Often when one is involved in church planting, or even any other form of ministry, there is a temptation to get caught up in numbers. We are growing a plant or a ministry and thus numbers show whether we are having success or not...or do they? It is here that I had a sobering thought recently. What if truth actually means the exact opposite? And not just in planting, what if revitalizing a church actually has the opposite effect, at least to begin with?
If making disciples in a church plant or while revitalizing a church means introducing the real Jesus, understanding who He is, what He has done and leading people to what He asks of them, there will be little room for those who are looking for an easy ride and for comfort. To get back to the heart of what Jesus expects may actually drive more people away from the church to begin with, the many sitting in pews, chairs (benches, floors or whatever variation our church plant might use) who have been content to just do that, sit and be comfortable. But this was exactly Jesus' pattern was it not? Preach and heal, gather a crowd but before too long give some of the tough stuff and weed out that crowd. One clear example comes in chapter six when Jesus begins talking about eating His flesh and drinking His blood (John 6:51-60). Eventually, we are told that "many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him." (John 6:66) Jesus seemed less concerned with numbers and church growth than with truly devoted disciples.
If we are really concerned with true discipleship, church planting or church revitalization it is probably best to leave aside some of our notions of numbers and church growth, at least at the beginning. Big numbers don't mean big numbers of true disciples. Although numbers can be important, and at some point we all would like to see them going up, for the sake of souls in the kingdom, we may need some other indicators of vitality, revitalization and health. Church Growth and Revitalization don't always go hand in hand.
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Amen Jay. Fully agree. I like to turn sometimes to the fruit of the Spirit and ask if we are seeing it in increasing measure as an alternative measuring stick to numbers. There are of course lots of other ones, but these 9 attributes are scripturally offered as evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work in the planting/revitalization project. All too often I think quick numbers are more a sign of good marketing. Keep pressing on my dear friend. Jenn Burnett
ReplyDeleteAgree totally, I see this work out in the youth groups I lead. When you get to the main point you have those who are real and those who are playing. The weeding out takes place then the group grows spiritualy and with that they then grow numerically due to the fact that they are reaching out to those who need to hear the Gospel.
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