There is often a great deal of emphasis placed upon numbers in a congregation – membership, attendance, converts, etc. This is somewhat natural. We tend to want some way to gauge success or progress in our efforts. Yet numbers rarely tell the whole story and, in many ways, can even be deceiving. Rather than being quick to jump to conclusions based upon numbers, we should look to God’s word to gauge our success in carrying out His will.
Interpreting the Numbers
There are several conclusions that one might draw from the numbers associated with a particular congregation. Not every conclusion is valid. Below are a few examples.
Large numbers – Many see a congregation with large numbers and assume that the church is strong, stable, and a powerful influence for truth within the community (1 Thessalonians 1:8). For some large churches, this may be true. On the other hand, a congregation may have large numbers because they have compromised the truth so much that they accept all sorts of sinful behavior and false doctrines.
Small numbers – Many see a congregation with small numbers and conclude that the church must be weak and ineffective in being a “pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). For some small churches, this may be true. On the other hand, a congregation may have small numbers because many brethren have “itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:3, KJV) and do not want to hear “the whole counsel of God” (Acts 20:27, NKJV). Small numbers may also be from a lack of converts. But this does not necessarily mean the church is ineffective in evangelism. It could simply be that people are not interested in the gospel.
Growing numbers – Many see a congregation with growing numbers and assume that the church is effectively making disciples (Matthew 28:19) within the community. For some growing churches, this may be true. On the other hand, a congregation may have growing numbers because they have followed the denominational model of the “social gospel” – offering food, fun, and foolishness as a way to attract people to them. Rather than treating the church as the holy and pure bride of Christ, many pursue growth by turning the church into nothing more than a social club.
Declining numbers – Many see a congregation with declining numbers and conclude that the church is dying and not able to do the work it ought to be doing. For some shrinking churches, this may be true. On the other hand, a congregation may experience a decline in numbers simply because members either pass away or move to a new location. In some cases, numbers might decrease because the church is doing what it ought to do in withdrawing fellowship from “every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition…received from” the apostles (2 Thessalonians 3:6; cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1-13).
Steady numbers – Many see a congregation with steady numbers and surmise that the members of that church are only interested in maintaining and retaining the current membership and have no concern about preaching the gospel to those in the world. For some steady churches, this may be true. On the other hand, steady numbers do not necessarily mean that the congregation – collectively or individually – is not evangelizing. We cannot force anyone to obey the gospel who does not want to obey it.
Considering all of this, it ought to be clear to us that a congregation cannot be judged based solely upon numbers. No matter what the numbers are for a particular church – large, small, growing, declining, or steady – the factors that contributed to the numbers could be either good or bad. Therefore, our focus should not be upon numbers.
Where Our Focus Should Lie
If we are not to focus on numbers to judge the state of a congregation, where should we place our focus instead?
- Preaching and teaching the gospel – The local church is to be a “pillar and support of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15). In preaching the gospel, we may save some. Or it is possible that no one will respond to the gospel. We should remember what Paul wrote: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth” (1 Corinthians 3:6). What that means for us is that we must focus on teaching, not the results of teaching. We can persuade people to believe and obey the truth (2 Corinthians 5:11), but we cannot force them to do so.
- Following the New Testament pattern – Many want to change the work of the church in order to make it more attractive to those in the world. However, we are obligated to “do all in the name of the Lord” (Colossians 3:17). This means we must do all things by His authority. Paul told Timothy: “Hold fast the pattern of sound words” (2 Timothy 1:13, NKJV). We must do the same.
- Keeping the church pure – It might be tempting to try to retain large numbers by overlooking various sins and errors. Yet we are warned: “A little leaven leavens a whole lump of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6). Therefore, within a congregation, sin must not be tolerated (1 Corinthians 5:1-2, 9-11, 13; 2 Thessalonians 3:6), and error must be opposed (Romans 16:17; 2 John 10-11).
- Building up the body – The local church was designed by God to be a self-edifying body. Paul explained: “The whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). As the Hebrew writer said: “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Conclusion
Because of the free will of man, numbers are largely out of our control. We cannot force anyone to obey the gospel. We cannot retain someone within the body against his will. Instead, what we ought to do is focus on what we can do – preach the gospel, follow the pattern found in the New Testament, keep the church pure, and build up our brethren.
Paul told the brethren in Corinth: “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17). Paul did not mean that baptism was unimportant. It is in baptism that one is forgiven (Acts 2:38; 22:16), gets into Christ (Romans 6:3; Galatians 3:27), and is saved (1 Peter 3:21). But the decision to obey the gospel by putting on Christ in baptism is always in the mind of the hearer. All the teacher can do is present the truth and encourage one to accept it and obey it. This was Paul’s point. He was to focus on the work of preaching, not on the results.
In the same way, our primary focus must be on teaching and defending the truth, not on the results. Some will obey the gospel and some will not. Some Christians will remain faithful and some will fall away. Rather than focusing so much on numbers, we should instead focus on our responsibilities – both individually and collectively – as disciples and churches of Christ.
