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Churches who die typically show common symptoms. Today, we discuss common reasons they decide to die instead of revitalize.
Episode Highlights:
- So many churches are in denial that they just don’t see they are dying.
- Steps for revitalization may seem obvious for some, but for many, they are not.
- Hiring a young pastor is not the silver bullet for church revitalization.
- The Christian life is not a call to a comfortable life.
The six reasons we discuss are:
- “We didn’t know we were dying.”
- “We didn’t know how to revitalize.”
- “We thought we had the silver bullet for revitalization.”
- “We were just uncomfortable with the change we would have to endure.”
- “We are angry.”
- “We are tired.”
Resources mentioned in this episode include:
- Autopsy of a Deceased Church
- Autopsy of a Deceased Church Video Study Guide
- No Silver Bullets
- ChurchAnswers.com
- Find more resources at the Revitalize & Replant page at ThomRainer.com
Revitalize & Replant is sponsored by the North American Mission Board and ChurchReplanters.com. More than 10% of churches in North America are at risk of closing and the North American Mission Board is committed to reversing this trend by decreasing the death rate of existing churches while simultaneously increasing the birth rate of new churches. To learn more about what it means to become a replanting pastor or to explore resources for replanting and revitalization in your own church, visit ChurchReplanters.com.
Submit Your Question:
Do you have a question about church revitalization or replanting for us to use on the podcast? Visit the podcast page to submit your question. If we use it on the show, you’ll get a copy of Autopsy of a Deceased Church and Reclaiming Glory.
Speaking as someone in my 30s who has no “old ways” to get stuck in, I will tell you some huge reasons why people like me are skeptical of revitalization.
1) Revitalization can be a slippery slope into seeker-friendly Purpose Driven stuff. It always starts with “we need fresher music” and somehow ends in bad theology. Fool us once shame on you, fool us twice shame on us. Assuming a pastor doesn’t intend to do this, he needs to strongly affirm that some lines won’t be crossed for the sake of growth. If, however, the only way to grow in that community is to change the whole premise, just plant a new church and kill off the old one. Be honest about it. People resent being patronized while they are being incrementally marginalized.
2) Change agents need to be honest about where they got their ideas from. Which ideas are back-to-the-basics methods from Scripture, and which ones came from the latest Hillsong conference? Did the change agent truly have an inspired epiphany to serve churches, or is he an entrepreneur building his own brand?
3) Is the change agent really invested in that church, or is it a sandbox for revitalization experiments? Will he chase off faithful people, quit halfway through, and leave the church bankrupt? Will he go for greener pastures if he can’t get his way in 6 months? Why should we buy into a foreign new model (that will probably cost a lot of money) if we don’t believe that “silver bullet” young pastor will see it through?