A Review of James Wellman et al’s “High on God”
“High”ly Recommended
Megachurches are a subject of fascination for me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m quite happy with my liberal-leaning Protestant church of choice. However, I usually read (and review) books by evangelicals, and while I don’t always agree with their theology, there’s something about their faith that has me going, “How do I get something like that?” These writers seem to be high on the religious experience that they have a hand in facilitating to some degree — especially if they are the lead pastor of their church. So that got me down the road to reading this book, High on God, to broaden my understanding of what makes megachurches click. The book does not disappoint.
To be sure, given that the publisher is Oxford University Press, the book is geared towards academics and scholars, and I’ll be upfront and say that I didn’t understand all of it. (There’s a lengthy section in the Appendixes about the role that oxytocin may play in experiencing a religious going-on that went largely over my head but, suffice to say, the authors of this book — James Wellman, Katie Corcoran and Kate Stockly — seem to gravitate towards a scientific bias, even though one of the authors does admit to regularly attending a megachurch in Seattle.) The book is full of $100 words and high concepts. However, it is largely readable, especially as one proceeds from the opening chapters of the book — which argue that humans are homo duplex, in that we want to be both individuals and also paradoxically part of a larger social group — and get into the real meat of what makes megachurches tick.
High on God argues that megachurches meet the needs of us homo duplexes through a series of six related things going on at these churches (in no particular order): that they welcome the newcomer with open arms, have a “wow!” factor in the types of music and service that they have, have charismatic leaders, involve members in social work of some kind in the community, facilitate the need for smaller groups to meet to continue the churches’ presence in the individual’s life, and have an altar call in which the member can feel as though they belong to the church. I read this book and began to understand why these churches have the impact that they do. This magical potion of six things really cuts to the chase why people flock to these congregations.
The third part of the book is dedicated to scandals and when megachurches go bad, but, largely, this is a flattering account of megachurches. The authors seem surprised by this as they commented that they had the same liberal biases going into their five-year study of this phenomenon that I probably would have had. By and large, the authors paint a rosy picture of megachurches being healthy and vital organizations that meet a real need in America. The authors go on to claim that while megachurches are primarily social conservative in nature, some are starting to turn towards more liberal issues such as accepting the gay and lesbian community.
Where the book really stands up is in providing some historical context on megachurches. Having now read this volume, I now fully understand why some of the books I’ve been reading and reviewing take on the mantle of providing advice to entrepreneurs (T. D. Jakes’ SOAR!) or getting people to think more positively (Stan Toler’s The Power of Positive Words). On the last front, it turns out that evangelicals generally have linked positive thought to being godly, and even current US President Donald Trump has been influenced by these texts and their writers. High on God also deftly shows that megachurches are not a distinctly American thing — having roots as far back as Paul’s ministry. There’s a lot here for the reader to learn, even if some of the bits can read a little dry, being an academic work.
Ultimately, this is a thoroughly exhaustive look at the megachurch as a cultural force in America. Not only did this research span five years, but took a magnifying glass to 12 megachurches in the country, inviting participation from not only the laypeople but the pastors themselves. All of this is to say that the book is rigorous in its examination of the megachurch. And that’s precisely why you should read it, even if you have only a fleeting fancy in these churches. I also had to wonder after reading this book, though, if what the authors propose is true of not just megachurches, but churches in general. I’ve come to understand that the megachurch is rooted in Methodism to some degree, and my church is an amalgamation of Methodism and two other denominations. So when I greet people on Sunday mornings as part of my church’s hospitality team, I have to wonder that because megachurches employ people to do the same thing on a volunteer basis if my church isn’t that far removed from aspects of the megachurch experience. And that’s just one example. (I’d say that my friend and lead pastor is also fairly charismatic, too, among other things.)
Overall, this is a book that’s meant to be devoured. While some of it may fly way above your pay grade as a layperson in the church, the bits are that more universal do stick and make sense. So, yes, there is a constant push and pull between this book reading as though it were someone’s dissertation on religious studies and something that everyone can understand. Despite this inner war, High on God is highly illuminating and breathtaking in its scope and vision. The book will make you understand why megachurch culture is the way it is, and gives you a front-row seat into that experience without having the need to set foot in one of these churches yourself. High on God may not be perfect, but as a comprehensive and academic study, this is strictly put one of the best books on religion that I’ve read. It filled in a lot of gaps for me. I’m sure it could do the same for you.
James Wellman, Katie Corcoran and Kate Stockly’s High on God: How Megachurches Won the Heart of America will be published by Oxford University Press on February 24, 2020.
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Get in touch: zacharyhoule@rogers.com
