9th March, 2008
Concerned About Church Growth
Lately, I have been deeply pondering the decline of church growth in America. Not only in the denomination or movement, as some would like to characterize it as, that I serve but the Church as a whole. I am still trying to mentally calculate the negative news blogs on USA, CNN, The Onion and others. Just what is happening to the faith in people who have attended churches and decided to stop going is not some surface bruise. There is a real problem with relationships and trust. There are deep wounds in the faith of those deciding to change the way they worship. Not by any means do I think going to another church is wrong! However when the decline grows past the thimble measurement to a vast media conduit that will fed the negative and not give a solution to the problem at hand. This problem or cataclysm is not something we should wait for to be over, such as, the changing housing market or the upswing of a new government embarking on a “savior” roll. The people of and for the Church need to apprehend this and contain the crisis till a solution is at hand. Now how can this be solved? Let’s look at how it cannot be solved first: It cannot be solved by ignoring the decline of church growth. It cannot be solved by the riddle “it is just for season.” Certainly it will never be solved by forming a committee of people who already are part of the predicament. I hope that no one believes that we should wait and “vote” in new leaders at any upcoming Assemblies. Even though I would like to point to other negative solution finders, one that comes to mind is what is going on right now. That is, everywhere I look, there are heads in the sand and what should be behind, is showing itself. This is not a struggle for power nor position this is an ardent and crucial moment in the history of the Church. The approach we have been taking is causing a lack of trust in leadership and in the church as a whole. Here in California, the Church of God is suffering and certainly not growing. The population is growing, the cultural affect on society is changing and the social levels are becoming more distant than ever before. Social hostility is on the increase and unemployment is also escalating. Fear is gripping families everywhere along with doubt that there is a elucidation that can really determine the future of the church. My observations of this only details more to me that we, those of us that our talking, noticing and truly burdened, must pray in the “turn about” of the shocking events that are happening to the Church in America. Live like Christ, with integrity, purity, honesty, and with motives that will bring glory to God. I hope that many read this and desire to talk about this!
My Heart To Yours
Dennis
Posted at 11:07 pm |