Nine Lies

Many different articles come across my desk each day. One of these raised some important questions and issues. It was written by Eddie Hammett, who is associated with Columbia Partnership. He identified nine lies and deceptions “that provide deep roots for dysfunctions and ineffectiveness of many leaders and their churches.” 

Those nine lies are:

1.        Returning to the good old days is the way forward for our church.

2.       Ministry is the primary responsibility of the pastor and staff.

3.       Ministry is for the church members to support and pray for, but not something they are to do.

4.       Care-giving for the membership is the primary mission of the church.

5.       The budget of the church is for those who give, not for those who do not give or come to church.

6.       Church meetings, ministries and programs are primarily to accommodate the needs and preferences of church members rather than those inactive or beyond the membership.

7.       Those who are not like us should not be invited or encouraged to be among us or part of us.

8.       Judging others is essential if the church is to stay pure and faithful.

9.       Funding for ministry for our church comes only from the tithes and offering of membership and guests.

This list points to some common attitudes that indicates congregations are concerned about themselves and their members instead of seeking to make disciples of those outside their regular worshipping communities. Inward focused churches plateau and slowly decline. They communicate in numerous ways they are uninterested in making new disciples, reaching those who have dropped out or who are younger or different from the rest of the congregations.

Several years ago, a congregation I was serving indicated they were very interested in reaching others in the community. The issue arose during an Administrative Board meeting when one of the men spoke passionately about taking deliberate action in reaching out into the community and inviting their neighbors and co-workers to come with them to worship and Sunday School. Pride arose within me almost immediately. They had finally understood the Great Commission and their responsibility to fulfill Jesus’ mission to make disciples. Then he ended his plea by saying, “We must have more people in order to pay the bills.”  Dejection encompassed me.  He wanted more members and showed little or no interest in making disciples. He was concerned about helping the congregation to survive rather than fulfilling the mission of the Church. The focus was entirely on those who were already members. They expressed little or no concern for helping others to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ.

A few years later, I served a congregation that designed their ministries around reaching and ministering to those beyond the membership. The majority of the membership, and certainly the leadership, rejected the lies discovered by Hammett as he works with congregations. This congregation grew year after year with many persons joining by profession of faith or reaffirmation of their faith. The Great Commission directed the congregation.

Does your congregation affirm or deny the lies listed by Hammett? Is your congregation growing or declining? How important is the Great Commission in focusing all of the congregation’s ministries? Is it time for some changes?