Jesus tells the story about a sower sowing seeds (Mk. 4:3-9). As he describes the ancient way farmers planted their crops, he stopped focusing on the sower and spent his time discussing the soil. His four descriptions of the type of soil drive the story. One soil never allows the seed to penetrate the surface. Two soils do allow the seed to penetrate but the seed never takes root, either because the sun scorches the growth or is squeezed out by weeds. The final soil is rich and filled with nutrients to allow for growth.
As much as the focus on the sower drives discussion of contemporary church growth, Scripture says much more about the kind of soil for the seed. Looking at today’s soil factors and understanding the ramifications might help in understanding how to tend to the soil for the seed to take root.
The information available tells us that churches in America have stopped growing and are on the decline. I recently read a report that the Southern Baptist Convention lost 200,000 members over the last year or more. One source I read said that Churches of Christ’s growth plateaued in 1980 and started losing numbers in the 1990’s. Since we do not have collectively accurate records of our members, one may argue any statistics about our fellowship. While pockets of growth are seen in individual congregations, most growth is sporadic at best.
If church growth always mirrors the community, then a couple of community facts must be established. The racial demographics have shifted across America. Not only have the number of people in a household has diminished, but society has grown older. An older society means churches are filled with older members, which means attracting younger members becomes more difficult. Along with the aging society is the influx of minority groups. The white community is not only greying but shrinking as well, with the black and brown community growing. Churches committed to homogeneous congregations will find fewer potential members among the white communities. The white community is older and there is not as many of that demographics as there were in the past.
One other dynamic that will negatively impact church growth is the sex scandal of the Catholic Church. Not long ago, it was believed that the corruption was only in America, but further studies have shown that the scandal is a world-wide cover-up. If churches faced scrutiny before this scandal broke, one can imagine what life under the microscope will be like now. The Catholic Church’s conflict will not be self-contained and its siezmic tremors will be felt in all religious bodies.
While many other factors are in play regarding the soil for church growth, a couple of observations can be made about the above information. First, if a local congregation is going to grow it will have to work hard at it and probably need creative approaches to do so. What we’ve done and might have been successful in the past will not easily translate to today. Secondly, the mobility of America still offers local churches the chance to attract new members, as long as churches recognize and open to accepting the nomads who are moving to their neighborhoods. Thirdly, the flood of immigration coming to America means more than opportunities of fulfilling the Great Commission. As long as individual congregations are willing to put skin color and language behind them, the fields may very well be ripe, if only God had workers willing to work. Finally, issues of integrity, authentic faith and a safe environment for children (and maybe for women) will go a long way to bring healing to the hurting and experience growth at the same time.
Ultimately, growth is not up to an individual or fully in the hands of the local church. Yes, we can prepare the soil. We can plant a seed and water it. But even Paul admitted that ultimately God gives the increase (1 Cor 3:6-8).
Soli Deo Gloria!
(i.e. only God is glorified!)