This blog continues the conversation at:
http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Healing-Church-Hurtful-Church.html
For years now Protestant churches have been locked in an endless debate over the issue of size. 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. On the other side of the debate — 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.
But the debate among church leaders goes on among people in the pews as well. In the last few years I have watched people struggle with parishes on the brink of extinction. I have heard folks say, we have decided to emphasize program instead of growth. Some have even argued that the shrinking size of their churches is evidence of their sophistication. Others watch people go out the back door of their churches as quickly as they come through the front door.
The truth, of course, is that the size of churches is tied to countless factors and most of those are local.
Some churches are small because they are doing tough work in tough places. Some are small because they deserve to be small.
Some large churches are large because they are struggling with people’s needs and introducing them to God. Some of them are large because they are in the business of making people happy with the lives they would live anyway — God or no God.
Frankly, the argument over size is about as useful as it is on some playgrounds.
If you are doing God’s work, you will need to grow.
If you want to sit on small as beautiful — “Call the undertaker, your church is dying.” The decision not to grow is the decision to die. It may be sooner or later, but you will die.
If you are in a large church, heaven help you if you are big because you’ve been selling lies. If people go as quickly as they come, you are probably not helping people cultivate a relationship with God, you are just entertaining them. If you have built your big church on cotton candy, look out, “The Auditor is coming” and this auditor is not interested in your numbers.
Small or large, the conversation shouldn’t be all about you anyway.
Instead, what about a Christ-centered, needs-based ministry?
When was the last time people got the impression that you know Jesus?
When did you last ask, “What do the people around us need?”
Size isn’t everything and sometimes it doesn’t mean anything at all.