Home > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Christian Beliefs & Culture
If a church has a very small congregation, should it disband?
Results so far:
| Yes | 9% | 80 votes | Total: 885 votes | |
| No | 91% | 805 votes |
Yes
by Jackquelyn Ramsey
Created on: June 20, 2008
If the church is a congregation of believers operating in accordance with their relationship to each other, then they get to choose whether they show up on Sundays, sing songs and pick up collection. Their social exercise does not seek an outside opinion in that this choice of so few is inconsequential. They rent their building and do not take up much neighborhood parking. Their voices are not very loud as to disturb the neighbors and what they do has no real power to influence the world operating outside of their walls.
They should disband, however, because eventually, an empty house which is devoid of relationship to God, will fall into mischief. There is that Bible scripture which speaks of the evil spirit seeking such "dry" places to dwell in. And since there is really no legitimate purpose for them to utilize the resources of a consistent weekly meeting, all they can potentially do is get themselves into trouble. I think they should disband, i.e., as Webster says, "cease to exist or function as an organization."
More importantly, why should they be allowed to use up even the tiniest of resources on such futility when they stand on the threshold of mischief and danger to the rest of us in society. We shouldn't have to tolerate them. I say we create a movement to shut them down immediately.
On the other hand, if they exist "two or three" who believe in The Almighty God and they come together because His Word commands them to "assemble together." They sing their praises to Him, they learn more about Him, they commune with Him and they receive their instructions from Him. Sometimes they sing so loud, the neighbors do hear. And their prayers are literally heard in heaven. When they pray, The Almighty God actually hears them and He changes things for them. He even looks after them when they leave the building on Sundays and Saturdays. They even go out and spread their ideas to other people. They talk all week about their experiences with God. They live everyday in accordance with what The Almighty God instructs them to do in the Bible. They are always talking about "what the Bible says." You can't shut them up. They say they are under the orders of a "Great Spirit" that Makes them Witness of Him.
They don't seek outside opinions either. They get their orders from The Almighty God. He's the One who created this world and everybody in it. Sometimes they pray for God to Save somebody but when that person is saved they don't always come in and increase their numbers. Sometimes they pray for years before it happens. Sometimes the person chooses to go another way. God told them, "the road to destruction is wide and crowded, but the road to salvation is narrow." He said only now and then a traveler is seen on that road.
This group cannot choose to disband because their church is not an organization. It is a living organism that gets its life force from The Almighty God. He chooses life for them and he gives them truth. My opinion doesn't matter.
Learn more about this author, Jackquelyn Ramsey.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
No
by Jennifer Wells
Created on: June 21, 2008
A small congregation does not mean small spirituality, and should not be disbanded for having fewer members.
I am a 'PK' (preacher's kid), and have spent the majority of my life in small churches. My dad took his first church when I was five. There were seven people in addition to the six members of my family. Over a fifteen year period the membership grew to around sixty and then reduced to between twenty and thirty. Dad's next church was also very small, averaging around or less than 20 members at any given time, and his current church is only between six to fifteen members. So why are these congregations small? Is my dad that bad a preacher? No. Simply put, he feels the call of God on his life to churches that need help the most - those that are small and being rejected by most preachers because they lack the opportunity for self-glorification.
I am now nearing the age of 30 and married to a man who also feels called to pastor in a small church. Through our time in college and in the years immediately following we have seen countless numbers of young men looking to pastor, but instead of praying only for God's will they have a starting standard of what they would personally accept in a church. Few men want to take a ministry that will need a lot of work and TLC because it will not necessarily pay off in big numbers and a grand reputation.
In some of the larger churches (I use that term loosely, representing around 100 to 300 members) the fight is on to keep gaining numbers by any means necessary. In this push they are offering more and more of what I call 'Sunday school attractions'... classes that include more games, songs and rewards than teaching substance and draw children in primarily for the fun they can have. This trend goes all the way through adulthood, offering classes for teens and college and career courses that after the fifteen minute lesson resemble a Christian dating club more than what they are supposed to be: courses preparing the teens and young adults for life as serious and effective Christians.
Small churches do not offer these programs. They often lack the money to purchase the resources that would draw in large numbers. I ask, does this mean that a small congregation is of any less spiritual value to the members who attend? On the contrary, I have been in enough small churches that I have drawn the opposite conclusion. In very little congregations children learn to sit still and listen to the Word of God. They get more one-on-one time to ask questions of teachers and come to really understand the importance of a serious relationship with God. These children are prepared for sitting through a half or an hour long service as adults and come to truly appreciate what it adds to their daily lives. In small or even tiny congregations you are left with the believers who are so serious about God and church that they attend Sunday morning and evening AND Wednesday evening.
Small churches have a much higher percentage of attendance than larger churches, and a higher percentage of children that grow up into attending adult members than a large church with many programs that ceases to be 'fun' when its children reach the age of sitting through a service with no perks. So, while a small church cannot afford a pastor that is out for money and the glory of high attendance, it can offer a more serious Christian education to its attendees, a more personal attention to illnesses and times of crisis, and I believe a more satisfying personal experience overall. There is no limit to the number of members a church can accommodate; neither should there be a minimum requirement. For churches like the one my dad currently pastors, located in a very rural area; a small congregation is still a mighty stronghold in the lives of those who take their relationship and their worship of Christ seriously. Why would we even consider taking that away from anyone?
Learn more about this author, Jennifer Wells.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.
Write and get published
Share with other writers
Polish your freelancing skills
Quality articles from proven freelancers
Exclusive rights, fast turnaround
Brand engagement, business blogging -- our writers do it all
INFORMATION
Copyright © 2002-2012 Helium, Inc. All rights reserved.
Helium.com: A Service of RR Donnelley