defining "effectively reaching" wrong?

In my view, effectively reaching means the congregation is being truly discipled and is growing spiritually; Irregardless of what formula or program you use. Paul uses physical development and growth to illustrate spiritual development and growth. The problem with many churches is that, spiritual speaking, the pews are filled with Christians who cannot feed themselves and have to have their diapers changed. A spiritually mature Christian should not only be able to feed themselves, but also prepare their own meals, and they should certainly be able to clean up after themselves. Changing diapers and hand feeding is ok for babies, for newborn Christians. But if they have been saved for 5 years and they still need to be changed and fed, something is wrong with their development. Not to be mean or cruel, but many American Christians are just plain spiritually retarded.

An effective church will experience spiritual growth and development no matter what formula or program they determine to use.

 

It boils down to Crock pot vs. Microwave approach (pardon the culinary allusion).

Our society is impatient and that is seen not only in churches but on the mission field. Many people have become focused on results and statistics, charts and graphs, and the praise of men rather than the praise of God. There are no quick fixes or instant result programs or formulas. Our society praises instant results and ignores tenacity and longevity.

Our churches are plagued by pastors who never stay more than two to five years at any church, they don't stay long enough to become effective. Many are hirelings using smaller churches as stepping stones to fluff their resume, always trying to get that big church, big salary, big benefits package. As a result, churches do not want to get behind and follow the leadership of a man who will be gone in two to five years. So they are hesitant to make any changes and try new things. Even if his intentions were to stay, the man becomes frustrated and begins looking for another church after a couple of years. It becomes a vicious cycle and the root cause is pastors and churches expecting microwave results. As a result, the people do not grow and develop the way they should.

The solution is long term commitments. I have read studies that show it takes five to seven years before a congregation truly accepts a man as pastor and begins to follow his leadership. With average tenures being two to three years, it is no wonder our churches are in this spiritual condition.

Time, it takes time and commitment, it takes patience and endurance, it takes time. Time to invest in people and to disciple them and train them and love them and cry with them and rejoice with them.

Additionally, I find that many of the available materials are lacking in real substance. Mass marketing and profit margins have become more important than biblical substance and many companies are more interested in what will sell than in what will grow the church. Solid Bible teaching and Bible preaching is necessary for spiritual growth and sadly those are lacking in many churches, and is also a contributing factor. All of the above coupled with the "last days" factor fairly well explains the spiritual condition of our churches today.

In summary:
Stop expecting instant results and quick fixes
Pastors need to stop church jumping
Congregations need to follow the pastors' spiritual leadership
Return to solid Bible preaching and teaching.
Pray, Pray, Pray, Pray

m2c

 

I expected others would have chimed in on this subject, but I suppose political and theological arguments are more interesting that practical discussions about the spiritual condition of churches.

 

Most parents would see themselves as successful if they had babies who matured and were capable of living as responsible adults.

 

First of all, I have serious issues with things like "Cowboy Church". I won't derail the thread with all of that, but I just want you to know going in where I'm coming from.

Second, "success" is not defined by membership or money or baptisms or Sunday School attendance, even how many people are being saved, but by how faithful the church, the church body, and the church leadership are to the word of God.