I am deeply concerned about the American church. Evangelistic effectiveness is waning. Biblical illiteracy is growing. And many of the 400,000 churches seem to be caught up in activities with little purpose or meaning.
I cannot for one moment claim that significant negative trends are reversing. To the contrary, the overall path of churches in our nation is not good.
But what compels me to write about reasons for hope are the exceptions we are discovering in our new entity, LifeWay Research. Please allow me to categorize these exceptions as three signs for optimism.
The first sign is that we are finding more churches that are focusing on conversion growth rather than total growth. For years, the most heralded churches have been those that are growing the fastest numerically. But upon closer examination, transfer growth – rather than conversion growth – is the source of the large numbers. Still, we are seeing hopeful signs, as many church leaders are asking serious questions about their methodologies and theology. They have a growing desire to impact the world of the lost and the unchurched rather than gaining members from other churches.
If more church leaders begin to move in this direction, we may truly see a significant evangelistic impact.
Second, in a growing number of churches, we are seeing a concern for both meaningful membership and evangelistic outreach. The more common pattern we documented in the past focuses on one to the neglect of the other. In other words, some of the churches with the most focused resources on evangelism have done little to develop new converts into fruit-bearing disciples. Yet other churches are focused on regenerate and meaningful membership while neglecting evangelism.
Imagine what a church could be if it had the fires of evangelism and the devotion to produce true disciples.
A third and hopeful sign is a growing desire for more significant and deeper teaching and preaching. I was recently visiting a church where the pastor of 15 years lamented that many members sitting under his preaching for his entire tenure were still, by their own admission, woefully ignorant of biblical doctrine. I commend him for stating his very clear decision to change his ministry.
My lamentations of the past are still valid. The American church as a whole is hardly evangelistic at all. Membership is so inconsequential in many denominations, and biblical ignorance is pervasive.
Yet I have taken careful note of the exceptions. And I do not believe that I am the only person noticing these incredible churches. As more take note, more will emulate them. And in doing so, they will not simply be copying yet another church growth fad or idea. Instead, they will be emulating a healthy New Testament church.
The trends are not significantly sufficient to declare a new direction of the American church. But these exceptions give me hope. Perhaps the exceptions will become the rule.