Pastors and Priests Not Obeying the Bible When They Try to Grow Their Church


I read so many religion sites I think I have seen it all. Then I'm surprised once again. This time by a message of Christianity that is quit different then what one usually comes across.

The scene is set to do something. About 4,000 churches start each year but about 7,000 close. Every year about 2.7 million church members go to inactive status. About 1,500 clergy leave the ministry each month.

In both the Catholic and Protestant branches there are frequent seminars on how to grow their church. A belief held by most Christians is that the preacher/priest is hired to increase church membership. The building needs to be spruced up and sermons need to relate to what people need to hear. This notion has been going on for years to no effect.

The link teaches, however, it is not the preacher/priest's job to grow membership. Nor is it that of the governing board. The only person charged with growing the church, the link author says, is Jesus.

According to this line of reasoning, the pastors job is to equip the congregation, "equip the saints", and Jesus will build the church. The church will grown because there is a "longing for a relationship with God" and job of the preacher and train congregation will accept requests for membership. This was the teaching of Paul and others he says. The common notion churches should have food drives or help old people with their storm windows is not what preachers should encourage according to scripture.

I would agree pastors should not ruin their health trying to keep a particular church going. It was not the blacksmith's job to keep people using horses instead of buying cars. Neither do I think there is a "longing for God" out there that will turn the tide of fewer church goers. That isn't to say the tide cannot nor will not change.

It's just that, at this time, it looks like the church, like the horse, is being replaced by something else.

Comments

  1. Matt NoahNovember 24, 2019 at 6:08 PM

    Part of any Catholic's ministry is to evangelize, i.e. help people to see that God is calling them. But a person's call or vocation in life is to teach their children, live good lives, keep the commandments, make use of the sacraments, etc. Some priests are great at theology. Some priests are great at working as exorcists, as tribunalists, as teachers, etc.

    All atheists on this blog know that my wish is for them for follow Jesus Christ, proclaim their faith in Christ's salvific acts, and seek forgiveness of their sins. They must follow Christ and do as He wishes.

    So, yes, Catholics want to increase the size of the Church in terms of the number of souls, not the number of churches, the size of any Cathedral or any other metric.

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