The Community of the Redeemed is more about Relationship Quality than it is religious Numeric Quantity.
The
institutional church loves so-called measurable quantifiable successes,
and statistical measurements to satisfy their head office hierarchy and
keep them from pulling the plug. Denominations that are in decline
decide something has to be done to turn things around. Many turn to
measurable programmed membership drive events as the only hope for a
reversal of the decline they find themselves in.
Many denominations become preoccupied with trying to
reach some kind of agreement over a measurable program they can use to
measure membership increase. To raise caution regarding measurement
solutions at such a time will get one labeled an enemy of positive
change or a lazy good-for-nothing who is unconcerned about the decline
in membership in the "church".
The way that institutional churches determines moral
obligation and the viability of a denomination is that the end
justifies the means in that there has to be enough members to
financially support the operation of the business. Thus, the mandate to
initiate programs and special events that have very little to do with
the gospel where the outcome is to increase congregational membership to
make the institution a viable success in the eyes of the institutional
hierarchy.
Is this subjective prerogative, the way to determine
the outcome of a "church" being viable? Is this the way of the Church
that Jesus is building?
No, this is the way of the "church" that man is building.
The Church that Jesus is building stresses
relationship quality and the value of people receiving its ministry and
the objective worth of those people, even if there are only the two's
and three's. The Church that Jesus is building is about being the Church
in daily living, it is not dependent on people meeting in buildings
called churches that can only remain in existence because of people's
giving. The Church that Jesus is building is not man led or quantity
dependent, it is Holy Spirit led and relationship dependent.
The means for measuring success and failure in the
institutional church violates the values of the gospel they claim to
uphold. Add ecclesiastical authority and power to the measurement pot
and things get especially manipulative and controlling. Those in
hierarchical leadership positions of privilege are seldom backward in
saying they are led by the Spirit when it comes to defining objectives
for the people to advance numerical growth, and then there is the
perceived spiritual privilege associated with church leadership
positions where it is understood that they are the pipeline from God to
the pew-warmer to channel spiritual matters that God wants known to
people. This identification of desired outcomes mandated by actions
subjected on the people does not reflect God's gospel of grace. The
pew-warmers become pawns in the drive for measurable results.
Call me an heretic if you like, but I’ll hold myself
accountable to the objective worth of people and God-determined value
of others, above seeking to please the religious hierarchy structure and
support schemes of measurable objectivity to influence head office
personnel that the institutional "churches" are a viable operation.
Numeric quantity and all the subjective programs
initiated by man-instituted leadership to reverse declining church
membership is not rooted in scripture. It is rooted in a larger struggle
erupting throughout the world system in recruiting. It boils down to
leadership insecurity over survivability among their particular
denominations. Quite honestly, we’ve spent way too much energy worrying
about whether this or that expression of the church should continue. The
language of measurement and outcomes is often not so much a courageous
response to the world as it is an insecure attempt to mimic the world.
Perhaps if we strike a bargain with “trending” values we can remain
viable a little longer.
Let’s face it, not many people outside the church
care if the respective denominations come to naught, and I don’t blame
them. People could not care less about fashionable attempts to attract
them. If anything, they want church people to be...well, to be like
Christ. By that they mean loving in the way that Jesus taught. People
are influenced by unceremoniously caring and loving people. Such
examples challenge and invite them into a more meaningful life. The last
thing people respond to is one more “denominated sect” concerned about
its survival. They know when they are valued because of their intrinsic
worth and when they are being considered targets of some organizational
agenda using manipulation to get them to join their ranks.
Perhaps the best expression the church has to offer
the world is a conscious distinction between doing and being. It is
important for faithful people to act, but putting emphasis on
measuring-stick results can value people only when they contribute to
meet desired outcomes. What happens when people fail? What happens when
they get sick? What happens when they age? What happens when people can
no longer produce the results desired by institutional leaders? What
happens when the church operates as if our very worth is determined by
our works instead of God’s grace?
A lack of interest in measurement is no excuse for
sloppy relationship. Those who know Jesus and his redemption will be
moved to bear the fruit of love. Yet a church that assigns value based
on desired measurable results is not the Church of Jesus Christ.
There is a danger in living among people in a love
that refuses to calculate outcomes. We just might end up with a church
full of broken, bruised, wounded people. People like you and I. People
like those put off by self-righteous obsession with budgets and
strategic growth plans to attract those who can contribute financially
to the monopolized agendas of man. We might end up with all kinds of
people wanting “in.” We may not know how to handle such people, how to
fit them in, how to make sure they conform to our agenda expectations.
That is good because then we realize that it is no longer about us, it
is all about Him and His work in and through us to show these people
Jesus!
Love without expectation? Lord knows people don’t
experience much of that in our religious church-going culture. There has
never been a time in human history when the gospel is more relevant,
more deeply appealing, and more promising than today. But we will have
to get out of God’s way by living His Gospel of Grace and Love among
such people.
Being disciples of Jesus and not of denomination
affiliation is paramount. Making sure that we live kingdom reality is
necessary. Challenging one another to be the best we can with the best
news our world will ever know is a must. But it is not about measuring
man's agendas.
We should think very clearly before we presume to
calculate value, and we should honor the worth of ALL people, before we
attempt to measure anything.
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