Good ideas.
Good article.
Favorite quote:
“But as a strategy to reach more people with the gospel, the church growth movement, by its own measure, has failed. . . . As I said earlier, many of us have been calling the church to abandon the attractional mode and shift toward a more missional approach, one where growth isn’t merely measured by the 3 B’s; bodies, bucks, and buildings.”

Liz,
This doesn’t even make any sense. What if you are Joel Osteen or Kenneth Copeland? How would you afford multiple jets, mansions, or even a yacht or two? You wouldn’t be able to generate even 6 figure income, let alone 7 or 8 figure income.

Also, how would you determine which church was better and who the greatest Pastor was without building the biggest and greatest building?

Not to be rude, but your comment sounds like something Jesus would come up with or something.

I’ll tell you why.

I’ve got friends who recently left their mennonite ‘Church’ community.

Conservative as conservative comes.

The ‘Church’ where everyone is related and fourth generation Mennonite with no new blood and where women are in skirts past the knee with head coverings.

Then Covid happened.

They had to begin meeting in homes.

Then they asked, “why do we need to meet in the big temple building? If we, the people, are the Ekklesia?”

The issue is this Mike… our ‘church’ practices come from Rome.

If the early believers had simple fellowship in their homes (and they were the Ekklesia and not the church), you have to ask where the word church comes from.

Who put the word church in the English bible and for what purpose?

It was King James, was it not? To justify the Church of England.

You are an Anglican aren’t you? Do you think the Anglican system is much better than the Roman? (Honest question).

What if we got rid of the entire church system and instead focused on simple fellowship. Why do we need huge sects with clubhouses?

Christianity is the biggest stumbling block to people coming to Christ.

And we can’t admit this.

Living in Australia my experience will no doubt be different to the family in America. The church is not set back 25 years as it assumes a timetable we all don’t have access to today. There is someone today that God is stirring to pray fast and humble themselves for their neighbour, their country and their family. I am confident for that person to bring renewal and to propel others into the future 50 years. Caleb and Jacob I imagined tried so hard to convince 10 other family groups that there is a lot more available that we can imagine here. Statistics never drive the church to grow, humble hearts hungry for loved ones do.

Thanks for your continued work.

Thanks for the truth check. You have helped me to discern a more humble reality and a more realistic image of what is happening.

I’m with you. 4 soils.