for them to invest in their current facility. They are seeking a new facility, one with a large laundry list of needs, while attempting to sell their existing facility.

What has been the response? How can we spend so much? Why don't we use the money for the poor and needy?

Here's the deal people:

-Both of these churches have terrific ministries to the poor.
-Both of these churches spend large sums of money in their local communities, providing services and meeting needs rather than standing idly by and letting the government help.
-Both of these churches are following the great commission, not watering down the truth, but holding firm to the gospel of Christ, meeting people where they are and showing them the path to salvation.
-Both of these churches have strong programs both in their community, in their states, in America, and internationally where the least, lost, and last are being served.
-Both of these churches realize that if they expand and reach more people, they will have even more influence in their current ministries and possibly be able to take on even more ministry opportunities.

I realize there will always be a double standard when it comes to churches. People will generally go for the "holier than thou" when it comes to large sums of money. It happened in Jesus' time:

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Matthew 26:6-13, New International Version)

Rather than worry about the money being spent, people in Jesus' time, and people of today, need to focus on the ministry. If the ministry is following the great commission, then we should celebrate their success, not condemn them! However, if the ministry is simply building an empire, we need to then get on our knees and ask God to intervene.

There will always be false prophets. There will always be self-serving preachers. There will always be men and women who claim to be from God but are not. The only test is the one offered by Jesus,

Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions. (Matthew 7:15-20, New Living Translation)

The only test of a person, or a church, is the way they act. Those that are serving others, opening free clinics for the poor, going into the community in mass on work days, giving a cup of water in Jesus' name; those churches need to be celebrated, even when they invest $30 million or $40 million on new facilities. It is only through providing the facilities to minister to people they will be able to continue to produce good fruit!