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How
many do yoooo have?
Ernie
Garcia
It’s
funny as a youth minister how many times I am
asked more often than not by other ministers
“How many do you have?” referring to the
number of young people regularly in attendance at
one of our Wednesdays night youth gatherings. I
don’t know what the big thing is about how many
kids attend. I have been part of youth groups (and
churches) with a pretty large group of people
attending services but I have never measured the
success or failure so shallowly on numbers. I
thought maybe spiritual maturity or longevity
would be better benchmarks but perhaps not, and
surely not obedience.
With
all of the hype surrounded around the whole
“Purpose driven” phenomena I wonder if
counting heads means that we have finally found
purpose or maybe we have become credible preachers
of the gospel because people are lining up to hear
what we have to say.
I
even know folks that have lost their jobs because
church boards thought “the numbers” weren’t
high enough. When I read Paul’s letter’s to
young Timothy I read powerful words of
encouragement to the young minister. I can’t
imagine Paul asking “So how many do you have?”
Brother Rip Rap at 1st. Pres. has 350
you better start some new programs to catch up.
I
think large churches in and of themselves are not
bad things if people are being discipled and are
growing and thriving in God’s grace. Some of the
most poisonous and sick churches I have seen were
one’s that gloated about numbers, the one’s
that were far more concerned about how many people
didn’t show up to a particular event than the
one’s who did show up or the one’s that
believe that the believer that doesn’t become a
member shouldn’t have the same voice that the
one who is a member does. I am always amazed at
how many churches in my home town don’t have any
kind of support groups for crisis such as death,
divorce, single Mom’s, recovering Homosexuals,
recovering addicts, aid’s victims etc. In His
absence weren’t we supposed to minister to these
as Jesus would’ve? What are we doing? Isn’t
the church the people of God or is it about
buildings and bragging rights?
Since
when did Jesus instruct us to lead our churches
with a structure similar to our government? Modern
churches have become so secularized in pursuit of
order and purpose that I believe that somewhere
along the way we forgot what the Shepherds voice
sounded like. We want our quick fix, fast food,
miracle dose of Jesus every Sunday and don’t you
dare Holy Spirit break out and cause the service
to run past 12:00. Whatever you do God you best
not bother me during the week either. I wonder if
Jesus when giving the command to “Go therefore
to all nations” thought our disciples would be
called McChristians for all of their heart felt
time spent at the proverbial church drive through
window.
Did
Jesus commanded us “make disciples” or to
gather crowds and take a head count? Is it pride
that makes us do this? Similar to David’s in 2nd
Samuel 24 when he took the census?
Are
we measuring success with the eyes of men instead
of with the eyes of God? Jesus changed the world
with twelve imperfect disciples. These men
weren’t anything special, they were men just
like you and me and the biggest revolution ever
was started by these men who relied upon Jesus and
measured success by being humble servants.
We
are so quick to look for the quick blueprint for
success in our lives and our journey with the
King, but it is a journey and sometimes a long one
with many lessons. I am blessed by all the Purpose
Driven stuff but I think we do ourselves a huge
disorder when we attempt to use Rick Warren’s
blueprint in our lives and ministries instead of
using it as a tool and example of how we can seek
in the Father our own special blueprint straight
from His heart. Our God is creative and unique and
has a custom plan for every individual but it’s
up to us to find His heart and listen.
________________________
Ernie
Garcia 32, is an associate Pastor/youth worker /worship leader/construction
worker/Husband/Daddy and sinner saved by grace in
Colorado
. He has written for the ooze, Relevant magazine
and ginkworld respectively. When Ernie isn’t
ranting you may find him fly fishing pocket water
on
Colorado
’s
South Platte river
.
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