HEALTHY CHURCH: Church Health Myths
Superstitions, wives’ tales and myths are plentiful and seemingly unending. As you mature in life, you begin to realize they just are not true. Some were harmless and innocent, but others caused fear because it was said that if you broke a mirror, you would have seven years of bad luck. Even smart, intelligent people will knock on wood, wish on a falling star and become visibly upset if a black cat crosses their path. As a child, I remember carefully walking down a sidewalk and avoiding every crack because of the saying, “step on a crack, break your mother’s back.”
There are many church myths that are still spoken of as actual fact today. A myth is defined as “an idea or story that is believed by many people but that is not true.” Remember, a myth is called a myth because it has not been proven true. The problem is that we hear myths, believe them and then allow them to control our thinking and our behavior. When churches believe myths rather than the truth, it causes fear and can paralyze their ministry. Things like, “If we build it, they will come!” or “All we need is a really cool vision statement and then we will grow!”
Myths are unfortunately alive and well in many churches’ minds, hearts and culture. They sound right in some ways, but they could not be any further from the truth. Things like “Revitalization is only needed when a church is struggling or dying.” The truth is that every church requires some form of revitalization. Another myth is, “You need a full-time pastor to be a healthy church.” The actual truth is that many healthy churches are led by part-time pastors and lay leaders who provide excellent spiritual leadership.
Here is another one: “Bi-vocational ministry is second-class compared to full-time ministry.” The truth is that bi-vocational ministry can be dynamic and add to the strength and vitality of a church. How about this myth: “Responsibility for church health belongs to the clergy.” The truth is that church health and revitalization are the responsibility of every member. Some believe that for revitalization to occur, “It takes a lot of money to get healthier.” The truth is that a church can become healthy by starting small and growing organically.
Here are six other church “myths”:
•Large churches have compromised the truth! The truth is that the size of a church, whether small or large, does not guarantee that the gospel is being handled correctly or that it is being compromised. The size of a church, whether large, medium or small, does not guarantee depth any more than owning a Bible, attending church and tithing mean you are a Christian. The size of a church and its actual health are independent characteristics. Large churches, like Jerusalem in Acts 2, are not a bad thing.
• Small churches cannot make an impact for God. The truth is that it is not the number of people who attend a church that determines its ability to be used by God, but rather the size of the church’s heart in bringing glory to God. All too often, small churches have the mistaken impression that small means a lack of mission or purpose. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. Some of the most passionate missional churches are relatively small congregations. Please make no mistake about it, small does not mean inferior.
• Large churches are cold and unfriendly. In fact, size does not determine whether a church is friendly or unfriendly. You can attend a small church where no one speaks to you or welcomes you. The truth is that you don’t have to know everyone closely. In U Turn Church, Bob Bouwer said, “You need to know the One who knows everyone in your church. Jesus is the common bond. Outreach cannot be compromised because a church doesn’t want to stretch its comfort zone.” Be a friendly church regardless of your size!
• Believing you are too small to step out on faith! The truth is, no matter what size you are, faith is required because God is the only one who can accomplish the task He has given you. When you stop being risk-takers, you soon become caretakers, and before long, you will need an undertaker. What is happening in your church that can only be explained by God? All churches need Him — “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible” (Mark 10:27).
• Large churches don’t care about smaller churches. In fact, I have found the exact opposite to be true. Pastors, staff and members of larger churches often seem eager to do everything they can to support other churches and ministries. Many of them have come alongside struggling congregations and shared with humility what they thought might help that church. If you were to ask and approach them, you would find a support team ready to listen, pray with you and share whatever they have that might help you.
• That your church is too small to compete with the larger churches. It is not a competition anyway, and if God has placed you there, then be faithful and strive to be fruitful. There is a need for all kinds of churches, as well as churches of various sizes. We love to criticize what is different, mega-churches to house churches, but if they are scripturally sound and reaching people with the gospel, they have a unique place in God’s plan. In the same way Paul told Timothy, “Let no man despise your youth…” (I Tim. 4:12), allow me to say, “Let no one despise your size!”
Healthy churches refuse to believe the “myths” and are always driven by the truth of God’s Word. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).
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Larry Barker
Director of Church Planting and Church Health Larry Barker submits a weekly column titled, Healthy Church Solutions, designed to strengthen and encourage the local church.
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