I like big box stores. Don’t hate me. I have heard many a man say, as they stroll through Home Depot, “I could spend my life savings in here.”

All the men said Amen.

Big box stores are thriving because, well, they are big. And they offer everything we need. And there are (usually) informed people to give me direction. And the prices are affordable.

I’m not apologizing. Big things are awesome!

Of course, this isn’t true about all things. No man ever boasts about his big belly. No one brags about his huge credit card bills. Big zits, big foreheads, big egos. Not all big things are better.

This applies to churches too. Before you think this is one of those big-churches-are-all-sellouts kind of posts. Keep reading. I like big churches too. But not because they are big. I like big churches because they usually think big.

Don’t go negative here. I know you. Yeah, you! You assume because a church is big they must be watering down the gospel. You’re creating a false narrative reaffirming a personal bias. Some might call it circular reasoning. Joel Osteen waters down the gospel. Joel has a big church. Therefore, all big churches must water down the gospel.

Don’t be a dum dum. That’s not true. Not even close.

Jesus had huge crowds. Paul crammed people into rooms to preach. One guy even died (subsequently raised from the dead) because the only seat available in an already overcrowded space was on the edge of a window in which he fell out. Spurgeon (one of my favorites), pastored the first modern megachurch in London in the 1800’s. His fiery preaching gathered 5000-6000 people every week. Big is not always bad.

I have no agenda here. I don’t pastor a large church—just a few hundred.

I’m just tired of all the haters. I don’t know why we keep running down the pastor or church who is doing something good. Is it insecurity, fear, pride, jealousy or just a good ole dose of the older brother syndrome? I don’t know.

This week, along with some other pastors, I had the privilege of seeing the new facility of a church in my hometown. This pastor is younger than me; noticeably better looking than me; probably a better communicator than me. I looked around at their new digs and I was tempted to be a hater. But, the thing is, I know this guy. I see that they send lots and lots of money to unreached people groups. I hear their heart to love our city well. They preach the bible, love Jesus and teach people well. And they grew big.

In that moment, all I can do is say thank God he makes his church thrive.

My next post will be why small churches rule too!