HOLY SPIRIT-LED OR MARKETING METHODS?

 I posted this article one year ago. It was primarily written for pastors and church leaders, but I think many others will be interested in the subject. I am sharing some relevant thoughts related to church growth. I am not claiming to be an experienced expert. I am not saying, “Follow me.” I am simply sharing some perceptions I have had over recent years. I am not giving the answers, but hopefully giving some questions that may inspire some of us to be more receptive to the Holy Spirit’s leading.

It is God’s favor that establishes and builds a sure house. I remember years ago looking at the church we had planted. I thought, “This is solid. God has given us some great people. This will stand firm.” Then something happened that caused me to realize that whatever we have built, no matter how great it seems to be, is like a dandelion in the wind apart from the grace of God. We are always on the verge of keeping it all and losing it all. There is something spiritual that holds things together. And the building process itself should be spiritual. What we build must be born of the Spirit and perfected in the Spirit. It must arise out of our intimacy with the Lord rather than our methods and techniques alone. And the enduring house might not be in the “brick and mortar” institution, but rather in the “living stones” who constitute the spiritual house and who carry on the life and work of God. ---Billy Long

MARKETING METHODS OR THE HOLY SPIRIT?
In the matter of church growth, there seems to be two categories. The first is the Apostolic tradition and model given in the book of Acts and in the New Testament epistles. There are differing opinions on what that is; but nevertheless, there IS a Biblical model we should emulate. The Lord worked with them confirming the word with signs following. His presence was intimate and active. Peter said, “He (Jesus) has poured out that which you now see and hear.” Multitudes were saved, people were healed, and demons were cast out. Unusual miracles took place and multitudes were added to the church. Individual Christians grew spiritually and churches grew from new believers to apostolic communities flourishing with various ministries and spiritual gifts.

Churches that do not seek the New Testament model tend to lean toward the second category prevalent in our culture. They rely on marketing techniques built around the psychology of persuasion posing as spirituality. It brings people in, but depends upon certain levels of manipulation and entertainment. There is a tendency to present a self-centered, feel-good gospel that tells people how wonderful they are and how comfortable Jesus wants them to be, but fails to challenge them and prepare them for real spiritual growth and the tribulations they might have to face for the kingdom of God and for Christ’s sake. It prepares them for an “ocean cruise” instead of a “battleship.” The current culture will need a host of believers strengthened for battle rather than an audience looking to be entertained.

Church growth programs which work without revelation, prayer, and the leading of the Holy Spirit are designed to compete with other churches to draw in people who are already Christians. What is gained by manipulation or entertainment must be maintained by manipulation and entertainment. This attracts many people in the current culture. But without discipleship and the life that is supplied through the relationships of small groups, large churches can become large spiritual “nurseries” composed of shallow Christians without true spiritual depth.

“HOW TO” MANUALS
While many pastors and church leaders are trying to get to the next level, there are many who simply struggle to get things off the ground. They live on a plateau wondering if they will ever “get this thing to fly.” The church seems to speed down the runway for a hundred miles never leaving the ground. Many members are content and satisfied with the way things are, while others hunger for more but don’t know where to find it.

Under these circumstances leaders search for direction trying to find something that works. They look for new methods, “how to” manuals, and programs that have worked for other pastors. Often this search leads to new and helpful insights and positive direction, but for many it ends in disillusionment.

Therefore, I would like to suggest some considerations based on the scripture references shown at the end of this article.
While learning from others and gaining insight from their methods, we must remember that the real momentum and “life” behind what we do springs from the inner fountain of our intimate fellowship with the Lord. This fountain comes from our abiding in Him, earnestly seeking His face, and diligently studying God’s word, knowing it and believing it to be true. In true ministry there is always the element of having to hear from God rather than depending on someone else’s cookie-cutter model.

“How to” manuals are often disappointing and help us very little. They inspire, motivate, and point in the general direction, but they rarely produce a guaranteed success. When a book does give a genuine “how to,” it is only telling us in part how one particular person or group succeeded. In our attempts to transplant their programs into our setting we must remember that in the matter of success there are many, varied factors relating to each individual situation.
In following another man’s methods, we may completely miss certain basic factors in his life and ministry that were crucial to his success. We may follow his method while failing in other areas such as integrity, prayer, and being true to our own call. The areas crucial to our success may be completely different from his.
One popular model in recent years is the “seeker-sensitive” model. In seeking to not offend sinners it quenches the Holy Spirit and produces large spiritual “nurseries” rather than mature bodies of believers with spiritual depth and substance. Marketing techniques and manipulation are no substitutes for Biblical and New Testament Christianity. The mature church will express the fullness of Jesus in both the fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

“I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH.” MATTHEW 16:18
In church growth we must never forget the sovereignty of God. Promotion comes from God. It is He who establishes and sustains. It is God who causes growth. The “hands of Zerubbabel” have to be at work with diligence and wisdom, but ultimately it is “not by power, nor by might, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord. After the farmer cultivates the soil and plants the seed, the “earth yields crops by itself” while the farmer sleeps. The seeds sprout and grow and the farmer “does not know how.” This represents that element of Sovereignty. After we have done everything we know to do, after we have cultivated and planted, even if we have done it right, there still remains that element of mystery in which the success depends upon something God does. This is why we cannot have true spiritual success by depending upon methods alone. We must be genuinely led by the Holy Spirit and maintain intimacy with Jesus Christ in prayer and the word of God. We should emulate the model, character, and power of the church we see in book of Acts.
May the Lord grant us fruitfulness and success as we look to the grace of God and build with integrity. Jesus said, “I will build My church.”

Psalm 75, John 15:1-8, Zechariah 4: 6-8, Mark 4: 26-28, 1 Corinthians 3:6-15

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