In 21st century Britain, at least one half-filled classroom told a story recently. My friend, who arrived at the end of the day to pick up her son couldnt understand where all the children were. When the teacher explained that it was Eid, my friend realised afresh that the UK is currently well on the way to becomming a muslim nation. Certainly in that classroom, more children were from a Muslim background than a Christian one. It is said that if the demographic trends continue, we will have become a majority-muslim nation in common with much of Europe in the not too distant future.
Some Christians hear a story like that and focus on the growth of Islam, interpreting it as a threat. I would prefer for us to focus on our churches and to ask what it is that we are doing that causes us to fail to engage with the man on the street. The question we should be asking ourselves is whay the Church seems to largely be failing in its job of attracting new members. Actually, I would prefer even more for us to ask the even more important question – why is it that we are largely failing to engage with our God in heaven in such a way that he pour out his Spirit to shower irresistable grace around and compell the people to come in.
I believe in a sovereign God, but that belief drives me to pray like it is all Gods work, but then to work help to make the church we attend as attractive as it can be to newcommers whilst still preaching the old, old message of the cross. In one sense there are no new secrets of church growth to be had, although there are important principles. We must pray well, preach well, worship well, and adapt the peripherals only to the changing surroundings. Do that and we will be a healthy church. Healthy churches grow, they just cant stop themselves doing so. I will keep coming back to a church where I meet with God, hear preaching that teaches me doctrine and also how to live, and where people love me, and I find my life begins to change dramatically. Just try keeping me away! Just try stopping me inviting my friends along too! If I become a Christian there and realise the impact that has on my life both now and for eternity how can I do anything else but become someone who draws others into the place where I experienced the joy of my sins being forgiven and where I first understood what repentance is? How can I not want to cry out to God for others to share in my joy? How can I not tell my friends and family about what God has done for me? How can I not at the very least say to the people I love "I found this great church, you should come along one day"
May God infect our churches with such a virus of hope that only time spent in his presense praying about such things can produce.
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