A Garden-Church #2

 

In last week’s letter I talked about us being a garden-church rather than a factory-church (if you didn’t have a chance to read it, you can see it on my blog here: "A Garden-Church"). I drew from Christopher Hutchinson’s book “Rediscovering Humility,” and ended with this thought from Hutchinson, “A humble church is a place of faith and hope and love, centered on Christ the Lord, feeding constantly on His character and humility” (p. 218-219). There is a bit more I am adding to last week’s letter. 

First, from several sources, there are over 300,000 Protestant/Nondenominational/Independent churches in the United States. In many ways, numbers should not be super important to us, especially as we recall that it is the Lord who adds to the church such as are being saved (Acts 2:47). Yet the numbers are deeply encouraging and enlightening. And so, here are some numbers regarding those 300,000 congregations. 

According to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research (and other sources), about 60% of all congregations in the United States have less than 100 congregants. That means that almost 2/3rds of existing congregations in this country are smaller than Heritage. Then, 35% of churches have somewhere between 100-499 parishioners. That means that the vast majority of congregations in the United States (over 80%!!!) are 500 parishioners or less, with most (60%) having fewer than 100. 

And then, if you go by population numbers, some 60% of Christians in America belong to churches with less than 500. While close to 40% of Christians are part of churches bigger than 500 church-goers. All of this is beneficial for congregational self-perception, and also helping a fellowship find it’s place. 

None of this is intended to allow anyone to say, “We’re better than those guys” in any direction. The Lord of the church builds his church, and deploys his people into multiple sized congregations for his reasons. What it does do – or should do – is encourage us, and help to correct a harmful perspective that AT&T once made public in it’s commercials many years ago, “Bigger is better!” The reality is, neither smaller nor bigger is better. Each has it’s place in God’s world rescue operation. Each has it’s pluses and minuses. Thus, the competitive spirit really has no place in God’s church. 

What it also helps us to grasp is that we’re to be what we’re to be. A congregation our size can be a healthy garden-church that loves very personally; helps very personally; makes disciples who will belong and believe with us very personally. And that should relieve us of any internal or external pressure that says, “You’re not like XXXX church, and you should be, and you should do what they do.” We can, and should, be content with what we are. Yes, we should keep on considering how can we do what we are, better. But also rejoice and give thanks that the Lord of the Church, the Lord of Heritage PCA, has made us what we are and has given us our role and place in his world rescue operation. 

And, as Pastor Wes used to urge us when he was here, we should pray for conversions and for 12 baptisms of new confessing Christians. Why? Simply that we may be a fruitful garden-church that glorifies and enjoys the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, forever. 

I hope you found these two letters beneficial. In the end, our garden-church has a purpose and a direction, and our Lord is moving us right along in our, “Life at Heritage: Truth, worship, and Christian love that will equip us in making disciples who will belong and believe with us as we grow in truth, worship, and Christian love.” 

Pastor Mike