COUNTING WHAT COUNTS (in church renewal)

Church renewal (read replanting and revitalizing) is a lot like farming. You work hard, wait, work some more and then wait.  In the waiting you may begin to wonder if anything is happening, if any impact is being made, if any true spiritual work is taking place.

The normal measures of success and growth (increased attendance, bigger budgets, more programs and buzz) may remain elusive to you—especially during the early days (read first five years) of your replanting work. Even more elusive - the markers you may desire most - conversions and baptisms. It takes time to reignite and mobilize a declined congregation toward missional living.

Don't ignore the standard measurements of growth but don't be tied to them alone as the primary indicators of success, especially in the early days of your renewal work. To be clear, I’m not advocating for changing the game “where everyone gets a trophy” and you never keep score.  I am suggesting that you begin measuring something many fail to measure--moving your members toward maturity.

Maturation is a funny thing—it occurs internally yet displays itself externally. It develops slowly but appears suddenly.  Its absence and presence are undeniable. In many churches, especially those long in decline it may seem to be entirely absent in the lives of the majority of members. 

Often we've expected longevity of church membership and moral living to equate to spiritual maturity, they often don't. 

Old "Bill" a deacon who's been around for years, served on the search committee and is a Trustee for the church can be as mean as a snake whenever his ideas are contested. He's known to spout un-prayed over and critical opinions at the monthly business meeting, creating shock among the new members, shakes of the head among the old who say; "That's just Old Bill-he gets that way." 

"Gossipy Sue" a senior adult, whose family founded the church, spins her tales as she rocks the youngest of the congregation in the church nursery. Her "sharing" dispirits and disheartens those assigned to serve with her on a Sunday. Worse, when her comments are reported or shared, division is sewn into the fabric of the church family. When conflicts are dissected to discern their source, a good many can be traced back to "Gossipy Sue." 

Are these folks, who have been fixtures and staples of the church mature? By their behaviors just mentioned we'd have to say it's not certain. Are they demonstrating the fruit of the Spirit? Are the embodying Christian love? 

Paul states the goal of his ministry is to present everyone mature in Christ, he then shows us the pattern of ministry he employs to get there.

• Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus--Him we proclaim
• Skillful Discipling/Pastoring--warning, teaching everyone
• The Approach--with all wisdom
• Fully dependent on God--struggling in ministry with all his energy

What if we started asking those in our church this question: “Are you following Jesus more fully and faithfully now than you were last (week, month, year)? Is your life and are you actions/interactions characterized by Christian love, do they demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit? 

What if we began organizing our efforts and aim at helping our people mature in Christ—and trusting God to give us the strength to do so and leaving the results up to Him.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION

1. Are you taking the long or short view as you develop your ministry score card?

2. Is your focus on results or presenting those you are called to shepherd mature in Christ?

3. Are you working in ministry in your own strength, or in the strength God provides?