For years now Protestant churches have been locked in an endless debate over the issue of size.\u00a0 At the extremes, there are a few mega-church leaders who have touted the virtues of congregational growth and who argue that their size is a sign of their faithfulness.\u00a0 On the other side of the debate \u2014 the leaders of shrinking denominations have made a virtue of their reality by asserting that small is beautiful, arguing that prophetic churches inevitably drive people away.<\/p>\n
But the debate among church leaders goes on among people in the pews as well.\u00a0 In the last few years I have watched people struggle with parishes on the brink of extinction.\u00a0 I have heard folks say, we have decided to emphasize program instead of growth.\u00a0 Some have even argued that the shrinking size o their churches is evidence of their sophistication.\u00a0 Others watch people go out the back door of their churches as quickly as they come through the front door.<\/p>\n
The truth, of course, is that the size of churches is tied to countless factors and most of those are local.<\/p>\n
Some churches are small because they are doing tough work in tough places.\u00a0 Some are small because they deserve to be small.<\/p>\n
Some large churches are large because they are dedicated to a forthright proclamation of the gospel.\u00a0 Some of them are large because they wave a magic wand over the lives their membership would live anyway and declare it God\u2019s will.<\/p>\n
Frankly, the argument over size is about as useful as it is on some playgrounds.<\/p>\n
If you are doing God\u2019s work, you will need to grow.<\/p>\n
If you want to sit on small as beautiful \u2014 \u201cCall the undertaker, your church is dying.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0The decision not to grow is the decision to die.\u00a0 It may be sooner or later, but you will die.<\/p>\n
If you are in a large church, heaven help you if you are big because you\u2019ve been selling lies. \u00a0If people go as quickly as they come, you are probably not helping people cultivate a relationship with God, you are just entertaining them.\u00a0 If you have built your big church on cotton candy, look out, \u201cThe Auditor is coming\u201d and this auditor is not interested in your numbers.<\/p>\n
Small or large, the conversation shouldn\u2019t be all about you anyway.<\/p>\n
Instead, what about a Christ-centered, needs-based ministry?<\/p>\n
When was the last time people got the impression that you know Jesus?<\/p>\n
When did you last ask, \u201cWhat do the people around us need?\u201d<\/p>\n
Size isn\u2019t everything and sometimes it doesn\u2019t mean anything at all.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For years now Protestant churches have been locked in an endless debate over the issue of size.\u00a0 At the extremes, there are a few mega-church leaders who have touted the virtues of congregational growth and who argue that their size is a sign of their faithfulness.\u00a0 On the other side of the debate \u2014 the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":240,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-181","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-spiritual-perspectives"],"yoast_head":"\n