Loading ...A New Decade of Growth
As the last decade was ending up, it was reported that there was a decline in the membership in the churches of Christ. This was sad news for the churches. The population is expanding, but the church is declining. Plainly, this is a problem. I believe that this will be a wake up call to Christians. I believe that this decade will be one of growth and vitality for the churches of Christ. I believe we are moving past some of the attitudes that have held us back in the past and we are pushing forward to a glorious future if the Lord allows the world to remain for the entire decade.
One might ask, “why do I believe this?” First of all, I want to believe this. I want to have a optimistic view of the church. My negativity is not going to help the church grow. Second of all, I believe this because I believe in the power of God to accomplish his work on earth. God is active in outreach, and God will be successful. Third of all, I believe this because we are seeing this in Castle Rock. We are a theologically conservative congregation, but we are progressive in methodology. We refuse to allow pointless tradition to make excuses for doing nothing. We are going by leaps and bounds.
I personally cannot help the entire church to grow. But I can contribute by helping make Castle Rock grow, I can contribute by helping other congregations to grow. People call me often looking for advice on getting a congregation to grow. I can do my part. So let us all do our part to make this decade a positive one.
Related posts:
- Is the Desire for Growth about Numbers
- The Improper Focus on Growth
- The Apostolic Reality and Growth
- A Few Growth Hints that Work
- Attitudes for Growth: Names
About The Author
Hi Matthew
Please give an example or two of ‘progressive in methodology.’ Thanks.
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The Churches of Christ may be in a growth decline BUT that does not mean that the church, the universal body of Christ, is in decline. As for the former mentioned group, I still believe it has a future but I also believe this future only exist as much as it is willing to be about kingdom business rather than the self preservation of itself (which seems to have occupied too much of our history of late).
Grace and peace,
Rex
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Matthew I certainly believe we are declining in membership, Can you give me where this was reported. As I was reading this I was also talking to a mother where I preach. She was telling me that her 22 yr old single daughter was seeing a married man. This young lady has been a good girl but now taken a wrong turn. Our morality in the C of C has gone south. Last week one of our teen girls was caught in a car with beer. These kids come forward at the assemble but nothing good happens. They are not changing their lives. Honestly their shepherds and I have failed in leading them. Theology is intact but morality is gone. I am praying and preaching and working for a new decade of growth & change. God give increase or come and get us
Thanks for letting me know Rex. Sonny, I hate hearing stuff like that. It is going to happen, but I think you are right on, it takes a community to raise a child. John, one is that we sing during the giving. No big deal to me, but might be to some.
Sonny brings up an interesting dilema regarding morality (and I would add ethics) going south. If we are willing to give any hearing to books like “Unchristian” or “They Like Jesus but not the Church” then we must summarize that somewhere along the way, Christians became preoccupied with getting their “orthodox” right while ignoring “orthopraxy.” The result is that it has become acceptable to be a Christian and yet remain comfortable with greed, increased sexual licentiousnes, violence (especially in defense of the state) – the absence of love for neighbor and enemy, judgmentalism, and so on.
The bottom line is that there are too many Christians who confess that Jesus is Lord but live as though he is not…that is, they functionally deny their confession. While this problem is wider than the CoC, I believe our own fellowship is suffering from this problem as well and it is certainly very difficult to convince the world that Jesus is Lord if we do not live under his Lordship. And we need to remember that while there is a place for orthodoxy, Jesus seemed more concerned about right practice over right doctrine. So if we were to properly restore a sound moral/ethical foundation for our practice in the CoC (and beyond) it would not only lead us to take seriously abstaining from immoral/unethical practices but, as Jesus so passionately lived, engaging in the very self-sacrificial servanthood practices that are at the very heart of being a true disciple of Jesus. Then perhaps the world would see a sermon and not just hear one.
Grace and peace,
Rex
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Rex I really agree with you on many things but. (There is that but word again) I do not see Jesus more concerned about right practice over right doctrine. Why can’t they go together. Leave either off and your off balance. Strive for both. Seek to the full stature of the fullness of Christ. For sure the brethren I am around have emphasized doctrine/teaching and have become slack on morality/ethics. It has gotten us in a mess. I want to see God’s church grow. I want to be part of a growing congregation and I know that I am much of the reason it isn’t growing. I must strive for excellence in Christ and help lead others to it also. Good post good thoughts. Matthew how is singing during your giving P. M.? Just wondering. Give some other ideas on P.M. Where I am at we need progressiveness. Not liberal theology but we need to progress in faith, love, good deeds in Jesus name, etc.
Sonny,
I guess I should qualify what I mean. I have no doubt that Jesus was concerned that we know, for example, that he and the Father are one. Likewise, I have no doubt that Jesus was concerned that we know God has and is coming in judgment. However, with 2,000 years of Christian history in our rearview mirror, we have seen Christians enter into the most dogmatic disputes over the finer points of the doctrine of the Trinity to what the Apostle Paul meant by “election” to what sort of millenia are we living in (pre, post, a-millenial, etc…). Some of these disputes have led to confessing Christians killing other confessing Christians. So when I say Jesus was more concerned with right practice than right doctrine, I am not trying to claim that Jesus was not concerned with having an appropriate belief but I am saying that I find it hard to believe Jesus would have his followers getting caught up in many of these doctrinal disputes to the degree that Christians have in the past…especially when our position leads outright unethical/immoral treatment of others.
You may yet not agree with me (and that is fine) but I hope that further explains what I meant in my ealier comment.
Grace and peace,
Rex
This is a link to the Christian Chronicles article on this
http://www.christianchronicle.org/article2158685~Church_in_America_marked_by_decline