Is a big church better than a small one?
This is one of those contentious issues that sometimes comes up between different godly caring Christians, and it can sometimes cause fights. My gut reaction and answer to this question is "No, but..." but then again, maybe that is just me and my experiences.
Definitions:
1. Church - a gathering of God's people in community
The level of intimacy required for such encouragement is a bit more than just feeling part of something big. You need a different kind of intimacy in a church gathering than a concert. You should feel warmth between people, and a vulnerability between people that reflects real relationships.
It is probably easier for smaller gatherings to foster an intimacy than larger ones, but large gatherings can get around this through organising small group bible study (see, there is that small church thing again :P)
2. Church - a gathering for prayer, praise, making disciples and teaching
If you re-read that passage from Hebrews quoted above, you will find that church is about encouraging each other and all the more as you see the day approaching.
Prayer, Praise (a hymn), Making Disciples (encouragement) and teaching (a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation) of themselves can work better in a larger group, but the key concept in the scriptures is the whole idea of them being in a gathering that is not being divided.
Yes a small church may divide and may not show love. But I think genuinely loving is easier to do in the smaller group. But then again, I've been in some pretty loving larger churches, so can't say it necessarily works the same way.
3. Church - a gathering focussed on the community hearing the gospel
This is probably my key feeling about why churches work best when smaller (though not necessarily small) - and yes it is less founded on scripture and more on personal opinion.
Note: I have discussed here issues arising for "broad population communities" (otherwise known as parishes) but a similar principle applies in practice for "ethnic based communities".
I understand that in many parts of the world, many gatherings of Christians do not proclaim the gospel at all, but where there are multiple gatherings that do proclaim the gospel, it would be wise to join a gathering that proclaims the gospel into your own community, the community you live and play within. It makes it easier to invite neighbours and friends along, and it allows a long term prayer commitment for the people of the local area.
Throughout history, this has been the core driver of what would effectively be a large "church-planting movement". In Sydney Anglicanism, this movement has involved regular planting of branch churches from more established ones, and often to reflect new development areas. In the post-war there was a push for a church to be built within walking distance of most people, and led to a multiplication of churches. With lower levels of church attendance, this policy has been reversed in some areas, but it does help a local church to know what community they are to primarily focus on proclaiming the gospel to.
Good larger churches also normally have this focus too, but it can become hard for a person who lives in one part of a city to spend their whole time trying to reach people of another area with the gospel.
What would be ideal instead is if a large church notices a significant group of their gathered people come from a particular area which isn't the "target to reach" area, they could work to have those people form a new gathering to reach those people.
4. Church - a gathering generously sending others out to proclaim the gospel to the world
I love 1 Thessalonians:
A genuine gathering of Christians, looking forward to the day of the Lord and giving up some of their best people to go tell other parts of the world. Now there is a strategy to get big - make your church smaller!! Imagine how many people will come if they know that your church is one of those churches where people give up high paying (and even low paying) jobs so people in other parts of the world can hear about the Lord Jesus. One of those churches which gives away teams of people to help other churches reach their communities.
Conclusion
In the end, it doesn't really matter that much whether a church is small or big. But it does matter a lot to God what that gathered people do and why you choose to gather with those people.
Small or Big, just gather with local Christians to hear the word of God, to encourage each other, to share in the love of Christ, and to proclaim the gospel to the local community and the world.
Definitions:
- Small - up to 70 people
- Large - more than 200 people
- Church - a gathering of God's people in community
- Church - a gathering for prayer, praise, making disciples and teaching
- Church - a gathering focussed on the community hearing the gospel
- Church - a gathering generously sending others out to proclaim the gospel to the world
1. Church - a gathering of God's people in community
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)It may go without saying, but a practical aspect of this is that you need to "meet with people". But further than this, a gathering of Christians should involve the encouraging of each other.
The level of intimacy required for such encouragement is a bit more than just feeling part of something big. You need a different kind of intimacy in a church gathering than a concert. You should feel warmth between people, and a vulnerability between people that reflects real relationships.
It is probably easier for smaller gatherings to foster an intimacy than larger ones, but large gatherings can get around this through organising small group bible study (see, there is that small church thing again :P)
2. Church - a gathering for prayer, praise, making disciples and teaching
If you re-read that passage from Hebrews quoted above, you will find that church is about encouraging each other and all the more as you see the day approaching.
What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)That directive flows from this bit in 1 Corinthians 11 about they way they meet together.
Prayer, Praise (a hymn), Making Disciples (encouragement) and teaching (a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation) of themselves can work better in a larger group, but the key concept in the scriptures is the whole idea of them being in a gathering that is not being divided.
Yes a small church may divide and may not show love. But I think genuinely loving is easier to do in the smaller group. But then again, I've been in some pretty loving larger churches, so can't say it necessarily works the same way.
3. Church - a gathering focussed on the community hearing the gospel
This is probably my key feeling about why churches work best when smaller (though not necessarily small) - and yes it is less founded on scripture and more on personal opinion.
Note: I have discussed here issues arising for "broad population communities" (otherwise known as parishes) but a similar principle applies in practice for "ethnic based communities".
I understand that in many parts of the world, many gatherings of Christians do not proclaim the gospel at all, but where there are multiple gatherings that do proclaim the gospel, it would be wise to join a gathering that proclaims the gospel into your own community, the community you live and play within. It makes it easier to invite neighbours and friends along, and it allows a long term prayer commitment for the people of the local area.
Throughout history, this has been the core driver of what would effectively be a large "church-planting movement". In Sydney Anglicanism, this movement has involved regular planting of branch churches from more established ones, and often to reflect new development areas. In the post-war there was a push for a church to be built within walking distance of most people, and led to a multiplication of churches. With lower levels of church attendance, this policy has been reversed in some areas, but it does help a local church to know what community they are to primarily focus on proclaiming the gospel to.
Good larger churches also normally have this focus too, but it can become hard for a person who lives in one part of a city to spend their whole time trying to reach people of another area with the gospel.
What would be ideal instead is if a large church notices a significant group of their gathered people come from a particular area which isn't the "target to reach" area, they could work to have those people form a new gathering to reach those people.
4. Church - a gathering generously sending others out to proclaim the gospel to the world
I love 1 Thessalonians:
You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (1 Thessalonians 1:6-10)The people heard the gospel, understood it and became messengers for it to the local area, the surrounding region (actually this may help point 3 as well) and their local churches, and also so far around.
A genuine gathering of Christians, looking forward to the day of the Lord and giving up some of their best people to go tell other parts of the world. Now there is a strategy to get big - make your church smaller!! Imagine how many people will come if they know that your church is one of those churches where people give up high paying (and even low paying) jobs so people in other parts of the world can hear about the Lord Jesus. One of those churches which gives away teams of people to help other churches reach their communities.
Conclusion
In the end, it doesn't really matter that much whether a church is small or big. But it does matter a lot to God what that gathered people do and why you choose to gather with those people.
Small or Big, just gather with local Christians to hear the word of God, to encourage each other, to share in the love of Christ, and to proclaim the gospel to the local community and the world.
posted by Pete at
3:57 PM
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