“Churches that grow at the expense of another’s loss are prospering from the devil’s work.”
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In one of the towns I was ministering in there was a church that was experiencing explosive growth. In conversation with one of the pastors of this church I told him how much of a blessing it was to see his church growing so rapidly. I then asked him the following question: “Is your growth due to more un-churched people coming into fellowship or is it because there are so many other churches losing people?” His expression changed instantly from gladness to sadness. “Our growth is from other churches’ loss,” he humbly replied.
Churches that grow at the expense of another’s loss are prospering from the devil’s work. Don’t boast over that kind of growth. Open your doors to anyone who needs to be fed but if you really want to be successful in ministry you must teach your church how to evangelize the lost and un-churched. While a church should be a hospital for the sick, we are not called to create “Christian Maintenance Facilities.” We are called to create disciples and to reach the lost.
If your church is not teaching people how to handle the atheist and the agnostic, how to talk to the un-churched, their neighbors and loved ones, and how to lead people to the Lord, then it is not equipping them to accomplish the great commission. You must restructure what you are doing if you want to be in line with God’s word. There is plenty of material out there that will assist you. Why not call a meeting with your Pastor, Director of Education, or Sunday School Administrator and help them come up with a plan to do what Jesus asked you to do? Then you can boast in the Lord all you want
This posting is an excerpt from "Hey Church! Your Fly is Open!"
