Pastor Brian Jones speaks up about the high percentage of Christians in the room during one of his recent ’101′ classes:
Yesterday, while teaching “Welcome to CCV” (our introductory 101 class for new people), it struck me that there were an unusually high percentage of Christians in the room.
Normally this doesn’t bother other pastors.
But it does bother me.
Why?
Our church has committed since day one to grow through conversion growth only.
There are three reasons we don’t want Christians to leave their churches and start attending CCV:
1. It’s Unhealthy For CCV
Unlike people who move from out of state and legitimately need to find a new local church home, Christians that leave their church down the street and start attending CCV oftentimes have an agenda. Or have a history of creating division. Or refuse to resolve conflict in a biblical way.
2. It’s Unhealthy For Them
98% of the time Christians leave their church to find another one because of personal character issues they are unwilling address. Oh, they may mask their issues with excuses like “We’re not being fed,” but the reality is all they really want is for people to feed them in ways they’re not stating (i.e. coddle, placate, and stroke their egos). Rarely does a Christian transfer to another church because they’re picking up their cross and following Jesus to your doorstep.
3. It’s Not A Win For The Kingdom
Finally, and this is the most important reason not to invite a Christian to CCV: our mission is to reach lost people. Matthew 28:18-20 gives us our marching orders. Go find non-Christians.Reach them. Teach them. And then send them. Inviting Christians is the exact opposite of what we’ve been commanded to do.
So… agree or disagree with Brian?
Todd
“It’s Not A Win For The Kingdom” = translation, It’s not good for my program?
What an asshole. Seriously, it’s idiots with attitudes like Brian Jones that drove me away from the corporate church. I’m sure Jesus felt exactly as this guy about people he encountered…not!
smh
Danny, Who is the idiot here? I think you miss Brian’s point. The church needs to get serious about reaching the unchurched – the lost – those who will not get into heaven without making Jesus the leader and forgiver of their lives. Trust me, I know that Brian loves fellow believers, but his heart and calling for those who are lost is just as big. CCV has never been about “my program” as you put it. It’s about helping people far from God to become fully devoted followers of Christ.
Agreed, Jon. The last thing it sounds like Brian is interested in is his “program.” Far too often we are content with adding members at whatever cost and calling it “church growth” and success, but not making a dent in hell. Brian’s not concerned about numbers, but about those being overlooked while so many “play” church.
Danny I am not sure you understood the meaning of the phrase “It’s not a win for the kingdom”. The way I understood the phrase is that if someone transfers from one church to another then the God’s Kingdom did not grow. God’s Kingdom was just as large as it was before the transfer.
When someone joins because they have a new relationship with Christ then the Kingdom did grow by one because of the new conversion to faith.
I actually believe Jesus did believe and act the same as Brian Jones. On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Matt. 9:12; For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10.
I totally get where pastor Jones is coming from. However, one problem I see with his premise is that corporate worship isn’t intended to be for the purpose of evangelism. It’s supposed to be a time and place where the believing community gathers for worship. And who are we to tell other believers they aren’t welcome to join with us in worship?
Explain what that means, corporate worship isn’t for evangelism?
I’ve seen a LOT of people “change churches” for good reasons, but it’s also true that a lot change for bad reasons… That said, having a whole bunch of Christians in your New Believers’ Class must be really annoying.
There is too little information to agree or disagree. It sounds more like a “new to CCV” class & not a new believers class. That factors in. Questions to consider: Are these “Christians” truly saved? Were they attending a church or were they part of the “churchless Christianity”? Does this class help to equip people to evangelize? I could go on but I think the limited information causes us to assume too many things that are truly unknown.
Based on my experience, I like Jones’ assertion on that 98% figure.
Not all transfer growth is bad… perhaps it is fair to say that only 2% is good.
I think it is also fair to say that the Holy Spirit is working to place believers in churches that are the right fit for them in relation to who and where they are in Christ and what churches’ visions, values, missions and philosophies are.
People are in church to worship and the majority of services are geared to praise/prayer/preaching. Inviting interested non believers to that is evangelical. As for those who are church shopping, every journey is different and to paint them with such a broadly critical brush seems a bit much.
It’s a little harsh without knowing the circumstances one comes out of. Sure, some people leave their churches for the reasons listed above, but I contend the reasons are as many as there are people.