Did he teach them a lesson?
Ed Young, the senior pastor of Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, has recently addressed criticism aimed at large churches, particularly megachurches. He argued that complaints about the size of such churches are hypocritical, pointing out that many people who criticize large congregations are often enthusiastic about attending other large events, like concerts or sports games. Young emphasized that if people find large churches problematic, they may not appreciate the idea of a large Heaven, suggesting that the size of a church can be justified based on its location and population density.
Megachurches, defined by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research as churches with an average weekly attendance of 2,000 or more, have seen a decline in numbers. In 2023, there were approximately 1,170 such churches in the U.S., down from around 1,750 in 2020. Despite this, megachurches still serve a significant portion of the population, with data indicating that they represent only 0.5% of churches but attract about 4 million attendees weekly.
In contrast, most churches in the U.S. are much smaller. The average church seats about 200 people, but the median weekly attendance is only 65. This disparity highlights the significant difference between smaller congregations and megachurches, which, despite their size, face challenges as American society shifts away from organized religion.
A Gallup survey from March 2021 noted a drop in formal church membership, with fewer Americans belonging to a specific house of worship than at any point in nearly 80 years. The study found that church membership rates are higher among older generations compared to younger ones and highlighted a growing trend of Americans identifying with no religion.
Pastor Andy Stanley of North Point Community Church also weighed in on the debate over church size. In 2016, Stanley faced backlash for calling those who prefer smaller churches “selfish,” arguing that larger churches are better equipped to serve various age groups and future generations. He later apologized for his remarks, acknowledging the criticism and the need for sensitivity in discussing church size preferences.