Why some churches never give in

I’m reading “How The Mighty Fall” by Jim Collins.  He talks about stages of decline in great companies.  As I am reading this historical study of great companies that are no longer around.  I am struck by the comparison of when churches lose their greatness.  Allow me to use Jim Collin’s idea and simplify his wording.

Stage One: Pride.  Great churches begin their fall by thinking, “we are more holy” or “we have a greater vision” or “nothing is gonna change about the way we do things”.  I have heard every one of these comments and worse.  It appears that many churches that are in decline have a sense of pride about it.  Thinking that they will bounce back.  Almost thankful they have fewer people because they don't have as many problems.  Some even think that if they had a different pastor (silver bullet) that would solve their problems.  While it is possible that pastors can bottleneck a church it is very seldom the pastor’s sole fault that the church is in decline. 

I have talked to pastors and they are looking for a silver bullet too.  A new program, a new worship leader, a new facility AND THEN we would turn around.  I stand in awe of how a new church can begin in a city and people get saved, baptized and discipled when three blocks away sits a dead declining church.  What is more amazing to me is that the dead church has a sense of pride about being in decline. 

Pride that they have not ‘watered the gospel’ down to nothing. Pride that they are not about to build Six Flags Over Jesus. Pride that they have uncomfortable pews while those young kids want chairs and drums and coffee in the sanctuary.

I am not saying that pews and the ‘no coffee’ rule will put your church in decline!  But that type of pride will send you into a spiral and you may never recover.  But hey, at least the carpet won't be stained. I have sat with five groups of leaders in different churches as they voted to close their church.  It is sad and disheartening no matter how you try and spin it.  They all have similar things they say and they all have similar things they have done.  That’s another article!

Questions to think about:

• 1)   Are we growing, plateaued, or declining?
• 2)   What keeps you from being a great church?
• 3)   What are the excuses you have heard that keeps your church from reaching the lost?
• 4)   What are signs of humility in your church?
• 5)   What are signs of pride in your church?