A Christian researcher asked a group of Pastors to describe the spiritual condition A of their people and they all answered that 90% of their people are spiritually okay and doing well in their relationship with God. But the same people were later asked and only 15% said that they are spiritually okay with God. Well, that is the difference between the metrics and church measurement that we have been using in the last several years. Books, articles and reports have reported the numerical growth of the church in Africa, Asia and Latin America. We are bamboozed with the report that the largest church building, the largest gathering of Christians and largest growing churches are here in Africa, but the truth is how many are truly converted, discipled and living obediently to God?
A. WRONG METRICS IN CHURCHES TODAY – Jeremiah 8:11, 20; 1Sam. 16:6-8.
Mainline Pentecostal, Charismatic, Evangelical and Independent churches are all in the habit of using these wrong measurements to judge the growth, impact, health and dynamism of their churches and people.
- Crowds and numerical attendance
- Large offerings and bulging bank account
- Fine, big and modern buildings
- People of class, high and mighty in the society
- Latest cars and automobiles in the car park
- Boisterous singing and outward worship styles
- State of the art equipments, television and satellite broadcast.
- Expansion and branches here and there in a short while.
Even conservative preachers are using these wrong parameters to measure their church today. The church has focused on these wrong measuring standards and the end result has been:
- Carnality and religiousity of people
- Scandals and shameful things in churches
- Abnormal things being normalized
- Sin, immorality and ungodliness thriving in churches
- Caricature Christians who are bad adverts to others about Christ
- Bad image for the church in society
- Shallowness and fickleness among leaders and people
- Worldly mindedness and earthly focus
- Less spirituality and spiritual impact
The physical, material, financial and carnal yardsticks that so many of us have been using to measure our churches and people have rather reduced the spiritual and mighty impact of the church in the world. It’s time we change and go back to Bible measuring yardsticks.
B. BIBLICAL MEASUREMENT FOR THE CHURCH Jer. 9:23-24; Psalm 15:1-6; 24:3-6; 1 Pet.2:9; 1John 3:1-3.
The scripture is clear that God is looking for people that love him passionately and ready to live and obey Him in every area of their lives. He is looking for the following kinds of people:
- Changed and transformed-II Cor. 5:17
- Pure in heart and life.
- Honest and transparent.
- God-fearing and humble.
- Christ-like and godly.
- Devoted to justice and fair play.
- A burning and shining example.
- Growing in knowledge and intimacy with God.
- Loving others and helping others.
- An army and disciplined for the Lord.
- Heavenly minded and spiritually alive.
While the physical, material, financial and tangible blessings are not to be discountenanced, yet the spiritual qualities are of much more importance to heaven. While material growth is okay, spiritual qualities are much more imperative to God and the society. While quantity growth is not bad in itself, quality growth must be vigorously pursued. Transformation and transformed people are the true hallmark of God’s church and people. We must measure devotion, obedience and dedication of people to God and spiritual things because the Lord have not called the church to impress but to impact the world. Change in people, society and the world is God’s purpose for the church.
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C. HOW TO MEASURE THE DEVOTION AND TRANSFORMATION OF PEOPLE John 15:1-2; Luke 13:6-9; Isaiah 5:1-7.
God desires that His people know Him and show fruits of godliness and service for His kingdom. God wants fruitfulness, not barrenness. He purges and washes for fruitfulness. The true church of Jesus Christ must also look for fruitfulness in life and service of her people. We must use the church to transform and build people for God, not using people to build a great ‘work’. Here are what you must measure:
1. Personal Devotions – Luke 6:12
How many are regularly having times of devotion and fellowship with the Lord on a daily basis? How regular and consistent is their prayer and study time?
2. Bible knowledge-1 Peter3:18
How biblically literate are your people? How strong or weak are they in the knowledge of God and His word?
3. Worship-John 4:23-24
Do they worship God in spirit and truth, in a personal and corporate worship? How regular are they at weekly worship services?
4. Distinctive lifestyle-Gal 5:22-24
How clearly and noticeably different are your peoples lifestyle from that of sinners around them? Do their dressing, attitudes and values different from the unbelievers around them? Do they display the fruits of the spirit in their lives regularly?
5. Personal witnessing-Luke 24:49
Are they joyfully sharing their faith with those around them? How effective are they in bringing others to Christ?
6. Spiritual gifts-Rom 12:6-8 7.
Have they discovered and are using their spiritual gifts to glorify God and benefit others? How involved are they in the ministry of the church?
5. Prayer and intercession-Luke 18
How prayerful and dedicated to intercession are your people? Do they obey the scripture to pray always or are they weak and spiritually discerned to pray?
8. Home and family life – I Tim 5:8, Luke 1:5-7
How godly or carnal is their home life? Are they responsible spouses or not? Are they responsible parents or poor ones.
9. Giving-1 Tim 6:17-19
How generous or stingy are your people? Do they find it easy to give to God and His work or not?
10. Mission-Isaiah 6:1-8
How supportive are they to home and foreign mission? Do they give and volunteer to go for missions and church plantings? These are what we must measure in the church.
These are what we must build the people into. They must become discipled, devoted, dedicated and obedient disciples of Christ. It is when our people are manifesting these traits in their lives on a daily and abundant basis that we can say we doing a great work for the Lord.