Ep 069: De-Sizing the Church (pt 1): How Church Growth Became a Science, Then an Obsession, and What's Next, with Karl Vaters
Apr 4, 2024
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Author Karl Vaters discusses the unhealthy focus on church size in America, warning of the dangers it poses. He explores the origins of the church growth movement, unintended consequences, and the importance of prioritizing integrity and discipleship in church leadership.
Value in churches should be assessed beyond numbers, emphasizing personal worth and spiritual depth.
Bigness obsession in American churches stems from historical, cultural influences favouring numerical growth over spiritual significance.
Deep dives
Understanding Decising: Assessing Value Without Obsessing Over Numbers
Decising, as explained in the podcast, involves assessing the value of something without fixating on numbers. The term Bigness is introduced as a concept where church sizes dictate perception and credibility. By emphasizing that personal and church value goes beyond numerical metrics, the podcast highlights how Bigness obsession in churches, especially in the American context, can lead to burnout and misguided priorities.
Origins of Bigness Obsession: Influence of American History and Church Growth Movements
The episode delves into the historical roots of the Bigness obsession in American churches, tracing it back to the country's founding principles and the evolution of the church growth movements. Exploring the impact of suburbanization and the shift towards larger congregations, it narrates how this cultural backdrop influenced the pursuit of numerical growth over spiritual depth, ultimately shaping church dynamics and ideologies.
Challenges of Bigness: Overconfidence, Oversimplified Goals, and Metric Dependency
The dangers associated with pursuing Bigness are dissected, focusing on overconfidence in abilities, oversimplification of goals, and reliance on metrics as key pitfalls. The episode discusses how an excessive focus on size can lead to skewed perceptions of success and effectiveness, impacting leadership decisions and the overall health of churches. By dissecting these challenges, it prompts introspection on healthier approaches to church growth and evaluation.
Fixing the Obsession: Embracing Discipleship and Integrity
As a solution to combat the Bigness obsession in churches, the podcast advocates for a revival of discipleship and emphasizes integrity as core elements in church leadership. It argues that prioritizing discipleship over numerical expansion can address various church issues, fostering genuine growth and sustainability. Additionally, the importance of upholding moral integrity in church practices is highlighted as a foundational principle for effective ministry and lasting impact.
We have an unhealthy relationship with bigness in the church. Especially in the American church. And it’s killing us. The rate of church closures, departing members, and pastoral burnout is growing exponentially.