This is loaded question that has seen much ink spilled (or keypads struck) attempting to answer. The church is stuck in the past; too slow to navigate the ever-changing cultural landscape; too racist or scandal plagued; too institutional; too conservative; too progressive; their worship is out-of-touch; too political; aging out; irrelevant; etc. and etc.
All of which have merit. All of which has to be examined and included in the conversation. Layers upon layers of possible answers—making it a complex discussion. But what if, after peeling back all of these layers, there is something else; a core reason that just may not be that complex?
Could it be; that maybe, perhaps, churches do not grow because—they do not really want to? Is it possible that churches become very comfortable with their status quo and find real, lasting growth simply too difficult to consider?
In my ministry, I have only been a part of one truly growing church. I define that as a church realizing the kind of sustained, steady growth that challenges space in the pews, classrooms and on the parking lot, as well as leadership, volunteers, planning, and comfort zones. It was marvelous to experience, but it also wasn’t. With new people came new ideas, fresh winds, new resources, and new energy. It was exciting, that is, until the pushback came against newness; until the growth overwhelmed the capacity of the leadership and the facilities; until the fallout to the growth and the attempted management of it all stymied it. There were simply unseen, unrecognized, unexpected minefields already in place waiting to explode as the growth occurred. While never acknowledged it seemed that this church (at least as a whole) did not want to grow. It created too many problems; too many difficult decisions; and an atmosphere that challenged too many previously entrenched norms.
Without a doubt church growth is hard on almost every level. So, could it be that churches just don’t want to go there—choosing instead to manage what they have; keep the peace and stay put? It is the safer option for sure, but an option that sooner or later will likely catch up with you. Just ask the churches closing their doors forever.
Again, do not misunderstand. There a litany of factors why churches do not grow; why some have ceased to be. Location; demographics; internal strife and division; economic downturns; just to name a few. And yes, some churches do want to grow; plan for it; execute the plans and adjust as they go—planting and watering and trusting God to give the increase.
But my guess, after 40+ years in ministry, is that most do not—whether they would ever admit it or really, even be aware of it. It requires too much.
Maybe I am wrong. I hope I am. I love the church. I love my congregation. I am not cynical, bitter or suffering from burn-out. I trust in the power of God to enable us to do more than we can ask or imagine. I have just come to believe that we cannot imagine our churches really growing.
What else, truthfully, is stopping us? If the church could grow rapidly in the hostility of the Roman world in the first few centuries, why not now?
Danny Dodd