When God’s Kingdom Doesn’t Grow
There’s a lot of discussion these days regarding explosively growing churches, and growing churches in general. When I hear these stories, though, I like to ask two questions. The first one is easy: “Who are these churches trying to reach?” The second question stings a little: “Who are they actually reaching?”I don’t think I’ve met a pastor yet who would not say they want to reach those who are without Christ. Yet, when you start looking at the hard data, you often discover that the vast majority of numerical growth is transfer growth. But really, that’s not even growth. When people leave one church to join another church, God’s Kingdom does not grow.
And this kind of “sheep shuffling” takes place in new paradigm churches as much, if not more, than in traditional churches. It’s frightening to see how many of the new paradigm churches are simply “cool churches” for people who grew up in church!
Again, I’ve never met anyone who says this is their goal. Yet, when you study the names and stories behind the numbers, you discover that this is far too often true.
To find out if your church is sheep shuffling, look at the baptism numbers. If the baptism numbers aren’t climbing significantly higher and faster than the numerical growth, most likely the “growth” is transfer rather than conversion growth.
In order for a church to truly grow, not just swap sheep, she must continually transition toward a missional church culture. And to be truly missional, we’ve got to ask these hard questions and deal with these difficult topics. Otherwise it’s like we are rearranging the furniture and changing the music on the Titanic as it sinks. We’ve changed things around and a few are being rescued. But the vast majority is still dying lost.
What are your thoughts?
Unfortunately this is so true! I think that the biggest thing that keeps churches from attempting to fix this problem is the fact that they enjoy their numerical growth no matter how it comes. Many pastors and churches are unknowingly content with their kingdom growing even if God’s Kingdom isn’t. We must continue to challenge one another as ministers of the gospel and hold each other accountable to make sure that our hearts never waiver from wanting to reach todays heavily unchurched culture! Great post bye the way!!!
Comment by Tripp Battle — November 7, 2008 @ 1:31 am
I appreciate the thoughts shared in this blog and I agree that we need to be careful about the sheep shuffling as you put it. I think looking at baptism numbers is great and we do that, but I think it must go even deeper than that. There are a ton of “baptist” churches that love to post their baptism numbers in any print media they can get there hands on and names in and yet they make no difference in their communities. I agree with your statement about the importance of the church living missionally. That is the key. A church that is producing disciples that are actually incarnating the message, now that church will experience growth, not just in worship attendance but in influence in the community, which I believe is even better. Just a thought. Congrats on becoming the new president. May God give you wisdom and favor within our denomination. Thanks again for the post. The Lord bless you!
Comment by Orlando — November 17, 2008 @ 5:56 pm
This is EXACTLY why South Biscayne Church is so sought out and successful. Dr. Cross physically, spiritually, and emotionally leads us to be the people God created us to be. Our whole purpose is to bring glory to God and increase his kingdom.
Recently, I read a staggering statistic that approximately only 30% of the people in the U.S. attend church regularly. That is a very low amount compared to 20-30 years ago.
Without Dr. Cross’ constant reminder to us to serve others, I think many of us would be complacent attending church selfishly, taking in the inspiring service but doing nothing with what we got out of it. Luckily we have a pastor that does not tolerate mediocrity. I thank the Good Lord everyday for leading me and my family to South Biscayne Church. We are more than blessed.
Comment by Jaime Shore — November 28, 2008 @ 6:55 pm
Great post John! You nailed it. Sheep shuffling is no doubt necessary in the early days of a plant or transition as God brings needed leadership and fresh servants to a church that is moving forward. However I would agree that conversion growth should then become the norm as the Kingdom is impacted and the church grows w/ new lives dramatically changed by the power of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! Great stuff man and congrats on the presidency from a new FL pastor (Just moved here in June).
Comment by Chris — December 5, 2008 @ 11:32 am
I do agree to a point. We are to be a light in this world. We are to bring the gospel to people. Seeing them saved is Number one. But, we also need to encourage these new believers in perseverence and growth. I feel sometimes people feel lost in the shuffle in a larger church that is continuously growing and that sometimes leads to hurt feelings which sends some to find a smaller church home where they feel more connected to their leader. Not saying either way that this is right but, we are human after all and have that need for connections. Of course, that’s why it is our responsibility to be plugged in to our small group bible studies. Our Pastor cannot be expected to care for all of our individual needs, especially when it is a large church! There’s only so much one person can do.
So, in summary to this thought. Yes, I do believe it is better for us to stay rooted in our home church through good times and bad no matter what. We are all supposed to be working towards the same goal. Not judging one another and acting as the world does.
On a personal note, we left our home church due to a move. It was tough to find a new church home. Then, when we moved back home, our closest connections at our home church had moved to another church. They asked us to be with them, and so we did. It still saddens me at times when I drive by my old home church. I do miss the many wonderful memories of personal growth I had there. And I often wonder if we did the right thing……
Comment by Vicki V. — December 21, 2008 @ 11:51 am
You’re right John. Transfer growth isn’t Kingdom growth at all. But we’re just copying business who realized early on it was easier to mimic a competitor’s product than to really create something new. And for the smaller church, sometimes it is the transfer who unfortunately makes them feel better about who they are, when in fact the arrival may have far more to do with what the person left.
To get a group of people to see their neighbors and friends with new eyes of Jesus’ love is the challenge before us. To not just create events to draw the “not here yet” people closer, but to use our existing pathways and networks to build relationships the message can travel over - there’s where we have a LOT of work to do.
I’ll be praying for your efforts to continue to prove fruitful and will look forward to seeing what your investment in FBC leadership will mean for all of us in smaller churches desperate to walk with the Spirit as He grow the Kingdom of God.
David Wilson
lead pastor
New Hope Baptist, Valparaiso, FL
Comment by David Wilson — December 30, 2008 @ 3:36 pm
I agree, Im looking for ways to be fruitful and not shuffleing anyway check out my site… david winkleman foundation
Comment by David Winkleman — February 18, 2009 @ 5:49 pm
Pastor John I agree. I think that in todays church, many christians have the attitude of the church needs be there for me and not I need to be there for the church. Many of Gods people, are unfortunatly trying to be feed by ways that feed themselves rather than using thier gifts and talents to make food for the body of christ. Thank God for churches like SBC, who continually take on the joys of making food not just eating it.
Comment by Scott Chapman — February 27, 2009 @ 2:57 pm
Let us humble ourselves and God will heal our land !
Comment by David Winkleman — March 8, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
I believe we should break away from “Church Centered” and become the Church of God who has the passion for the Gospel of Jesus. This means developing a passion for missionary work. I think religious ideology has infiltrated the sound doctrine of God and this has been embrassed by many who claimed to be founders of some churches. I agree with Dr.John’s view on this topic and many others. Therefore we in Faith Home Ministries Int’l would love to be under his leadership to get more godly impartation that’s sound.
Comment by Pastor Bernardus Ben Areab — March 12, 2009 @ 4:42 am
I believe your two questions are pertinent to any church that is acclaiming growth.
However, I couldn’t help wondering if Baptism is really the litmus test for conversion. I’m familiar with countless churches who insist that their baptism is true while that “other church down the road” isn’t valid. And so those who had been baptized in the “other church down the road” are the newly baptized when they swap churches. Instead of conversion we have furniture redecoration!
Also, I wonder if sheep shuffling is always the case. I have encountered many (from denominational to non-denominational) stray from a given church and even walk away from a belief in Christ. When those who stray and become “agnostic”, atheist, or any other belief we as a Christian community drop in numbers. Thus, there might be more than transferring when one who moves from church “a” to church “b”, it might be a survival move to continue nurturing their faith. Oftentimes, regrouping is needed in a battle to make the charge stronger against the frontline. Perhaps instead of swapping what is occurring is regrouping.
There is no doubt that I agree with the answers to both your questions. We should always be about reaching those who are without Christ. I only wonder if the return of a prodigal son should count as much as the blind who now see.
Comment by JR — April 20, 2009 @ 11:19 pm
Pastor,
You raise a critical issue facing the church and society. I think a tremendous statistic can be traced to the last Presidential election. Regardless of party affiliation something really should stand out to the church. The statistics can be verified but the premise is that while the overwhelming majority of self proclaimed Christians voted for one candidate, and equal majority of people aged 21-30 voted for a different candidate. To me, that seems as if the Church has missed a generation of young people. Why? How? As a former leader in the Christian music and magazine publishing industry this is troubling and humbling to me.
Many years ago I recall being in mega-churches with musicians around the country and they all had state of the art worship centers while the “children’s” areas looked like re-carpeted bomb shelters. Why?
I wonder what would happen to a community if the local churches held building campaigns to build multi-million dollar Youth focused facilities while the parents sacrificed on whatever was scraped together for pews and pulpits. My intent isn’t to be cynical but I often wonder when the church and parents are going to stop standing on the river banks pulling the bodies out and instead start walking upstream and stopping the next generation from falling in the water to begin with.
Wouldn’t it be great if churches filled the pews and then kicked everyone out each year to make room for new un-believers? Of course that isn’t practical because we need to assemble as Christians and we need to mature in our faith and being plugged into a church is critical for that growth. But, my point is in effort to imagine how communities would be changed for Christ if the pews were filled with real disciples that were inspired, taught and led to “go out” into the communities and preach, love, and lead people to Christ.
I believe a church like that testifies to the heart of a loving God.
In Christ,
Frank Chimento
Comment by frank chimento — April 23, 2009 @ 10:49 pm
This is a wake-up call to look at churches from this aspect. When I was a member of South Biscayne, I was humbled by God’s work and witnessed great growth of the church body. There were several baptisms as the church experienced true growth.
My current church is experiencing and expecting further astronomical growth primarily due to population booms in the area. I have noticed a decline in the number of baptisms recently and pray that this is not due to “sheep shifting.” Honestly, I have noticed a great deal of membership transfers over the past year as well. Families in our age bracket (34-42 year olds) seem that they do not have their priorities in check. They’re looking for the flashiest or coolest new congregation “gimmick” so they get the most of a church experience.
We had a new, second congregation start up in November modeling an area church in their more relaxed environment. My concern is the REASON for attending church in the first place…to put forth your own effort as a Christian and make your relationship with Jesus a reflection of your own personal efforts/ gifts. Church is what YOU make it. If you go about worship from a backseat approach, then that’s all you will get in return.
There is another enormous church in the county. Enormous. They have so many activities going on to draw people in that the actual Sunday morning worship seems disjointed. Speaking of sheep, I have felt herded in when visiting here with nobody really reaching out to fellow believers. Whenever I speak to people who attend this church, their priorities are out of line. My fear is that new programs roll out at my local Baptist church, that the sheep will shift over for the fun as at this location. Can we please keep the Christ in church?
Comment by Vanissa Stover Johnson — January 15, 2010 @ 6:16 pm
John,
I struggle with this whole discussion, not just on a blog, but in ministry life in general. I completely agree with the direction of your blog, but differ in how we address the problem. I think “winning” and “baptizing” as many people as possible is an important part of a comprehensive strategy, but worry that we may baptize 100 and only actually disciple 5. I struggle with the reality that a church can have 100 new members in a year, regardless of how they join, and yet the overall attendance, offerings, etc. never change from year to year. Many people talk about the “front door - back door” issue, but to me it’s deeper than that.
The Great Commission calls us to “make disciples.” I have been somewhat discouraged to see the loss of interest in discipling people that has been demonstrated in our churches, and even in our convention over the past 20 years or so. Our emphasis on planting new churches is, in reality, feeding this “sheep shuffling” problem.
Greg
Comment by Greg Kell — February 3, 2010 @ 10:47 am