A friend recently shared that the pastor of his church said they were “Goin Pentecostal.”
The reason? The pastor apparently pointed out that while every other major Protestant denomination is experiencing decline in numerical growth, AOG (Assemblies of God) continues to grow numerically year after year.
Just a couple things to consider:
1) Numerical growth does not necessarily equate to either the kind of growth God desires or the kind Scripture reveals (see Eph 4:11-16) as legitimate
2) Denominations don’t determine what we value, believe, or how we behave. Instead, we tend to gravitate toward our personal preferences.
Changing from Anytime Fitness to Gold’s and thinking it’s going to get you in better shape doesn’t work. The underlying problem isn’t typically the church/gym. Instead, the problem is one’s understanding, motivation, effort, and adherence.
This isn’t me “hatin” on anybody. I’m thrilled that my friend has found a local church where he says the Word is faithfully preached, the lost are loved, Christian mission is vital, evangelism is part of their DNA, and Christ is at the center of everything. I think that’s fantastic. Not that what I think matters one bit.
It just gives me cause for pause when I hear or see people attempting to manipulate outcomes. If their actions in obedience to what God has instructed in Scripture (not some personal "vision" or "fresh revelation from God") then that's awesome. But if it’s some sort of ploy to manipulate outcomes to make the business of church more “successful,” or play the role of the Holy Spirit… yikes.
Years ago everyone was copying megachurches like Willow Creek in order to “grow.” Former pastor Bill Hybels even called Willow Creek an epic fail (paraphrase), citing that the swelling membership was not maturing or being transformed by the Gospel.
All Willow Creek really managed to do was inoculate people to genuine faith and create a wickedly contagious consumer-driven false Christianity that other churches mimicked and modeled in order to “grow” and “be successful.”
King David didn’t chase numerical growth. He was a man after God’s own heart. That’s not what churches are looking for today in leadership. They want the King Saul so they can be like all the other churches around.
King Jesus never desired numerical growth. He drove away the multitudes telling them they needed to eat his flesh and drink his blood. He told people they were disqualified. He told people “Away from me you evildoers, I never knew you.” He finished his ministry on earth with nothing more than a small group of cowards and a suicidal traitor. But Pentecost was coming!
The early church never chased numerical growth. In fact, Ananias and Sapphira died to cleanse the early church of illegitimate superficial growth.
Paul never wrote about numerical growth. He wrote about participating in Christ’s sufferings, about unyielding commitment and perseverance to the mission, about slavery to Christ, and Job-like faith.
There’s far too much hatred, negativity, and criticism on social media today. That’s not my angle or goal. I’d just like to offer up that numerical growth never has been and should never be the benchmark. Despite that, it certainly seems to be the metric many are using to measure church "growth" and success today. When that happens, red flags 🚩 should be raised and alarms 🚨 should go off in our heads and hearts.
In 2 Timothy 4:3, Paul warned his young friend about the inevitability of local churches:
1. Charismatic false teachers will come
2. False gospels will be preached
3. Receptivity will happen
4. Approval is likely
5. Consensus will result
6. Implosion is inevitable unless...
That's why Paul didn't tell Timothy to follow the crowd, to chase numerical growth, or to cater to members. Instead, Paul told Timothy, "Preach The Word."
2 Corinthians 11:14 doesn’t teach that Satan will come with fiery breath, dark cloaked minions performing rituals and sacrifices. It reveals that Satan masquerades as an angel of light. That stuff will always look good on the surface to the masses.
Numerical growth isn’t what the church needs. It needs Christ. It needs Scripture, discernment, wisdom, prayer, reverence, discipleship, and unwavering obedience to The Word. It needs leaders who will unashamedly and unapologetically preach The Word.
If we focus on that rather than growth, I’m confident the Holy Spirit will handle His business in us and through us... because God said so.
Blessings,
-Kevin M. Kelley
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