Comparing the megachurch movement to the ancient city-state system? Far fetched?
In 21st century American Christianity, the city state is alive and well. The megachurch movement has given rise to little church empires all over the country, in which the head pastor is CEO and ruler. In Houston, Texas, there is the vaunted Joel Osteen of Lakewood Church, most well known among the Prosperity-ites and Word/Faith-ians. In South Carolina there is Pastor Perry Noble of Newspring Church, with his empire controlling territories in Greenville, Columbia, and Anderson (much like Genoa and Venice controlled islands and cities all over the Mediterranean Sea during the Medieval period). In North Carolina, Noble’s good friend Steven Furtick reigns in Elevation Church in Charlotte. The list goes on: Mark Batterson runs National Community Church in the nation’s capital, Granger Community Church is located in Indiana (Granger has a big leadership team which reminds of Carthage’s ruling oligarchy), Bill Hybels is head of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, and we can’t forget to mention Rick Warren and Saddleback Church out in California.
