Room For Growth?

When I graduated from high school I took a job as a shoe salesman. It was quite an experience to say the least. When parents would come in to find their child a pair of shoes they always wanted to ensure that their child would have plenty of room for growth. Fitting older children was a relatively simple process. However, fitting babies and toddlers often presented some challenges (after all, have you ever tried to get a baby to stand while you feel for their big toe?). Now that I’m a parent, when I go with our girls to find shoes I always check to ensure there is some room for growth.

Let’s take the “room for growth” analogy and apply it to the church—as well as to Christians. Over the years I have observed something in the life of the local church: there is always room for growth—both spiritual and numerical! In fact, based on a careful study of God’s Word, spiritual growth leads to numerical growth (see Acts 2-4). Let’s consider both types of growth.

Spiritually speaking, there is always room for growth. This is true for every Christian. After all, we would all do well to spend more time in the study of God’s Word. No Christian that I know has “arrived.” Now, there are some very intelligent Christians who know a lot of Bible facts. In fact, they easily win Bible Trivia games. However, I do not believe any honest Christian would say that they have arrived (and if they do, they simply demonstrate by their boasting that they have not truly arrived!).

In 1 John 2:12-14, the apostle John provides three basic levels of spiritual growth: child, youth, and adult. The characteristics of a child include: they understand the gospel and know God as their spiritual “da-da” but they are not grounded in God’s Word. The characteristics of a youth include: they understand God’s Word and know God as their Father, they are strong in their faith and defend it, and they overcome Satan because of their knowledge of God’s Word. The characteristics of an adult include: they understand the Word, they know God as their Friend, they are strong in their faith and defend the Word, they overcome Satan with the Word, they teach (or disciple) others and they also enjoy an intimate love relationship with God. So, regardless of your age, how would you describe where you are spiritually: a child, youth, or adult? Over the years I have met adults who were only a child, spiritually speaking, while I have met young college students who appeared to be mature adults, spiritually speaking. No matter how you might describe yourself, I believe you would agree that there is plenty of room for spiritual growth.

What about numerical growth? It has often puzzled me how some Christians get upset if their pastor, church leader, or another church member talks about church growth. Sadly, too many people are content with the size of their church family and give little or no thought to reaching lost people for Christ. Often these people have grown apathetic, whether willingly or unknowingly.

Once while speaking about church growth, someone asked what kind of growth I was referring to. I replied both and went on to explain how spiritual growth leads to numerical growth. For example, as one matures in their faith and gets to know God’s heart and God’s Word, they will want to shine as lights in a dark world. They will want to go and make disciples of all nations. They will want to be God’s witnesses at home and afar. In other words, they will want to be obedient to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! After all, a heart for the lost grows and deepens within the child of God who is growing spiritually.

So, is there room for growth? Yes! Room for spiritual growth in all of our lives and room for numerical growth in our local churches. At a recent meeting with the deacons of my local church, one of our deacons asked a great question: “I wonder when was the last time our members shared their faith?” All of us need to answer this important question: “When was the last time I shared my faith with someone?” If we claim to be mature believers and are not being His witnesses and thereby making disciples then we’re not as mature as we may think.

Am I concerned about spiritual growth? Absolutely! I desire to personally grow in the Word and also see God’s people grow in the Word—in fact, growing so much so that we are not simply studying, memorizing, and meditating on God’s Word—but carefully obeying it! Am I just as concerned about numerical growth? Absolutely! Why? Because in the state of Georgia where I live, there are 7.1 million people who are lost without Christ. Imagine how this number grows when you add up the number of lost people in all 50 states! These numbers include our friends, neighbors, co-workers, family members, etc. Each one of these people has a soul and will spend eternity without Jesus unless they come to know Jesus! The question is: Do we care enough to share the good news? I’m also concerned about numerical growth because Jesus was concerned about it, so much so that He gave His life so that people may have life eternal. I’m also concerned because of Jesus’ great commission to go and make disciples of all people groups (Mt. 28:19).
Sadly too many churches are not great commission focused—which means that many Christians are not great commission Christians. According to Richard Harris, a North American Mission Board ambassador, “Twenty-five percent of our [Southern Baptist Convention] churches baptized no one last year. Another 63 percent baptized five or less, and 79 percent baptized 10 or less.” Based on this information, Harris states, “That tells me that we have a high number of churches who are not Great Commission-centered churches.” I want my local church to be a Great Commission-centered church. Is that your desire for your local church? If we want our churches to be Great Commission-centered churches then we must be Great Commission-centered Christians! So, is there room for spiritual growth in our lives? Is there room for numerical growth in our churches? The answer is a resounding “YES!”

By the way, if you are reading this post and have questions about being a Christian, or Christ-follower go to this website to learn more.