The first thing you can do
to help your church to grow is put this question down (on your immaculate
kitchen counter) until you’ve answered preliminary question number one:
Why do I want my church to grow?
Is it because your church
is getting smaller and the volunteer workload is becoming unbearable? That is a
difficult situation, but not a great reason to want to grow your church. There
are lots of organizations out there with an aging and shrinking volunteer base,
but does this reality motivate you or me to join these organizations to solve
their problem? Yeah, not really. Wait
you say! What about our declining budget, surely people will want to come help
solve our church’s financial problems? Yeah, not really.
Ok. How about I want my
church to grow because my church has been important to me? You've grown in faith
there, made friends there, been supported through the best and worst moments of your life there. You've been challenged and equipped to live life differently and impact your world with love at your church. Those are pretty good reasons to want your church to grow. Those reasons aren't just about you and your church’s needs, but about how other people
can be blessed because of your church, too. There are other reasons. All sound
reasons for church growth should align with Jesus’ Great Commandment to “Love
God and Neighbor” (Matthew 22:37-40).
Speaking of God, that I
hope, would be an obvious reason to want your church to grow. There are lots of
organizations, groups, and movements that help address social ills or bring
people together for mutual support (like my Thursday night Texas yodeling
class) but it is only the Christian Church that exists specifically to help
people encounter God through the person of Jesus Christ in the power of the
Holy Spirit. Jesus’ Great Commission, “Go…make disciples of all nations”
(Matthew 28:16-20) should also motivate our efforts at growth. The Great Commandment and the Great Commission should complement one another, resulting in growing numbers of disciples, growing in the practice of love.
Now that you’ve answered
the why question, you’re ready to answer a second preliminary question: What do
I mean by church growth? (Yes, for original readers that means you’ll have to
wait until next week for the next post. You can clean your counter in the
meantime).
PS:
Feel free to share in the comments why you want your church to grow.
When was the last time you
stripped in front a gathering of your hometown, with the local bishop and your
own father in attendance? When was the last time you kissed a leper? When was
the last time you walked unarmed into the camp of your civilization’s enemy, to
preach Christ? These colorful events are a few of many in the life of the saint.
On another occasion, Francis preached to the birds. I preached to a parrot once,
but he said he’d only accept the Gospel if I gave him a cracker (I apologize to
members of Polly’s family for this joke).
Francis was born in Assisi,
Italy, in 1182. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant. Francis showed more
interest in parties and poetry, friends and fanfare, than he did in God. As a teenager
he wasn’t particularly interested in his father’s business or his academic
studies. He was enjoying the good life. At twenty, he joined the local army in
a battle against a rival city state. Perhaps Francis saw this as an opportunity
to become a romantic hero and win renown for himself through valor on the
battlefield. Instead, he was captured and imprisoned.
After his release, he
began to encounter the poor and they began to affect him in a new way. In one
encounter, he exchanged his expensive attire, for that of a poor man’s
clothing. During this period, he began to reflect upon his life and to pray
over his sins. These and other incidents culminated in his renouncing his
wealth and position in order to live simply among the poor. This move was
directly inspired by the words of Jesus, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23 NRSV). He preached simple sermons. He cared
for the sick and the outcast. He begged for his food.
I know what you’re
thinking: "Wow! That sounds like an exciting life, with comfortable accommodations
and interesting people with glittering Instagram accounts. Sign me up." In fact,
that is exactly what happened! (Minus the Instagram accounts, Francis’ handle @Liveswith
Lepers never went viral). Women and men, from many walks of life began to
follow Francis as he followed Christ through the path of poverty. Francis was
not sullen. Francis radiated joy. He passionately loved God, people, and of all
of creation. (Oh yeah, his feast day is October 4).
Very quickly, men joined
Francis in being “little brothers” or friars minor. Thanks to Clare of Assisi,
women soon followed. Over 800 years
later, people continue to be inspired by the life and witness of this poor man from
Assisi. In popular devotion, Francis is near the top of the heavenly all-star list.
Did he love animals? Yes, from the birds to the wolves. Did he love creation?
Yes, from brother sun to sister moon. Did he love people? Yes, from the prince
to the peasant. But most of all, inspiring all his other loves, was Francis’ love
for God.
Information (and
misinformation) about angels can be found in abundance as they remain popular with
all sorts of people, religious, spiritual, and otherwise (I’m thinking of that
store at the mall, but that’s a different kind of angel!). There are questions about
the categories of angels (e.g. archangel, seraphim), whether everyone has a guardian
angel, and the medieval classic, “How many angels can dance upon the head of pin?” (You
were wondering about that, right?)
The Feast of Saint Michael
and All Angels, also known as Michaelmas, falls annually on September 29. Angels
appear throughout the pages of Holy Scripture. Sometimes, as in the case of
Michael, they are named in obscure passages (Daniel 10:12:1, Thessalonians 4:16).
In other cases, angels are referred to in a general sense (Job 38:7, Revelation
14:6). In other places, angels act as God’s messengers, such as when the angel Gabriel appeared
to Mary (Luke 1:26-38).
Michael’s importance is
tied to Revelation 12:7-9: “And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels
fought against the dragon. The dragon and his angels fought back, but they
were defeated, and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The great
dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and
Satan, the deceiver of the whole world—he was thrown down to the earth, and his
angels were thrown down with him.”
It is for this reason that
Saint Michael is portrayed in Christian art and iconography as a warrior. Our
English word for angel comes from the Greek word “angelos” meaning messenger. For
thousands of years, across cultures, human beings have reported angelic
encounters. Within the Christian faith and the Western artistic tradition, angels
have often been depicted as beautiful human like creature with wings and halos.
These are symbolic portrayals. In Christian understanding angels are genderless;
they are spiritual beings, not physical ones.
Angels aren't chubby babies
with wings (I know they are so cute!) but are super-human intelligences that serve
God; usually, behind the curtain of ordinary human perception. But, are they
real? Traditional Christian belief and experience suggests, yes! With all that the natural
sciences are revealing to us today about the “seen and unseen” it shouldn’t
surprise us that there is more to this world that meets the naked eye. But what
do you think about angels? Are they a mysterious reality or a medieval supersition? Please
share in the comment sections below.
The Good News:
Our current period of flux,
decline, and instability of Christian institutions may be the exact kind of
spiritual soil needed to birth powerful movements of the Spirit. You don’t have
to be a church historian to notice that many of Christianity’s greatest
movements were birthed during times of cultural conflict, societal instability
and/or spiritual decline.
For example, the early Church’s explosive
growth, the rise of the Franciscans and
Dominicans in the 13th century (see how I humble I am listing the Franciscans
first…), the Great Awakenings in the 18th and 19th centuries,
and the growth of Christianity in the majority world in the last century (Isn’t
it great you get to say, “I was born in the last century”?! Ok. Ok. Touchy
subject. Let’s move on).
We should be praying for
and on the lookout for new movements of the Spirit. This is hopeful news. For
sure, like in times past, there will be tensions between the old movements and the
new movements. There is already a need for discernment in sorting out robust,
fruitful, and faithful expressions of Christian life and community and those
that are less so.
Besides the good news of
new powerful movements of the Spirit, there is also the good news of being
forced back to Christian basics. When popular culture and Christianity merge,
the result has often been a weakening of the zeal and discipleship of the
Church. This means it has been possible for many people to go to church without
really becoming disciples, mature Christians.
But the good news is that as
Christian institutions become more sidelined from mainstream culture, the more
individual Christians will have to seriously embrace their faith. If most
cultural forces are encouraging people NOT to be active in the faith, then to be
active in the faith will require more commitment to basic Christian beliefs and
practices by the average church goer.
But wait, there’s more! (Call
now and…oh never mind) This change will mean churches, if they hope to survive,
will have to get out of their doors to connect with their communities. It will
also mean some new structures for churches, seminaries and denominations. What
other good news is there to our situation in the West? Are you seeing any of
this yet, locally or globally?
The Old News:
Christianity is booming in
the majority world (Africa, South American, and parts of Asia); whereas,
overall, Christianity in the West (North America, Europe, and parts of Oceania)
has been facing a steep decline for decades. This post isn’t about doom and
gloom (I know…I know… you were really hoping for some of that) but this post is about recognizing
our current reality.
In short, Christian faith
and Christian institutions, once at the center of Western culture, are
increasingly less so, and Christian affiliation, which could once be assumed of
most people (at least nominally), now cannot be assumed. There are places and
populations where Christian influence is still stronger, but the trend away
from our cultural dominance is relatively universal.
There are brighter spots,
exceptions, and nuancing of this decline, but my purpose is simply to
acknowledge this is the reality we find ourselves in as followers of Jesus in
the early parts of the 21st century. This is a change from what many of us have
known in past years, and many of you have witnessed this change accelerate over
your lifetimes.
Many, from researchers, to
practitioners, have written about this change (including me). In my travels, the
reality of our situation is apparent to everyone: from the pastor struggling with to lead her church, to the faithful lay leader, who is perplexed why so few people participate
in the church anymore, including his own children and grandchildren.
This is old news. Younger
generations have grown up with this reality. They don’t remember a time when
Christian influence was stronger. This is a hang up for those of us who have a
memory (or a perceived memory?) of when churches thrived and Christian cultural influence was supersized (some say for good; some say for ill; some
say I should be taking a pill).
Does your church talk
about this reality openly? Or is it something people only talk about in the
church parking lot, in between complaints about church meetings not being long
enough? (That was a joke in case you were wondering) Is this old news in your
church circles? Is this something your leaders, whether local or regional, are actively
seeking to address? Do you want them to?
The stations are a way of remembering and
entering spiritually, the final hours of Jesus earthy life and ministry. This
period is also referred to as Christ’s passion. Passion coming from the Latin word for passionem, meaning suffering. Hence the term, Passion Week. That is Holy Week. Each station remembers a point along the way Jesus took from his condemnation by Pontius Pilate to his death on the cross and burial in the tomb. By observing the stations, the individual believer, family, or congregation, accompanies Jesus in his last moments. For centuries, Christians have physically retraced Jesus’ Way
of Sorrow (Via Dolorosa) in the Old City of Jerusalem on Good Friday. Usually, there are 14 stations.
The practice of the stations allows all Christians,
regardless of geographic location, to enter this experience. Many Roman
Catholic and some Anglican Churches display the stations of the cross in their
churches all year. However, many don’t and still observe the stations on
Fridays in Lent. This is often done by using temporarily displayed stations.
Also, many monastic communities and retreat centers have the stations of the
cross displayed on their grounds. These, while sometimes used by congregations
formally, are often used more by individuals for personal reflection and
devotion. Whether used as a formal service by a congregation or more informally
by individuals for personal meditation the stations can be a powerful practice.
It’s not necessary to have “official” stations
to observe this practice on your own. You could look up the fourteen stations
in the Bible, with a passage per station, perhaps moving from room to room. You
could print out stations from various websites and create actual stations
around your home or property. You could identify locations in your neighborhood
or community with the traditional stations and observe them as a walking pilgrimage.
Meditating, praying, and accompanying Jesus in his passion, as the Christian
community has for over 2000 years can stir the heart, prompt deep reflection,
and nurture faith. If a local church offers the stations you may wish to go experience
them for yourself or try doing them in your own.
Silence has long been understood as an ideal
environment for fostering personal reflection and encounter with God. Silence
is regular part of the life of many monastic communities. This isn’t done only
to create a relaxing and peaceful environment (something parents of young
children fantasize about!). Rather, exterior silence invites individual
reflection, sometimes painfully, as thoughts, memories, and temptations arise. Much
soul work cannot begin until we are willing to deal with our internal noise.
Exterior silence is also an invitation to interior silence. The practice of
quietening the heart and mind is often associated with Eastern religions, but
in the Christian faith this practice is also an important means of making
space to listen for God.
Stillness is associated with silence and both are
associated with an awareness of the divine, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). The Prophet Elijah,
fleeing persecution, encounters God not in the awesome power of earthquake or
fire, but within “sheer silence” (1
Kings 19:12). Silence can be healing. Silence can be energizing. There are some
who go to remote locations simply for the respite from the noise of our devices
and the noise that our human communities create, complain about, and sometimes
celebrate (click here for example.) Prayer is often described as a conversation
with God. Silence fosters listening. Recall a person you’ve met who relishes
talking but not listening. You don’t get to say much.
They say a whole lot. If you had something powerful,
profound, or even pressing to tell them (e.g. “A tractor trailer truck is
coming this way.”), they might not be able to hear it (with consequences that
will run right along). Might this be God’s experience with you and me? We talk,
but we don’t listen. Our culture is not comfortable with silence. Every single moment
must be filled with noise. Our phones, with their wonderful abilities to play
music, movies, and to entertain with massive choices of games, mean we don’t
have to experience silence unless we choose to. It’s worth choosing silence. It’s
a time-honored way of coming to terms with our anxieties, gaining clarity about our
callings, and entering fuller awareness of the Triune God.
