TheDeSocios.com

Goodmanson ask whether or not the Gospel is Awakening.

Mark Driscoll points to the signs of burnout.

David Fairchild talks about the Top 25 Church planting churches

And in other news:

CNN reports that the N-word was buried this week.

While listening to this week’s vodcast from Marshill Church, I was presented with their new plans for expansion. New sites, new services, and more reorganization.
While he was speaking about their plans to add more services, and locations, Mark Driscoll said out loud what many people looking at a church of 6,000 who are hoping to reach beyond 10000, would say: “Is it all about the number?”
Driscoll’s Response: “It is! Its about the number of people who meet Jesus, and who get new lives. We want that number to be as big as possible.”

My bet would be that either Marshill receives alot of criticism on account of their high view of numeric growth, or they assume that while the criticizing might not be vocal, it is moving under the surface.

Here is what I have been wrestling with, for over a year now: Should we believe that God will grow faithful ministries? Or do we have evidence to the contrary. The answer would seem simple to many: “of course he bless faithful ministries”. Yet, there are many men, who after years of faithfulness have little fruit to show for it, which would challenge our simple answer. It becomes harder when people disagree on what would constitute fruit.

As Dick Kauffman points out, many church see anything less that 300+ as failure, this is of course false. In reaction to this emphasis on numbers, many people in smaller churches, have become suspect of large churches, thinking that size is directly proportionate to the loss of discipleship, or a standard of truth.

There are many Godly brothers, who would not fall into this defeatist mentality. There are many men that have the wisdom to see that Christ is a conquering King and not a retreating one. They would simple point to places like Jerusalem, and North Africa (Both lost strongholds of faith) and simply note that the battle seem more direr on the front lines of certain conflicts.

Many times, though, these less fruitful groups end up creating a culture of survival. They begin to see the preservation of a remnant as their main goal. To this end they stress the importance of strict adherence to what they see as the essentials of a remnant. This many times ends up being little more than sinful pride, about the assumption that their theological ducks are in a row, which proves their superiority to those other larger, yet less faithful churches. These groups see themselves like John the Baptizer, as crying out in the wilderness. Instead of advancing on the field of battle, with Christ before them, they feel the need to retreat and fortify their position until Christ’s comes to rescue them. And firing a few shots toward the enemy to slow his charge.
This is of course incorrect when we look at Revelation 19:11-14, and see King Jesus advancing into this world, by the power of his word.

Unfortunately there are many larger churches that have made their size an idol, and like Ahaz, have burned the things they were to treasure on the alter of their desires.

So what do we do with promises like John 15:5, and Isaiah 55:11; and examples like Acts 12:20-24, and Acts 19:18-20. Is it right for Marshill, and other churches to hope for, and prepare for, overflowing harvest baskets, given by the Lord of the Harvest?
Its seems that the answer is yes. God tells us that the harvest is ripe, and that we need to prayer for enough people to simply harvest that which He has grown. It would seem that it is a very good thing to plan and expect that the Lord would be bringing people to himself. Personally my prayer would be that the Lord would say of Pittsburgh the same thing he said of Corinth (Acts 18:9-10)

Yet we cannot count noses to get a good measurement of God’s blessings. This is why what Driscoll says is so true, its not about the number of people who know of Marshill Its about the number of people who meet Jesus, and gain the new life which he promised. Our goal should be his kingdom, our prayers should be for the expansion of and the deepening of Christ people. We are not called to be a people of retreat or fear. At the same time,we must always guard against pride in numbers, because we are not the ones reconciling the lost to their Maker.

We stand on the razors edge, between biblical contentment, and sinful fear (Hebrews 13:5); between Holy zeal, and personal pride (1 Corinthians 3:7). May Jesus build his Kingdom, and may I never be a hindrance to that end.