By Isaac Cullum, Juicy Ecumenism.
Evangelical megachurches have grown to fit a stereotype. A young pastor with trendy clothing, a cheerful welcome team with name badges, a large and vigorous youth program, an expansive worship band with the latest production tools, and a dark auditorium with haze and colored lights. According to many of these churches, such atmospheric choices are intended to appeal to young people. There is, of course, nothing wrong with trying to bring young people to Christ. Matthew 28:18-20 tells followers of Christ to make disciples of all nations and young people should certainly not be neglected.
The methods by which megachurches try to bring in young people, however, are often brought into question. Some accuse megachurches of secularizing themselves and attempting to imitate secular music concerts in an attempt to appeal to the younger generation. Additionally, many accuse evangelical megachurches of attempting to farm an experience rather than focusing on the truth of the gospel.
Critics argue that megachurches use fog machines, loud music, and colored lights to create an experience that will make people feel emotionally and spiritually moved. Many argue that these emotional atmospheres are intended to make people feel emotionally connected with God and emphasize feelings of spirituality over issues of doctrine. Others accuse megachurches of attempting to create an emotional atmosphere where people feel guilty about their sin and feel pressured into salvation.
If these are indeed the intended aims of megachurch atmospheres, there are striking resemblances to the camp revival meetings of the Second Great Awakening (SGA).
An enormous Christian revival in the United States, the SGA occurred between 1800 and 1835 from Tennessee to Connecticut. Notable effects of the SGA were a shift in the character of American Protestantism and numerous social reform efforts spawned in antebellum America.