In the last 40 years, I’m convinced we have bought the lie that bigger is better. If our church is bigger, if our ministry is bigger, if our home is bigger, if our property is bigger…then there is a bigger blessing on our lives and ministries.
While we say we are winning converts, the truth is, most churches in the United States are growing by transfer growth; people moving from one church or ministry to another.
Jesus NEVER called us to win converts (that’s Holy Spirit’s job); He called us to make disciples. The word convert is used only once in scripture (James 5:19 KJV), while the words disciple and disciples are used at least 30 times in the Word.
A friend and I were leading an ordination service a few years ago when he turned to me (as he was preaching) and said,
“You cannot go die and go to heaven with everything God has taught you and told you still inside you!”
He was speaking in general terms to the congregation, but in reality (he didn’t know it), he was speaking directly to me.
Don’t misunderstand me: God DOES want our churches and ministries to grow. I am NOT against big churches or big ministries, so don’t accuse me of simply being jealous of another’s “success”. But when one ministry grows at the expense of another ministry’s loss, that’s not healthy, and that’s not discipleship. That’s only conversion to another person’s voice.
We are called by Jesus to make disciples, not converts.
At the end of the day, spiritual maturity is what God is calling us to, not having the biggest ministry in town.
Just a thought.
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