Success As Measured by the New Testament tagged: , , , ,

Success As Measured by the New Testament

Posted by in Church & Missions

I’ve been reading a wonderful little book entitled, Small Churches Are Beautiful. It somewhat dated as it was published in 1977, however, many of the principles cited are still valid.

One point the author makes is we must measure success by biblical principles, not worldly principles. Here’s a quote:

“Large churches have been perceived as better and more desirable than small ones, especially small, rural congregations. Large churches can afford to pay their pastors more and are usually more willing to do so. Large churches are likely to have a pool of trained leaders. Large churches are likely to have a significant number of professional people and executives whose life-styles and experiences are closer to those of educated ministers. Many pastors feel more at home with the well-educated than with others. In a society in which influence is based on bigness and money, large-church naturally have more influence and status than their small church colleagues. Large churches have usually been more profitable outlets in terms of mission dollars. In short, the large church approximates society’s definition of success better than the small one.

“In contrast with this popular standard of success is the New Testament concept of the wholeness of the system and the value of each part. Paul stressed this in 1 Cor. 12:12-31, comparing the church to a body in which each part has an essential purpose. The body cannot function as intended if any part is missing or fails to fulfill its purpose. Thus it is foolish for one part of the body to disdain another because it is different or smaller.

“Paul emphasized the necessity of evaluating each part of the body on the basis of the contribution it is designed to make and its fidelity to that purpose. It is not faulted for not fulfilling a function of some other part. It is foolish to condemn the ear because it cannot see or the eye because it cannot hear. The eye is to be judged by how faithfully it fulfills its function of seeing, and the ear on how faithfully it fulfills the function of hearing. As each part functions in its own way, the whole body is built up.

“In a variety of ways, small and large churches are different. Each has its peculiar role to play in the ministry and mission of Christ’s body in the world. Since each is faced with differing challenges and social settings, no church is to be judged on the basis of its resemblance to another. It is to be judged on the fulfillment of its calling in light of its resources and setting. Each church, regardless of size, contributes to the life of the whole body of Christ. Neither the large nor small church needs to be ashamed of itself or judge itself or the other to be inferior.”

I agree with these remarks. Each church in the whole body of Christ in the world is there to exalt Jesus, evangelize the lost, and edify believers in the context of its own culture.