When shrinking is growing
Photo by Josh Applegate on Unsplash
One of the highest highs of my life is preaching and teaching in small churches in small towns one or two weekends a month.
The pandemic ended that for almost two years.
Last weekend, I was happy and thankful to stand in a pulpit again.
The congregation that hosted me is one I didn’t know until I showed up to preach. I learned that the congregation had about 70 members before the pandemic. Now it has about 35.
The people held their chins up, but I could feel grief hanging in the air.
They could see ghosts in those empty pews.
In congregations like that one, I often get the feeling that those who are still there don’t know how to make sense of what is happening.
They believe in God. They believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
If the “Good News” is so good and powerful and true, why aren’t people beating down the church doors?
Empty pews make those who are left wonder: What are we doing wrong?
Many shrinking or small churches try to fix the problem with style.
They change the “branding,” the music, the preaching, or even things like carpet, the color of the walls, and lighting.
I’ve listened to church leaders say things like: “If we just had a dynamic preacher or worship minister, the people would come back.” Or “if we just had money to freshen up our building, maybe more visitors would come.”
And I say to them:
No. You already have everything you need. All you need is two things: 1) The Holy Spirit of God that you receive through your baptism into Jesus Christ, and 2) each other.
The Christ to whom the church belongs taught that the most important thing we do is love each other by doing things like “washing feet”. The most important thing that happens in the church of Christ is that Christians keep up with each other and take care of each other.
After he washed his apostles’ feet, Jesus said: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Gospel of John 13:35). Love that does the dirty work and takes care of the little things.
How will the world spot a church that is full of the Spirit of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ?
It will be a church where people are taking extraordinary care of each other.
This is why small, struggling congregations have so much going for them: Their size makes it easier for their members to love and serve each other.
If you are a member of one of those shellshocked, shrinking, struggling congregations, cheer up! Take heart! You have a God-given golden opportunity to excel at what Jesus said is the most important thing.
Love one another.
This is the Way.
Grace and peace.