[Biblemat] A) THE CHURCH AND NUMBERS

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Thursday morn-
ing to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.  Here is an
article from my files:

THE CHURCH AND NUMBERS

       Most brethren I know pay attention to the number of people
who attend the services of the church.  There is nothing wrong
with taking a count and keeping up with the statistics, because
every number represents a soul.  But when it comes to the attendance number 
on the board, two false extremes often exist
within the church.

       Some people don't want the church to grow.  They may not
come right out and say it, but their actions speak louder than 
words.  Some members will be heard to say, "I like this church
because it is small."  Do they realize what they are saying?  What if the 
congregation should grow?  Does this attitude affect
the evangelistic fervor of an individual?  Perhaps we are not try-
ing to teach people for fear that they will obey and the church 
will not be so small anymore!  Surely we do not think in this way!
None of us would purposely attempt to frustrate or hinder God's
purposes.  We cannot stand in God's way by insisting that the
church be kept small.  After all, increase comes from the Lord
(1 Cor. 3:6).

       The New Testament church at Jerusalem grew quickly and 
largely.  At the rate of growth mentioned in Acts 2:41; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1 it is 
probable that this congregation numbered over 10,000
souls by the time Saul launched his vehement persecution against the church 
(Acts 8:1).  The Scriptures show that the
church first met in the Temple, a building and complex which,
according to some educated estimates, could accommodate some 20,000 people.  
The Scriptures do not mention even one
complaint that "the church is getting too big" for the disciples
in Jerusalem.  Our desire to be like the New Testament church
should surely involve having the same joyful spirit for the grow-
th of the church and the salvation of lost souls.

       There are those, however, who would force the church to
grow even by unauthorized means.  Some brethren believe that
large facilities will produce a large church.  They have a "if we 
build it, they will come" attitude toward church growth.  Church-
es have even been known to hire preachers who are especially
adept at entertaining people in an attempt to raise their numbers.
A stand-up comic may please the masses, but God will not be
pleased when such is passed off as preaching.  Some congre-
gations have even been known to survey and poll their commun-
ities to see jus what it is that the people want from a church.  Then, they 
accordingly provide the community's wants.  If it's 
food, they build banquet halls.  If it's recreation, they build gym-
nasiums.  If it's baby-sitting, they build daycare centers.  This is
fueled by an intense craving for large numbers on the board.  And for what?  
Certainly not for spiritual things.

       It could be that the idol many modern churches bow down
to is the attendance board!  What good is a church building filled
with souls who are unconcerned fro spiritual things?  They may
abe at the church building, but these souls are still just as lost
as they were.

       There is considerable difference between numbers added to
the roll and believers who have turned to the Lord (Acts 11:21).
God wants great numbers of penitent souls who will genuinely
serve His cause.  We must not stand in God's way of achieving
this goal by refusing to be as fervent as we can be in preaching
the Gospel.  At the same time, however, we must not artificially
force growth.  The Great Commission did nto say, "Go ye into
every congregation and make it grow!"  It did command us to 
preach the Gospel to the lost and faithfully teach those we con-
vert to the Lord.  God will be responsible for the growth of the
church.  We must do our part of planting and watering and let
God give the increase to our efforts (1 Cor. 3:6).  ----------------------
Mark W. White via Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 26, June 29, 2008.   </HTML>
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