Why churches grow...
This is a really interesting article. It cites a recent study about why some churches grow and others don't. Some of the findings are hardly surprising. For example, churches in growing communities (US Suburbs) are more likely to grow. But there were also some surprises.
Multiracial Churches are more likely to be growing! That's great news as it contradicts one of the most problematic principles of traditional "church growth" literature. The homogeneity principles was that homogenous churches grow more easily.
The other interesting bit was that liberal or conservative theology doesn't matter too much. You don't have to be fundamentalist to have a vibrant, growing church! Amen.
Congregations that describe their worship as "joyful" are growing. Those that say it is "reverent" are in decline. The study also drew a correlation between the age of the parishoners and the likelihood of growth or decline. The older the average church member the more likely the church was to be in decline. In my experience this is related to the "joyful" vs "reverent" thing.
In the churches I pastored in the US (not as much in Bangkok) the old-timers didn't want guitars and drums in the service. When I finally got to the bottom of it I learned that they believed the new styles of music were irreverent and loud. They wanted quiet, reverent music. They wanted familiar ('reverent') liturgical forms. The problem is for almost everyone under 50 years of age and especially for those unfamiliar with church culture - that 'reverence' seemed dull and dead. Newcomers always wanted more joy. They came to church less out of obligation or an attempt to preserve tradition and more out of a desire to be inspired for the week to come.
I don't think 'reverent' and 'joyful' have to be opposites. I do think though that you have to choose a priority. If I'm going to err - do I want to err on the side of joy (which requires freedom to make mistakes) or reverence (which allows for more caution).
I think churches are generally too conservative. I'm talking less about theology than about form. Figuring out how to be more experimental and joyful though is hard. One person's joy is another person's irreverence.
In the New Year - I'll be seeking to err on the side of joy in our worship. Sorry if it occasionally slips into irreverence. I'm convinced God has a sense of humor and accepts apologies.
Multiracial Churches are more likely to be growing! That's great news as it contradicts one of the most problematic principles of traditional "church growth" literature. The homogeneity principles was that homogenous churches grow more easily.
The other interesting bit was that liberal or conservative theology doesn't matter too much. You don't have to be fundamentalist to have a vibrant, growing church! Amen.
Congregations that describe their worship as "joyful" are growing. Those that say it is "reverent" are in decline. The study also drew a correlation between the age of the parishoners and the likelihood of growth or decline. The older the average church member the more likely the church was to be in decline. In my experience this is related to the "joyful" vs "reverent" thing.
In the churches I pastored in the US (not as much in Bangkok) the old-timers didn't want guitars and drums in the service. When I finally got to the bottom of it I learned that they believed the new styles of music were irreverent and loud. They wanted quiet, reverent music. They wanted familiar ('reverent') liturgical forms. The problem is for almost everyone under 50 years of age and especially for those unfamiliar with church culture - that 'reverence' seemed dull and dead. Newcomers always wanted more joy. They came to church less out of obligation or an attempt to preserve tradition and more out of a desire to be inspired for the week to come.
I don't think 'reverent' and 'joyful' have to be opposites. I do think though that you have to choose a priority. If I'm going to err - do I want to err on the side of joy (which requires freedom to make mistakes) or reverence (which allows for more caution).
I think churches are generally too conservative. I'm talking less about theology than about form. Figuring out how to be more experimental and joyful though is hard. One person's joy is another person's irreverence.
In the New Year - I'll be seeking to err on the side of joy in our worship. Sorry if it occasionally slips into irreverence. I'm convinced God has a sense of humor and accepts apologies.
