In a bold statement that has sparked conversations within the Christian community, Pastor Ed Young, the founding and senior pastor of the multi-site Fellowship Church in Grapevine, Texas, recently called out those who criticize megachurches for being “too big.” Young, whose church boasted a reported weekly attendance of over 24,000 in 2020, argues that such complaints are hypocritical, pointing to the inconsistency in people’s attitudes toward large venues for other activities like sports events and concerts.

Megachurches, defined by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research as churches with an average weekly attendance of 2,000 or more worshipers, have become a significant part of the American religious landscape. However, their prevalence appears to be on the decline. According to a 2023 report by Worship Leader, there were approximately 1,170 megachurches in the United States, a significant drop from the 1,750 reported by the Hartford Institute in 2020. This decline reflects broader trends in American religious life, where formal membership in houses of worship is decreasing.

In a statement shared on Facebook, Young addressed the criticism head-on, saying, “‘Your church is just too big.’ I’ve heard people tell me that a lot. ‘It’s too big. It’s a megachurch.’ Well, that’s got to be one of the most hypocritical statements someone can make because the person making the statement goes to massive concerts. They would go to a game, a football game. They would go to a massive mall, and they never really say that about those entities.”

Young’s argument is centered on the idea that large gatherings are a natural part of human culture, whether in the context of sports, entertainment, or shopping. He believes that churches, especially those situated in densely populated areas, should reflect this by being “big in the context of being big.”

“But they always say, ‘the church is too big.’ Hey, if you think the church is too big, then you’re not going to like Heaven because Heaven is going to be a big place,” Young added, drawing a connection between the size of a church and the Christian concept of Heaven, which he envisions as a vast, inclusive place.

While megachurches often receive a lot of media attention, they are far from the norm in American religious life. According to a 2020 FACT study cited by Lifeway Research, the average church in the U.S. seats about 200 people, but the median weekly attendance is only 65. This means that half of all churches in the country have fewer than 65 attendees each week. Megachurches, though influential, represent just 0.5 percent of churches nationwide, serving around 4 million people weekly.

The disparity between the size of megachurches and the average American church highlights the unique position that megachurches occupy. They are often able to offer extensive programs and resources that smaller congregations cannot, but they also face criticism for potentially losing the personal, community-oriented aspect that smaller churches often provide.

The debate over church size comes as America is undergoing a significant cultural shift away from organized religion. A Gallup analysis from March 2021 revealed that while seven in 10 Americans still claim some form of religious affiliation, fewer than half are formal members of a specific house of worship. This marks the first time in nearly 80 years that church membership has fallen below 50 percent.

Age is a major factor in this trend. The Gallup analysis found that 66 percent of traditionalists (those born before 1946) have formal church membership, compared with 58 percent of baby boomers, 50 percent of Generation X, and just 36percent of millennials. The limited data available on Gen Z adults suggests their church membership rates are similar to those of millennials, indicating a continued decline in formal religious involvement among younger generations.

Another significant factor is the growing number of Americans who express no religious preference. This group has expanded from 8 percent of the population in 1998 to 21 percent in recent years. Among those who do not identify with any religion, only 4 percent report holding formal membership in a church, synagogue, or mosque.

The tension between large and small churches is not new. In 2016, Pastor Andy Stanley, senior leader of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, one of the largest churches in the U.S., sparked controversy with remarks that some interpreted as disparaging smaller congregations. Stanley suggested in a sermon that large churches are better equipped for the spiritual development of children and criticized adults who prefer smaller churches as “selfish.”

“This is one reason why we build big churches. People say, ‘Why do you have to make them so big?’ Let me tell you why,” Stanley said. He explained that large churches can provide separate environments for middle school and high school students, something that smaller churches often cannot do.

Stanley’s comments, which included the remark, “When I hear adults say, ‘Well, I don’t like a big church. I like about 200, I want to be able to know everybody,’ I say, ‘You are so stinking selfish,'” drew significant backlash. He later apologized on social media, acknowledging that his words were offensive even to himself.

As the American religious landscape continues to evolve, megachurches like those led by Ed Young and Andy Stanley will likely continue to face scrutiny. While they offer numerous advantages, such as extensive resources and programs, they also challenge the traditional model of the church as a close-knit community.

For Young, the size of a church is not a valid reason for criticism, especially in a society where large gatherings are commonplace. His defense of megachurches underscores a broader debate within Christianity about what a church should be and how it should serve its congregation.