Pastor offers up a small-church manifesto

Daily Press ^ | January 12, 2008 | N. Tippens

[Gamecock]

"Small Church Manifesto."

We will no longer purchase any teaching videos or books produced by mega-church pastors.

We will no longer feel guilty that our 1897-version sanctuary is not suited for today's contemporary worship services.

Neither, we believe, is a pastor's theology suspect because he doesn't wear his shirttails out and sit on a stool while preaching.

We will no longer feel that a sermon is lacking something if it doesn't include a video clip from a major motion picture.

We will no longer use any statistics produced by religious research groups that are paid for by our denominational contributions and then used to predict our extinction.

We will no longer feel envious when we carpool to a special event and find a bus — I mean a real "Greyhound" sized bus — with the name of a mega-church painted on the side parked at the curb spewing fumes in our faces.

We will no longer feel like second-class Christians because the offering we took to send mosquito nets to Africa is minuscule compared to the amount trumpeted by the mega-church.

[Gamecock]

Highly recommend reading the entire article.

[Quix]

I tend to prefer small churches, too.

The pastor is clever . . . and the issues and foces complex and full of intense emotions.

Largeness or smallness can’t be the critical issue, from Heaven’t perspective.

However . . .

[I think, at least for now, I’ll leave this turf largely to you. Not out of wholesale agreement . . . my perspectives on such matters have not changed essentially . . . just out of respect for you as a person.]

[zgirl]

Luke 6:41

[PAR35]

A small church can mean one of several things.

-It could be a gathering of folks in a demographically challenged area.

-It could be a new work.

-It could be a group focused on a particular mission field, small, but not to be ignored.

-It could be a closed off clique.

The first 3 are good reasons for a small church; the fourth is a bad reason.

There are also good and bad reasons for being a mega church.

Folks on both sides who equate size with quality are off base. At most, size is a symptom that will help you identify where the problems might be.

[alpha-8-25-02]

Good afternoon saints, Just returned from morning men's prayer at the little church that is God's beacon of soveriegn grace and home to His small flock in central,n.y.

Pulled in to our gravel lot,next to our under shepherd's old pickup truck and huddled with the brothers in the massive 10 foot square meeting/kitchen room.

As we offered supplication before the foot of the throne bundled in sweaters and flannels with kerosene smells from the portable heater and saw this thead, i thought of a story i'll share.

A old cowboy in worn clothes and equally worn bible enters into a brand new suburban church for worship service one Lord's day.

The congregants met him with side ways glances and a obvious disdain for the visitors appearance.

After service the pastor made sure he spoke to the old cowboy and said he wanted him to talk with God and ask if his attire was appropriate for that church.

Next Lord's day the old saint showed up for worship dressed much the same and to much dismay.

The pastor rushed over and asked the cowboy if he asked God if his attire was proper for that church.

He responded he indeed talked to God about just that.

The pastor then asked,well what did God tell you.

The old saint said God did not know because He has never been to this church.

Obviously this illustration was coined to effect a lesson concerning legalism.

In this brother's opinion the seeker friendly/emergent church movement is the new legalism.

"...a form of sound words must be one that exalts God and puts down man. We dare not for a moment think that any doctrine is sound that does not put the crown upon the head of Jesus, and does not exalt the Almighty. If we see a doctrine which exalts the creature, we do not care one fig about what arguments may be brought to support it; we know that it is a lie, unless it lays the creature in the very dust of abasement, and exalts the Creator. If it does not do this, it is nothing but a rotten doctrine of pride; it may dazzle us with the brilliant malaria rising from its marshes, but it never can shed a true and healthful light into the soul; it is a rotten doctrine, not fit to be builded on the gospel, unless it exalts Jehovah Jesus, Jehovah the Father, and Jehovah the Holy Spirit." -C.H.SPURGEON

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

[Dr. Eckleburg]

LOL. Great story. And your beautiful church is almost enough to make me move back to the snow. 8~)

[alpha-8-25-02]

The saints would greet you with loving sanctified 5 point arms!!!!!!!!!!

[wmfights]

Folks on both sides who equate size with quality are off base.

FWIW, I attend a church that averages 2-2.5K at Sunday services and our Pastor Lutzer is well respected in the Christian community. My only point being that size does not negate quality in and of itself.

[Gamecock]

I don’t have an issue with large churches, but rather the attitude held by many that mega-churches are the true church.

Some (perhaps not all or even the majority) large churches have almost a cultish appeal.

[Gamecock]

1 Corinthians 5: 9-13

[pby]

Where in NY?

[wmfights]

I don’t have an issue with large churches,...

I didn't think you did. I believe your position has always been it's all about does GOD come first and what is taught.

but rather the attitude held by many that mega-churches are the true church.

I'm familiar with this on a personal level. By the grace of God my cousin became a Christian after a lot of witnessing and prayer. He lives in CA. and is a member of a very large church with multiple satellites. He is involved in all kinds of mission trips and an active men's ministry. He was very proud of his works and his righteousness because of all the good he had done.

He visited last year and came to services with my family. I believe the HOLY SPIRIT convicted him because he does not talk about his works anymore. He is more interested in discussing Scripture.

He still attends the same church and maybe that is as God wills it. I hope he is there to be a good witness to those who are seeking, but not reading.

[PAR35]

FWIW, I attend a church that averages 2-2.5K at Sunday services

Our church is probably slightly smaller. I prefer a larger church because you get a greater range of ministries and membership. A small church (under 100 members) is going to be very homogeneous in membership, and limited in outreach. At about 400 members, you can start ministering to multiple groups and have several outreach programs. It takes about 2000 members before you can have a comprehensive ministry. Over 2000 members or so, you have more resources, but aren't really doing much more than the 2000 member church is.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

What bliss. I may yet pop in one day. 8~)

[Gamecock]

***he does not talk about his works anymore***

That my FRiend, is a great sign. How great that you were able to see such a transformation!

Do you ever watch any of John McArthur’s services? That is clearly a big church that preaches grace, but I know there are some in that crowd who still cling to their own works. They are in every church, and that is why grace needs to be clearly proclaimed every Sunday. We just don’t know who is and isn’t yet in the Kingdom.

[wmfights]

At about 400 members, you can start ministering to multiple groups and have several outreach programs.

I think your analysis is spot on.

I was in a small church for a time when I was younger. It was terrific how close you became with fellow believers, but we were very limited in what we could do.

I think the problem we see with the very large churches is the loss of focus. For example, in my area we have a mega-church that did not have services on Sunday one year when Christmas was on the same day. It all boils down to what comes first.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

****Neither, we believe, is a pastor's theology suspect because he doesn't wear his shirttails out and sit on a stool while preaching.****

I was channel-flipping last week end and I noticed a guy "preaching" with his shirt not tucked in and I thought gee that's riciculous.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

What a pretty church.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Be sure to wear a coat to church tomorrow. LOL!