Counting Sheep

Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted. - Albert Einstein

Each Sunday morning one of our ushers counts approximately how many people are at Redeemer. It's helpful information to have over time so that we can recognize what needs either are arising or may arise soon.

I have come to believe that attendance numbers are not necessarily indicative of a church's health. I don't know of any data that can. Much of what God does in people is like the seed growing secretly, invisibly underground. Then seemingly out of nowhere it pops up exposing the life that was unseen before. There is no way to tabulate and record that kind of growth. I do not know of a measurement that can chart the feeling of vitality in a room when God-filled people express their love to Him with abandon.

I am interested in Redeemer growing; growing more in love with Jesus. I assume that as we do more people will come into the kingdom and our attendance will increase. That will be a byproduct of God moving but not the proof that He has been moving. Attendance growth without God moving sounds horrible to me. That sounds like a curse rather than a blessing. I would rather have 50 people surrounding me that love Jesus with their whole being than 5,000 attendees looking at their watches waiting for noon to rescue them.

Leonard Ravenhill once said that you don't need to advertise a fire. Fires always draw crowds. The 50 Jesus-lovers I mentioned in the last paragraph would multiply even without trying. Real life with God is contagious and attractive. But every time I see a crowd that doesn't mean there is a fire nearby.

Are people abiding in Jesus? Are people being equipped for Kingdom service? Is God pleased with our gatherings? Is He given the praise and adoration He deserves? The answers to those questions count.
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad