The Megachurch as an Idol: How the Church Replaces God with Itself

Abstract

Megachurches in the United States draw massive crowds, bring in swaths of wealth, and are the locations of many controversies within and outside of the Christian faith. As demonstrated by two theologically divergent megachurches, Lakewood Church run by the Osteen family and First Baptist Church of Dallas lead by Robert Jeffress, the growth and current state of these megachurches is preeminently built upon the marriage of the American Dream and Christianity: resulting in overt or subtextual prosperity theology elements. The rise in Christian book and music industries, and advertising and marketing of products within the church are examples of these elements. Overt or not, both Lakewood Church, with outright prosperity gospel teachings, and First Baptist Church of Dallas, with intense Christian nationalism, lead their followers through flawed ideologies and monetized spiritual practices that promote and constitute idolatry