Today’s guest post comes to us from Todd Gaddis. He has been a pastor since 1990, serving at First Baptist of LaFayette, Georgia, and has authored 11 books.
I read recently that thousands of churches close their doors every year. Who knows how many others are on life support? We live in a time when churches need revitalization and renewal. The eternal destiny of people depends on the faithful witness of local churches.
As I think about churches dying, I’m reminded there are certain poisons that are causes of death. I call them poisons because they are deadly, but avoidable. The churches that die from them do so by their own hand.
Here are 10 poisons that will kill any church:
1. Performance without participation. Like concerts, movies and athletic events, much of our worship has become spectator-oriented. A handful of well-trained—perhaps paid—musicians perform for the masses. Too often, we enjoy entertainment without experiencing engagement.
2. Information without inspiration. With advancement in technology and a multitude of media sources, we are drowning in information. Clearly, this phenomenon has spilled over into the church. Sermons, conferences, seminars and Bibles studies are good, but some have sat and soaked so long that they’ve soured.
3. Mirrors without windows. Too many churches stare at themselves in the mirror, primping and preparing for the home town fans. Instead, we should be peering out windows, looking for local needs and global opportunities.
4. Attachment without commitment. Those who used to attend two or three times a month are now coming once or twice. Most people I run across claim an affiliation with a congregation, yet too many lack affection for its mission. They want to be included on the roll without taking a role.
Click here for the remaining six poisons.
Your partner in ministry,
Nelson
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