Attrition in the Church

ATTRITION IN THE CHURCH

Attrition is the process of reducing something's strength or effectiveness through sustained attack or pressure. People who leave the church and people in the church but leave the church spiritually.

There are three kinds of growth in the church,

·         Biological growth (Christian parents produce Christian children)

·         Migration growth (Christians moving from one place to the other)

·         Conversional growth (healthy growth of adding non believers into the church)

There are three reasons for people leaving the church,

·         Death

·         Transfer in – Transfer out (Migration)

·         Backslidden

All churches face the same thing all over the world… One of the statistics says 60% of Christians who live in the cities lose their children going to the church in their youth stage. The church attracts the children and women with various programs and activities but leave out the youth and men. Therefore the churches lack youth and men on Sundays. Do people go to church because of good sermons? The answer in most times NO!

The following are the most probable reasons for going to the church,

1.      THE COMMAND OF “DON’T PREVENT GOING TO THE CHURCH”

(Heb 10:25-27), “²⁵ Do not stop going to church meetings. Some people do stop. But help each other to be strong. You must do it all the more as you see the Great Day coming closer. ²⁶ Do we go on doing what is wrong after we know the truth? If we do, then there is no sacrifice any more for the wrong things we do. ²⁷ But we will be judged, and that makes us fear. God's anger will be like a very hot fire that will burn up those who are against him.”

Christian life is a church centered life – a church should be called as “Life Center” which gives life to the entire community – must be functioned 24x7. Many people were not able to follow this command because…

·         Pastors exaggerate themselves very much

·         TV preachers go heaven and come back almost every day

·         The priority of pastor is “crowd” in his impression to measure the success

2.      THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF MAKING DISCIPLES – NOT CROWD PULLING

Crowd: Matt 5:1ff – There was crowd following Jesus but he spoke to the “disciples” (v.2)

Matt 8:18, “Now when Jesus saw a crowd around Him, He gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea”

Matt 27:16-26 - The same crowd shouted to “Crucify Jesus!”

If you are a crowd puller you will face Attrition – Crowd will turn right or left anytime. To pull crowd you will need some beautiful girls in the church / professional singers / high quality speakers (or) musical instruments.

Jesus did not pull crowd but had “discipleship” training in the crowd. Through various trainings the believers are strengthened to be disciples – Jesus was doing discipleship work in the crowd.

3.      THE CHURCH IS A PLACE OF FELLOWSHIP (KOINONIA IN GREEK)

Church began in fellowship (Act. 2: 1ff) but in later became an organization (Acts 6:1-7). Fellowship gives strength to the church.

4.      CHURCH GROWTH IS FOUND THROUGH SMALL GROUPS

The strength of the church is not based on how big the building of the church is but how many small groups – clustered churches the main church has! The fellowship of the church strengthened in small groups where the believers exercise leadership and spiritual gifts for the benefit of many. The small groups can be a prayer band, bible study, regular cottage meeting …etc. (sheep – shepherd – wolves – example to prove the importance of multiple leadership).

Elephant (mega church/cathedrals) lays 10-12 calves in their entire 50 years of life time – it is the comparison of growth in a mega church, where people don’t bother about the need of evangelism and church growth.

Rabbit (small groups in the church) lays 750-800 babies in the span of 6-7 years of life time – the churches that have small groups will grow in the same manner.

Holy Spirit will lead you into all truths (John 16:13) – Every time a bible study is held whether it is 5 or 10 meditating the word of God there the spirit of God works and leads them to all truth.

How many Holy Spirit leading small groups in your church?

Love not a single pastor – Don’t make him ideal to you – people will be following a leader!

Leaders will be respected! But people will be following only a good follower (I Cor. 11:1)

5.      CHURCH IS THE ONLY PLACE FOR TRANSFORMATION.

The politicians can bring awareness and developments. But God works ONLY through the church to transform the community! Church regardless of its size is equal in HIS size (part in the body of Christ – all churches form equal amount in the fulfillment of the body of Christ). He keeps the church without any wrinkle (Eph 5:25-27), “… as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”

Speaking in spiritual sense – God needs renewal of church (in all areas). Church has more potential than we ever thought about it – and known it so far. Church has power to transform the community – as it was held in the earlier centuries. A scholar says about today’s churches as “Sleeping Giant” – has the potential to destroy / change / transform anything but Sleeping – there is no use of a sleeping giant – church must wake up and break the chains of Attrition in the church.

To break attrition a church must rise to… ATTRACT – DISCIPLE MAKING – UNITED / FELLOWSHIP CENTERED – SMALL GROUP – WHICH HAS A LEADER AND FOLLOWER – WILL TRANSFORM THE COMMUNITY and break the chains of attrition. Because Church has tremendous power which must be used to bring Glory to God! Amen.

Credit: Rev. Vasantharaj Albert (at closing session of NAIC council meeting on April 11, 2016)