Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Makes Sense To Me!
MMI reprints some interesting statistics:
It all hinges on what we are trying to produce as a church. These statistics measure conformity, but I don't think conformity is God's intention for us. Conformity results from external pressures. God's desire is to change who we are so fundamentally that, while our behavior may conform with that of our brethren (although I'm not at all sure in will in lots of cases) it will do so as a natural expression of who we are and who God created us to be.
God did not come to make us behave - He came to change who we are. These statistics measure mere behavior, and it seems reasonable that a megachurch would be more effective at such things. But can a megachurch reach me on the deepest levels and be God's tool in changing who I am, fundamentally and completely?
I remain unconvinced.
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It turns out that as church size increase, people's beliefs are more certain. For example, on the question of whether heaven absolutely exists, 92% of people in larger churches said yes, while 79% in smaller churches said yes. Does hell absolutely exists? The replies were 90% and 69%.Now that all makes sense to me, but it still does not make me lose my distaste for megachurches. The phenomena of "group think" makes the stronger adherence to doctrinal statements seem like an obvious result. The size would also create a strong pressure for greater levels of tithing. And, with a larger group to choose from, the possibility of finding intimate friendships is simply, statistically, greater.
What about people’s practices? Those in the larger churches attend services weekly or more often (46% and 39%), more of them tithe (46% and. 36%), and more of them attend a Bible-study group (52% and 43%). So personal commitment is higher with church size.
Is there a lack of intimacy as churches grow larger? When asked if half or more of their friends attend their congregations, survey respondents said yes 41% for larger churches and 25% for smaller churches. The same point is made when when the opposite angle is taken: do they have no friends in their congregations? Agreement was 12% and 22%.
It all hinges on what we are trying to produce as a church. These statistics measure conformity, but I don't think conformity is God's intention for us. Conformity results from external pressures. God's desire is to change who we are so fundamentally that, while our behavior may conform with that of our brethren (although I'm not at all sure in will in lots of cases) it will do so as a natural expression of who we are and who God created us to be.
God did not come to make us behave - He came to change who we are. These statistics measure mere behavior, and it seems reasonable that a megachurch would be more effective at such things. But can a megachurch reach me on the deepest levels and be God's tool in changing who I am, fundamentally and completely?
I remain unconvinced.
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