On Numerical Growth in Churches

Let's say that there was a great invasion happening, and in the midst of the invasion, you are introduced to the general of the defending army. Let's say you asked him how the battle was going, and he replied, "Well, we're getting more and more new recruits, so we must be doing something right." Wouldn't you be a bit confused at his answer? What does the number of recruits have to do with how it's going on the battlefield? What does it have to do with whether or not the general is making the right decisions?

Is this not a close analogy to the priority we've put on numerical growth within the church? Indeed, numerical growth and maintenance is not only a priority in most churches in western culture, but it has become a gauge of victory. We consider our churches successful if they are growing or large in numbers, and we consider it a failure if it starts shrinking.

But when we turn to Scripture, this doesn't seem to be a priority for God. Let me give you two examples:

John 6:60-71 - To a church leader that thinks numbers are important, this ought to be a confusing passage. When the multitude starts grumbling about how Christ's teachings are hard to understand, does Jesus try to placate them or "keep the peace", as it were? No. He effectively (and almost literally) turns and says, "You think THAT was offensive? Well wait until you hear this...." He then watches as all but Twelve turn away from following Him. In our typical church, this sort of behavior would be scolded as inciting and divisive. But Christ is not concerned with the multitude... He is concerned with the small number of truly dedicated believers.

Revelation Ch. 2-3 - This is where the Lord addresses the seven churches, which many think are symbols of various states of Christianity in the world. But whatever the case, the seven churches are commended or warned of impending doom based on their actions. Their numerical size is not mentioned even once in the two chapters. God doesn't seem to concerned with their size, but with their actions.

Indeed, God doesn't care about the size of a group, but its heart and actions. It doesn't matter how many people are in your church: what is it doing? Your church's numerical growth is not a sign of success, any more than the rate of recruitment in an army is a sign of victory on the battlefield. In the same way, we can be encouraged that the shrinking of numbers in a church does not necessarily mean that it is failing or doing anything wrong... indeed, it may even be a sign that it is doing the right thing (such as in John). The church was created for a purpose, and we must ask ourselves if we are, as a church, fulfilling that purpose, not simply growing in numbers.

God is passionately concerned with a church's obedience and heart, not with its popularity as an institution.


PS - I do not mean to paint a cold, heartless image of the church. We ought to mourn those who leave, and rejoice with those who stay, but our priority MUST be obedience to His word at whatever cost. Far too often we hold back from leading people toward full obedience out of fear that they will not like it, or will even abandon us altogether. Preaching what people want to hear, or in the way they want to hear it, is not loving them, nor is it merciful. Indeed, withholding God's truth or refusing to lead them in His perfect way is, perhaps, the most merciless thing you can do to someone. It is akin to a shepherd who will not take his sheep through an unpleasant and rocky path to escape a pack of wolves.