It’s number-crunching time for churches everywhere.  Have we brought in enough money to keep our budget? How many pledges have come in for next year?  How many new members have joined compared to how many have died or left?  Some have to turn in number of faith-commitments, others have to report (guess) how many people have been “served” by their congregation.  Numbers measure commitment.  Numbers measure growth.  Numbers measure success.  Numbers measure effectiveness.

As someone who is paid to practice full-time ministry, I admit that I feel constantly trapped by the capitalism of church growth.  When my ministry is praised as successful, it is almost always in terms of how many programs I offer, how many volunteers I’ve procured, how many youth are showing up.  On one hand, I feel like I HAVE to keep up all this busyness to be successful and keep my job.  On the other hand, I wonder if I’ve made the gospel too broad, too easy, too marketable to be the real gospel anymore.

I’m not against church growth…surely Christ and all Heaven celebrates when one sinner repents (Lk 15:3-7).  But outside of the Book of Acts, the only time numbers seem to be talked about are in terms of tiny growth or even loss.  Judas betrays Jesus.  Jesus says, “Fear not little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32).  “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Lk 18:8).  Presbyterian missionary Lesslie Newbigin says of this: “The emphasis falls upon the faithfulness of the disciples rather than upon their numbers” (The Open Secret, 125).

So we turn to Charles Wesley.  Soon after his conversion of the heart, Charles began visiting the prison.  Without any hope of growing the Church of England’s membership records, this Anglican priest requested to be locked in with the prisoners sentenced to die.  Those prisoners also had nothing to lose by murdering or abusing Charles, since they were condemned to die anyway.  But he spent the night preaching Christ crucified.  He spent the next die riding alongside the men, ropes around their necks, and stayed by their side through their execution.  Charles wrote this about his experience:

They were all cheerful; full of comfort, peace, and triumph; assuredly persuaded Christ had died for them, and waited to receive them into paradise. . . . [The African prisoner] saluted me with his looks. As often as his eyes met mine, he smiled with the most composed, delightful countenance I ever saw.

We left them going to meet their Lord, ready for the bridegroom. When the cart drove off, not one stirred, or struggled for life, but meekly gave up their spirits. Exactly at twelve they were turned off. I spoke a few suitable words to the crowd; and returned, full of peace and confidence in our friends’ happiness. That hour under the gallows was the most blessed hour of my life. (Journal, vol 1, 120-123).

Ultimately, we are called to make disciples.  That’s an incredibly unquantifiable mission. It does not easily fit into business models. A decrease in pledges doesn’t have to mean a decrease in faithful discipleship.  A decrease in membership doesn’t have to imply poor leadership.

I’m not saying don’t do your end of the year reports.  I’m just saying, don’t let them steal your joy.