How does God measure success? In my “reading” library for those quiet moments in the porcelain room, there is a magazine with a focus on the “Fastest Growing and Largest Churches” in America. What can we learn from these churches so our own church can become “big”? The magazine writes the articles so we can find, in my own words, that magic formula for church growth.
But I find myself asking the question “God, how do you measure church growth?” Is it by numbers like we read in the book of Acts where the early church was growing quickly and adding to its numbers daily? I have read many blog writings about how God measures success by our obedience…or by our faithfulness….or the signs and wonders that are shown….or, like this article in the porcelain room magazine, how fast you are growing and how big. Somehow, I just don’t think God measures success by “how big”. Jesus said in Luke 4 “for he who is least among you – he is the greatest”. What did Jesus mean by this?
I believe the church in America today has focused too much attention on planting churches where you get the most for your efforts. Now is that necessarily “wrong”? No…not really. But how about we give a voice to the least of the churches who are doing great things for their community. They are out there, faithfully being Jesus’ ambassadors with often times, very little “visual” measurement of success. I for one, would like to hear about the movement of God in the midst of the small churches. And what about the rural communities in the United States? Not an “easy” place to plant a church because….???? You would have a difficult time trying to build a mega church by taking your ministry to a community of 1,000 people. There is not much money in the small rural communities to support a pastoral staff. Maybe the mega churches need to be that financial support for the “least of these”.
How does God measure success? I suspect He goes much deeper than we do – because humans struggle to quantify the intense love and devotion of a human’s soul and heart for God. Maybe there is not one answer to my question. Certainly, God is too multifaceted for my single faceted mind.
Here is a little controversial start to the morning…
1Jn 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
So, if an organization is attracting the people of the world in such large numbers, one must ask: is it an organization of the father, or of the world? Are the members called to reject the world, or are they given a ‘feel good’ version of the gospel, focused on His love and happiness in this world? The large Acts church was about repentance… the Jews had just executed their messiah.
I have not attended more than a handful of churches, and each one is different. But, the test of service to God’s kingdom is only one thing – how accurate is it in preaching the true gospel? That applies to a 20 person rural church, or a 20,000 mega-church.
One could argue the fruit a church bears is a good indication of “measurement.” How do you measure the accuracy of preaching the true gospel? Not that it isn’t a measure but I think, the measurement lies within, deeper than words…such as the fruit of the spirit. Luke chapter 3 is a possible view into God’s measurement – at least those are my initial thoughts as I read your post Rick. Abiding in the vine, to find the nourishment which bears fruit – and yet, not “announcing” to everyone all of the “fruit you are bearing”.
I would still like to see Christian magazines and such give less emphasis to the big, the large, the well know, and give some emphasis on the small rural community churches who struggle financially but who are bearing such good fruit. I think there is some “cultural” influence in some of the ways reporting is occurring.
Kristine, I agree that our Christian culture seems to elevate bigness as if it were the same as Godliness. I don’t read the magazines you are referring to, but still, large Christian gatherings take the spotlight. But, having said that, The “Red Zone” conference was big, and I was part of it, and I found it to be Godly. Big isn’t by nature bad. It just isn’t that important.
In Luke:
8 Bear fruits in keeping with repentance.
Christian fruit is not social justice (changing the world), it is turning away from sin (changing ourselves). It is not works, it is faith. It is our obedience to His word. After we “own” worship of God, and we “own” love towards our neighbors, then we are in a position to be His servants as He plants His churches to gather His elect.
In other words, with a repentant heart, I will produce fruit. Without it, I will produce worldly vanity.
PS I just finished reading this book:
https://secure2.convio.net/ifl/site/Ecommerce/212566056?VIEW_PRODUCT=true&product_id=33361&store_id=1101
His topic is highly relevant to this discussion.