It doesn’t take much to see that the church in North America is struggling. What is a raging fire in the East is down to a flicker in the West. The church is in serious trouble. The facts speak for themselves.
- Every year, more than 4,000 churches close their doors, compared to just over 1,000 new church starts!
- Every year, 2.7 million church members fall into inactivity.
- From 1990 to 2000, the combined membership of all Protestant denominations in the United States declined by almost 5 million members (9.5 percent), while the U.S. population increased by 24 million (11 percent).
- The United States now ranks third (3rd), after China and India, in the number of people who are not professing Christians. In other words, the U.S. is becoming an ever-increasing “unreached people group.”
- Half of all churches in the U.S. have not added any new members to their ranks in the last two years.
These facts are sobering, even breathtaking. What is happening to the church in North America? Some people are quick to blame a growing secular culture that isn’t interested in the gospel. Some blame the church for using antiquated techniques and not staying “culturally relevant.” Others blame immigration and the infusion of new religious ideologies.
What is the problem?
I don’t blame any of those things. The problem isn’t the culture. The early church flourished in a dark and hostile environment, and even today the fastest growing churches are in areas of great persecution and resistance.
The problem isn’t techniques. No style of music or slick marketing strategy can bring about life change. The problem isn’t competing ideologies. The gospel is the gospel for all nations, tribes, and cultures.
So, what is the problem? The problem is that the church has forgotten its intended purpose, to make disciples of Jesus Christ who will turn around and make more disciples.
We had lost our passion for evangelism. We were not living in true community. We were not investing in people spiritually and seeing lives changed. We weren’t making disciples of Jesus who could, in turn, make more disciples.
What is the solution?
For our church to change, we have to change. We have to learn what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and how to make disciples. We need to lead the church through bold moves to make disciples of Jesus who will make more disciples.
But not every move will be met with a standing ovation. Remember, bold moves often attract followers and critics. There were times of exhilarating, heart-pumping victory, as well as devastating disappointments.
But along the way, you will see God do amazing work in your church. Along the way, you will see God do amazing work in you. He will light a passion in you to make disciples and invest your life in a few who could change the world.
Let me warn you before you start doing bold moves. These are not oversimplified answers to your complicated challenges. These bold moves will not be easy. These will require of you the highest level of leadership and grit and determination and faith.
This blog features an excerpt from our book, Bold Moves.
