You Can’t Go Home Again! (Part 8)

If you go to Google and type on the search line, what makes churches grow, you will see thirty-four million five hundred thousand results. 34,500,000!

Almost everyone has an idea of how it should be done. There are articles on church marketing, outreach oriented church leaders, seeker friendly web sites, how to use Facebook, Twitter, or blogs, eight characteristics to make churches grow, fifteen reasons for church growth, four important reasons for church growth, planning for growth, being a purpose-driven church, etc. Plus, there are seminars, books, blogs, CDs, podcasts, and mentoring programs for leaders and church assemblies.

It is an assorted potpourris of technology, marketing, advertising, and more.

Admittedly, I did not read all 34,500,000 articles, but I did sample some and scanned the titles of many others . And also, just so you know, I am not against using technology to advance the Kingdom of God because I have just published 3 e-Books, write blogs and have Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Thus, if confession is good for the soul, then I should be good to go for the rest of this article, okay?

I believe that if King Saul were alive today, he would follow the advice of most of these 34,500,000 articles. Why?

Because these articles mostly deal with how to reach people and then motivate them to do something based on watching and analyzing people, discovering their wants and habits, and then finding marketing programs to fit a particular group’s needs. This is basic Marketing Research 101.

And as scriptures point out, King Saul performed his own market research when he kept his eyes on the people and listened to their voices before he made important decisions.

This type of Saul-like thinking works well in business or political arenas where surveys and research are the mainstays for product or political success. But this type of thinking will not work for building Christ’s church.

And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros--a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra--a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it]. (Matthew 16:18 Amplified Bible)

Jesus said that He would build His church. Period.

Yes, we are to be His co-laborers, but He is the boss. He is the Head. The Bridegroom. He doesn’t need market research and psycho-babble analysis to build His church because He already knows the hearts of people.

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. (1 Samuel 30:6)

In his wilderness years, David reached rock bottom on the day his two wives and children had been captured, his men threatened to kill him, and his wealth had been stolen. Plus, he was living outside of Israel because Israel had rejected him and King Saul was hunting him down to kill him.

David had to be one stressed-out man on that day. What did he do?

And David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue; for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” (1 Samuel 30:8)

Even in his mind boggling, stressed-out state, David did not make decisions based on his emotions, on what people thought about him, on his personal circumstances, or on his future, he inquired of the Lord on what he should do.

Thoughout David’s life, we read over and over again how he inquired of the Lord before he made decisions. Yes, he was imperfect and made mistakes, but even in his errors, he sought the Lord on what he should do to rectify his sins.

A thousand years after David’s death, Paul said:

For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep… (Acts 13:36)

Today, I believe American churches have arrived at a fork in the road where the choices are: (1) continue on the same-o same-o paths or (2) pioneer new and untried paths.

The same-o same-o paths of option (1) for churches will probably work and prosper for a while, maybe even a few years or more.  Yet, church growth and prosperity are not always good indicators of what the Lord desires as being the best for the future of His churches, but rather, what He  may allow during certain seasons.

Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30)

Continuing on the same-o same-o path for churches could end up having horrendous consequences for their members when terrorists and natural calamities strike our nation in the future. The churches’ members may not be prepared. (See here.)

As for option (2), I believe that God is now raising up David-like leaders who have been walking through wildernesses and living in caves throughout America, but have remained far off the church radar systems.

These Davids will have unique plans for city churches, rather than individual churches. You see, what may work in one city may not work in another city and it’s important for all believers in cities to work together, especially with future calamities facing America.

Why did Jesus say that He would build His church?

…I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. (Matthew 16:18 NLT)

I believe the powers of Hell will be unleashed on America and we need to be ready so that we can be the light for our unbelieving neighbors.

Like I wrote in Part 1, I’d love to return to the simpler times of the past, but that’s not going to happen. We need to prepare for the future now.

(Conclusion)