Small Church Dilemma
Part of the reason for creating this blog was the dilemma often faced by smaller churches. That dilemma is trying fit big church concepts into a small church package. There are two main things that drive this:
1. Leadership Ego.
Leadership ego is when a pastor of a smaller church feels like he's failing because the numbers (noses and nickles) don't compare with the big boys whose churches get all the pub. The leader then feels compelled to try to copy what the big boys are doing in order to achieve their success. Talk about an impossible trap and a complete departure from the heart of ministry. Jesus call us to follow Him not build numbers. In fact Jesus said that He would build the church. So leaders that focus on numbers lose their way and the church goes along for the ride.
2. Consumer Expectations.
Consumer expectations are the driving force of most church growth. A simple review of the numbers will show that most of the growth reported by churches is transfer growth fueled by the ideal of consumerism. I believe that if a poll were taken to determine the primary reason someone attends a particular church in America the answer would be "Because I like the......" and fill in the blank with whatever program or feature they like. Few would say it was because "Jesus called us here...."
What these expectations then drive is a demand that creates stress on the small church to try and match what the bigger churches are doing in order to keep and hopefully attract new people in order to stay viable.
Both contribute to a downward spiral that cripples the effectiveness of the small congregation. It's a self-destructive conspiracy of wrong motivations that Satan uses to keep the church from being the powerful influence Jesus intends for her to be.
I believe that the greatest potential for transformative influence in America is the smaller church. Large churches have their place and there's no excuse for churches and leaders who 'mail it in' from week to week gathering in their holy huddles for all the world to ignore.
But could it be that there is a place for the influential small church in our Christian culture that isn't looked upon as less than or inadequate? Is there a way that these smaller congregations could prove to be the key to the transformation of our culture?
Share your thoughts below......
posted by Columbia Life Church @ 12:08 PM
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1 Comments:
I have to tell you that my family attends/serves at a big church (in addition to your smaller church). Numbers are not all they are cracked up to be. Larger numbers often produce prideful spirits. When leaders and pastors start seeing growth in numbers, it is only natural for them to start thinking that it is because of what they have accomplished or how they have contributed to the "success" of the church. Is this really true success? In some ways, they can even see themselves as "superstars" or "famous" within the church (well-known names, etc.). I know that's stretching it a bit, but basically it boils down to the fact that sin rears its ugly, evil head. I think that people involved in mega churches tend to get wrapped up in the wrong things sometimes. Small churches, on the other hand, provide real, in-depth growth and practicality. They provide a true one-of-a-kind FAMILY. They provide wisdom and knowledge, a helping hand, and they produce the opposite of a prideful spirit. They produce love, compassion, servant hearts, and the FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, rather than prideful spirits from the enemy. I can testify to this because I am experiencing it first hand. Don't fall into the dangerous numbers trap game. Keep doing exactly what you are doing...feeding souls.
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