Beyond Stats
Collecting data from churches is always an interesting project. Besides the normal challenges, there is a spiritual dimension as well. We recognize the dangers of publishing this kind of information—dangers related more than anything to unintended consequences.
These dangers include:
Equating growth with good. What churches do to grow is not always good. Growth that is the result of gimmicks, pressure, or worldly ambition is superficially indistinguishable from healthy growth. Use discernment.
Failing to appreciate planting churches. One of the most selfless things a church can do is start another church. In so doing, the planting church may actually suffer a membership loss.
Failing to appreciate leaders who let go. Several churches in our survey reported membership losses because one or more satellite groups (or regions, or sectors, depending on the church's terminology) reached a point of maturity that allowed it to become a separate congregation.
Using numbers to validate suspect methodology or false doctrine.
Using numbers competitively. Having lived in several countries and a dozen different cities, we know that some fields simply yield a slower harvest than others. Comparing two churches without taking context into consideration is folly.
Thinking faster is always better. Fast growth by God's blessing is always a cause for joy, but all fast growth is unsustainable. Sometimes it's unhealthy. Steady, healthy growth gets less attention, but if it's sustainable, will produce a greater harvest over time.
We recommend not only the measuring of church growth indicators (membership, attendance, baptisms) but also church health indicators.
One church provided, in addition to its membership report, the following surveys it used to measure members’ perceptions of their spiritual life and the effectiveness of the church’s small groups.
We share these surveys, and the results, as an example of a balanced approach to measuring growth and health.
Spiritual Reflection Survey and Report
Small Group Effectiveness and Dynamics Survey and Report
Thursday, May 8, 2008
2007 Church Survey Report: Part 5
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2 comments:
I would add also failing to appreciate the biblical teaching that salvation is by the grace of God (Eph. 2:8-9). Too often in the past the ICOC made salvation contigent upon not just being baptised (which is biblical) but they went beyond that to teach that one must also be soul winning, praying, coming to all church events, confessing your sins to your discipler, etc. which robs God of His grace. These are all reflections of the grace of God at work in our lives (Titus 2:11-12) and are not ways we get saved nor remain saved. We are saved by grace through faith and we remain saved by grace through faith.
seeking disciple ...
"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."
"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
James 2:24,26
Faith is more than just intellectualy believing; it means continuing to walk with God in your daily life. If someone has no deeds, you have to question whether he has faith at all.
Most people will not be saved by "just being baptized." If someone lives for a while after baptism he'd better have a lot more to show than just that one act of faith if he wants to be confident approaching God on judgment day.
You should do a study on all of the passages in the Bible that talk about persevering in your faith and how important that is to your salvation.
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