A Successful Church

A successful church is often characterized as one growing in numbers, wealth, and influence. If it has a luxurious building, a big attendance, a smooth preacher, and a great budget, then it is considered successful. If, however, a church struggles through financial hardships, has few in attendance, no regular minister, and has to meet in a rented hall, then it is branded a failure by some.

Are such things as money, property, and influence true standards of success? If so, then take a look at your religious neighbors. The Unitarians and Christian Scientists - denominations that do not believe in the blood of Christ - often surpass us when it comes to these matters. They have more money and more social influence than we do. The Methodists and Baptists often have more elaborate buildings than we have, and usually their membership is larger. But are they successful?

We should realize that a group may have all the human machinery possible and its share of the world's riches and influence and still be a dismal failure in God's sight. It is just as easy for us to be proud and vain about buildings, education, and money as it is for our neighbors. We move toward both failure and apostasy when we strive to compete with others in either real estate or crowds.

Of course, it is not sinful for a congregation to be prosperous and have a nice building. We would that all the world was converted to Jesus. We know, however, by the parable of the sower and its prophecy this will never happen. It is more likely that those who cleave to the Lord with purpose of heart will be few in number. Many are called but few are chosen. The large crowds go in at a gate called "wide" and walk in the way called abroad."

The church at Sardis had a good reputation: "And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven Stars; I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead" (Rev. 3:1). Many churches in our day that think they are so important may be dead, in the Lord's view of things. A big budget, fine crowds, and a pretentious building do not necessarily imply spiritual prosperity.

A few questions might help in determining true success:

1. Is each member of the church a soul winner?
2. Is each member a Bible student?
3. Are the elders feeding the church?
4. Is it fervent in its worship or is there a careless, lukewarm attitude?
5. Does brotherly love abound or is it divided into cliques?
6. Does its money go to the poor, orphans ant widows, and to laborers who preach in hard places?

God says, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show my people their transgressions and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isa. 58:1). Will the people of God obey that command? Few if any of them will dare raise their voices against such secret orders as Freemasonry, the tobacco habit, modern ballroom dance, immodest dress, and denominationalism.

What is success? Let the standard, for either the individual or a congregation, be "not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth" (2 Cor. 10:18).