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In this vein, most churches in America today desperately need to experience genuine reformation and revival. When I say "reformation" I'm talking about the kind of spiritual awakening that arouses sleepy Christians from their spiritual slumber. When biblical reformation takes place lukewarm believers/churches once again treasure Christ supremely in their hearts (Rev. 2:1-7), they study the sacred Scriptures with renewed zeal (1 Pet. 2:2-3) and they mature in the faith, growing in biblical discernment along the way (Eph. 4:11-16); During times of reformation and revival God's people joyfully find themselves praying as a way of life (1 Thess. 5:17); they pursue sanctification and Christ-likeness in the power of the Holy Spirit (Heb. 12:14, Gal. 5:1-6:4); and they faithfully sow the gospel message both near and far (Rom. 1:16).
If these marks describe your congregation pause and thank the Lord right now; (healthy churches are becoming less and less common with each passing generation). One caution needs to be stated before I write anything else. Make sure that you are not confusing the size of your church with the spiritual health of your church (because many ministries today that are a mile wide are also an inch deep; see Acts 2:42, Eph. 4:12-16). A full parking lot or a huge facility/campus is no guarantee of spiritual health and life.
When a real work of the Holy Spirit is taking place lives marriages, families, and churches) are transformed from the inside out. When this transpires non-Christians often take notice and wonder what in the world is happening over at ____ church (Acts 5:13)? The early church so impacted the world not because they were so cool and hip (like Hillsong) but because they were so different (in all the right ways).
Over the past few years I've recounted the story of how God used a small band of nobodies (I certainly include myself in this category) to revitalize an historic church to the praise of His glorious grace (we have by NO means arrived as a church but the depth and direction of our ministry is once again in harmony with the clear teaching of Scripture). As I've stated in previous articles without the Lord's guidance, provision, and protection our toil would have been for naught.
Along the way I have done my best to faithfully describe some of the trials and triumphs of church revitalization. I pray in time that this blog might be used to encourage the exhausted and strengthen the feeble (Is. 35:3), especially those of you who are serving Christ on the front lines.
One of the things that I've observed over the years is that the phrase "church revitalization" does not always mean the same thing to different people (many definitions are used when employing this word). This morning I want to provide three characteristics that highlight what I mean when I speak of church revitalization. The first two characteristics are easy to spot. The third (and most important) characteristic however requires a good understanding of the New Testament Scriptures (along with humility to admit that their's a problem that needs to be corrected).
Three Characteristics of a Church in Need of Biblical Revitalization
B) A high funerals to weddings ratio. If your congregation averages ten funerals to one wedding or baby shower (as has been true at FBC Freeport over the past 20 years) your congregation will shrink in size. Christian churches should cherish and honor godly senior saints but as these members get older they often slow down and eventually go home to glory. If new members do not join and replace those saints who have gone home to heaven at a 1-1 rate a church will decline numerically.
C) Short Pastoral Tenures. Ministries that have high pastoral turnover rates often experience higher than normal turnover rates with each new pastor and/or interim pastor. John MacArthur has often said that the main thing he had going for him when he started pastoring at Grace Community Church was that he was young and healthy. The previous two lead pastors died unexpectedly so the church decided to go with "youth" when they hired Pastor John back in 1969 (1 Tim. 4:12).
D) An "us four no more" mentality. Some local churches become so tight knit that in time they inadvertently cross over and become little more than a "good ol boys" club. When new visitors attend a church service at places like this they often can sense that they really are not welcomed (or that they're not important). Too many churches today seem to be run by three or four families. Those who are not connected to these key families often feel marginalized.
2) Financial Decline. When the church budget ends in the red year after year it inevitably leads to budget cuts. Because of the consumer driven mindset that is so rampant in our American culture churches that can no longer financially support myriads of programs and staff positions (music directors, youth pastors, and/or children's directors) often have a difficult time "attracting" new members. On the flip side of the coin, churches that are bigger (whether they are sound or not) have more money and typically offer more preferential attractions. In a consumer orientated culture, such as ours, this often has far reaching implications.
[Footnote: Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know that I AM NOT advocating here the implementation of "church growth" theory (see for example, "A Biblical Response to the Church Growth Movement"). In most communities the "Saddleback/Willow Creek" church growth methodology has made major inroads. Some of the early warning signs of a ministry influenced by church growth methodology include offering Saturday night and Monday night church for those who are just too busy on Sunday; Replacing text-driven, meaty preaching with short and surfacey messages; Establishing youth groups that are hip places to hang out but that are pretty barren when it comes to intentional evangelism and discipleship; Implementing multiple worship services with different musical styles to satisfy the personal preferences of each consumer (a traditional worship service at 9am, a contemporary worship service at 10am, etc). I need to add here that I was a member of a Bible-driven, (spiritually healthy), 6,000 member church for over a decade of my Christian life. Just because a church is large does not mean it is necessarily healthy in eyes of the Lord (see Jesus' letters to seven churches in Revelation 2-3). On the flip side of the coin, just because a ministry is growing numerically doesn't necessarily mean it's made compromises along the way. The measuring rod for all things is the Bible...]
3) Spiritual decline. If a pastor "takes over" a ministry that is declining financially and numerically, but at the same time is maturing spiritually (Col. 1:28-29) I do not believe they are doing the work of church revitalization. That is not to say his work is any less important (Col. 3:17). It is to say that all three of these characteristics (numerical, financial, and spiritual decline) must be present in order to truly say such and such a church is in need of biblical revitalization.
In the early days of the church Titus was sent to Crete in order establish biblically qualified shepherd-leaders (elders) and to help "set in order" a church that was drifting spiritually. Paul prayed that through Titus's sanctified efforts God might reestablish a healthy, Word-centered church in the needy region of Crete.
Oh that the Lord of the Church might send out many more Titus' and Timothy's across our spiritually barren land! "Lord Jesus Christ, revive Your Church in this, her crucial hour! Lord Jesus Christ, awake Your Church with Spirit given power."
In order for a church to go from "embers to a flame" a congregation must humbly acknowledge that they are sick and in need of biblical medicine, that they are lost and need spiritual direction, that they have drifted and need to be brought near to Christ once again. Dr. Harry Reeder makes this very point in his fine book, "From Embers to a Flame: How God can Revitalize Your Church."
In my next article I will provide a detailed check list that will help you determine if your church is declining spiritually (see my introductory comments above). In Revelation 2-3 only two churches of seven receive A's and B's on their spiritual report card from King Jesus. Don't presume that everything is ok. Look to Christ and to the perfect Word of Christ for correction, guidance, and grace! (1 John 1:9; 2 Tim.3:15-4:5).
