Sullivan church of Christ – Sullivan, MO
Date: April 23, 2006
DANGERS OF CHURCH GROWTH
Jerry Moffitt
We hear a lot today regarding church growth, and many emphasize it, numbers,
and bigness. This writer thinks there are some danger in this attitude which
seem to be sweeping through the brotherhood. But we would first state that
church growth can be good. It can mean that a congregation is alive, working, and
evangelizing the lost through the preaching and teaching of the gospel. This type
of growth is sound and biblical (Acts 2:41; 4:4; Phi. 1:5; I Thess. 1:8). But in this
article we want to stress abuses and dangers. Let us begin.
Competition in the Social and Entertainment Mode: To foster the swelling
of a congregation, a swelling by additions of Christians from other congregations
and false "conversions" from the denominations (which simply is not evangelistic
growth), a church may generate programs which are attractive to worldly-minded
people. So we see bulletins with calendars emphasizing parties, games,
Christmas caroling, birthdays, retreats, catered meals, open houses, seminars
on marriage enrichment, gymnasiums, swim¬ming parties, jogging for Christ,
singles car-tune-up days, etc.
Individual Christians may want to provide times for special groups to be together
and do some things, and this is good. But is this the work of the church as we
see that work in the Scriptures? We now have ministers of youth, ministers of
singles, movies nights, camp-outs, all led by ministers of this and ministers of
that. Is this the work of the church, or have we drifted? Why can we not have
individual Christians do these things which are good, and allow the church to do
its spiritual and God-given work?
But the sad fact is, all this is probably going to stay and greatly increase,
because churches feel that they must compete with other churches and
denominations in the social and entertainment areas or lose members. So the
spirit of competition (and compromise) heats up, and like a boy running downhill,
cannot stop. Yet all of this justifies itself under the philosophy of church
growth, numbers, ministering to the whole man, and bigness. But when you
convert and train brethren in this emphasis, you have to feed them with these
things to keep them "faithful." So what does an eldership have? They have a
church full of people who must have those "needs" met in ever increasing doses,
brethren and half-converted denominationalists who are not there out of love for
truth, willingness to sacrifice, desire to accept denial, and a heart aching for
biblical truth (Mark 8:34-35; Luke 14:26-32; 13:24). Is all this how Jesus caught
the hearts of thousands, and how He mustered a vast army of disciples willing to
die for Him at the drop of a hat?
Compromise: "Preacher, you are too negative. You better tone it down, or . . .
you might actually turn off or run someone away!" We have a brotherhood that
cannot any longer swallow that hard kind of preaching which always makes
strong Christians. Elders now can only tolerate a preacher who gives pink tea, a
diet of candy, and a monotonous rat-a-tat-tat on how to feel good, real good!
Congregations are weak and susceptible to gangrene because they have a bad
case of sugar diabetes. There is a lack, rather a dearth, of plain old sin-hating,
God-fearing, distinctive, hard, doctrinal preaching. And some lament that we do
not have more of the same sweet stuff. Why? We might lose someone to
another congregation. Jesus was pretty rough, and the disciples were like some
of our brethren: "Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard
this saying?" (Matt. 15:12).
When we gather to ourselves elders and preachers who could not care less what
the Holy Spirit said regarding marriage and divorce, modesty, morality,
drunkenness, work, giving of self, and sacrifice, and care more about growth
(swelling), numbers, and bigness, we, as a candlestick, are on the way toward
being snuffed out.
Over Emphasis On Numbers: The "numbers-at-all-costs" philosophy will make
us pay dearly in real spiritual health. It is not wrong to be small every now and
then. It may indicate that a church realizes that the way is strait and narrow
(Matt. 7:13-14), and that though many are called, few are chosen (Matt. 22:14).
Jesus said, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to
enter in, and shall not be able" (Luke 13:24). No, it's not wrong to be small (Rev. 3:
4). God can get along nicely with the Gideon few. In fact, vast numbers should
make us lift an eyebrow or two and do some real deep soul-searching. The vast
majority of people at any given time, in biblical history were generally either lost
or wrong. Take Noah's day, Sodom and Gomorrah, and Elijah on Mount Carmel
and afterward.
There is nothing wrong, in many cases, if a church loses members and dwindles
in size. It may be a good indication that itching ears were not scratched (2 Tim. 4:
1-4), rebellious people had the law laid down, toes were righteously stepped on,
and like an evil, dark, foul spirit, droves of hypocrites and compromisers sought
greener pastures back down in Egypt.
I kind of like the preacher who, when asked how his meeting went, replied,
"Great! Seven people got up and walked out!" It may be that such was
necessary. But we have preachers who never had antagonists throw the tiniest
handful of dust in the air while they spoke (Acts 22:23). Stephen had the face of
an angel and they gnashed on him with their teeth when he cut them to the
heart (Acts 6:15; 7:54).
The truth is, church growth is not always an indication as to how well the
congregation is doing. Congregations should probably be weighed, not counted.
Numbers are rarely a sign of true spirituality, and growth is not always a sign of
the redeemed being added to the ranks of just men made perfect (Heb. 12:23).
Real growth is evangelistic growth, and can be present even when numerical
growth is not. Let us then emphasize spiritual growth . . . growth that comes
only by working hard and diligently fighting for the truth (Jude 3)!
— Via “The Informer,” Weekly Bulletin of the Shelbyville Road church of
Christ, Indianapolis, IN, April 18, 1999