How Megachurches Reflect the World Around Us

Rev. Dr. Hyemin Na, Assistant Professor of Worship, Media, and Culture at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., brings a thoughtful sociological lens to Christian worship and formation. In this highlight from her conversation with Day1 host Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime, she reflects on the megachurch as a cultural phenomenon—one that mirrors broader societal structures around convenience, productivity, and time.

With insights drawn from her forthcoming book, Megachurch Modernities, Rev. Dr. Na invites preachers, educators, and Christian leaders to consider what the structure of the church reveals about the world we live in—and how it might resist it.

Transcript

Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime
Your upcoming book, "Megachurch Modernities" — how has studying megachurches influenced your understanding of how people engage? We know that many of our Day1 listeners attend megachurches and many do not. What do you think is important to know about megachurch culture these days?

Rev. Dr. Hyemin Na
So I approach it as a sociological phenomenon, so, once again, in a similar way that I might approach conceptualization of media. That it is a sign of our times, and it is an indicator of the broader grid in terms of economy, processions of time. Just as there are big box stores, the megachurch, in some ways, is the religious version of a lot of big box or big entities, retail or otherwise. Bringing in resources and sense of convenience and access that current living necessitates. You can't access, you don't have the time, you know, in our capitalistic society where time is money.

Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime
Yeah, commodified.

Rev. Dr. Hyemin Na
Yeah, commodified. So there's a lot of those elements at work now. My broader observations are not in any way talking about the genuineness or agency, or the sincerity of those who attend megachurches. Right? I'm just saying that form, that organizational form, in many ways aligns with some of the other developments in society.

And so it's good to know, because there are ways that you can resist some of the internal narratives of growth, productivity measurement.

Rev. Dr. Katie Givens Kime
Constant productivity, constant!

Rev. Dr. Hyemin Na
Right, right, programmatic, you know, measurements, etc.

I think being aware of that and being vigilant about how that can impact one's formation may be helpful for leaders or those who participate in shaping those communities.

Reflection

Rev. Dr. Hyemin Na’s insight reminds us that the church, like all human structures, exists within a cultural ecosystem. Megachurches—regardless of their theological orientation—often mirror broader societal priorities: efficiency, scalability, and access. While not inherently wrong, these tendencies can shape our expectations of worship, formation, and even spiritual success.

For preachers, educators, and church leaders, this raises important questions: How do we resist the urge to treat ministry like a business? What happens when formation is measured by output, rather than faithfulness? And how might we cultivate spaces that honor depth over growth, presence over productivity?

This clip is an invitation to pause and reflect on what truly forms us—and whether our structures align with the teachings of Jesus or the demands of a market-driven world.

What might it look like to lead a church that resists the culture of commodification? How can your worshiping community prioritize abiding presence over constant performance?

Explore Rev. Dr. Hyemin Na’s full sermon from Episode 4179 >>>