Megachurches 'shallow in theology'?

From: News.com.au:
The head of the World Council of Churches (That Nobody Goes To Anymore - ed.) has expressed concern about the spread of megachurches around the world, such as Hillsong in Sydney, saying they could lead to a Christianity that is "two miles long and one inch deep".

The WCC General Secretary Samuel Kobia said megachurches - huge Protestant churches with charismatic pastors, lively music and other services - mostly ran on a business model to make worshippers feel good and were shallow in their theology.
Megachurches, which pack in thousands for rousing Sunday worship services, are popular in suburbs in the United States. Most are evangelical or Pentecostal, with few or no ties to mainline churches such as the Lutherans or Episcopalians.

Mr Kobia said the megachurch movement, which is not represented in the mostly mainline Protestant or Orthodox World Council of Churches, broke down borders among denominations with a populist message.

"It has no depth, in most cases, theologically speaking, and has no appeal for any commitment," the Kenyan Methodist said at the WCC world assembly in this Brazilian city.

The megachurches simply wanted individuals to feel good about themselves, he said.

"It's a church being organised on corporate logic. That can be quite dangerous if we are not very careful, because this may become a Christianity which I describe as 'two miles long and one inch deep'."

Reverend Geoff Tunnicliffe, international director of the 400 million member World Evangelical Alliance, said at the assembly that "historical and deeply-felt issues" separated them from other branches of Christianity.

[…] The WCC groups nearly 350 Protestant and Orthodox churches that mostly broke away from the Roman Catholic Church in the Great Schism of 1054 or in the 16th century Reformation.

Megachurches may not be my personal cup of tea, but this is just fatuous nonsense. I can understand it from the Orthodox, who think everybody else’s theology is a mile wide and an inch deep. (I'm kidding! Don't hurt me!) As for the Protestant membership of the WCC, give me a break!

From the Megachurches Today 2005 survey (summarized here):
Myth: All megachurches are nondenominational.
Reality: Most are affiliated with a denomination.

Myth: Megachurches water down theology.
Reality: Most have high spiritual expectations. (About 78 percent of the congregations surveyed said their church “holds strong beliefs and values” and most of them report devoting considerable energy to tithing and personal Scripture study.)

Myth: They are extensions of the Republican Party.
Reality: The majority are not politically active.

The survey also says megachurches don't dwell on raising money, except when engaged in a building or capital campaign.

I think the key phrase above is “Most are evangelical or Pentecostal, with few or no ties to mainline churches such as the Lutherans or Episcopalians.” Jealousy and envy are ugly things.

On the next Sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and talked abusively against what Paul was saying. (Acts 13:44-45, NIV)

Given the choice between a megachurch and one of the Protestant members of the World Council of Churches No One Goes to Anymore, I have to say I’d prefer a guitar riff with Jesus than an organ sonata without. I’m just glad those aren’t my only options.