by Tom Wacaster
If you were to do a search on the world-wide-web so as to find the largest and/or fastest growing churches in America, you might be surprised at what you find. I was surprised to learn that the ten fastest growing churches in America do not include a single main-line denomination (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc.). The first mainline church in a list of the 100 fastest growing churches in America appears 27th on the list, beginning with number one and counting down. Here are the names of top ten fastest growing churches in America: “Church of the Highlands” in Birmingham, Alabama; “Elevation Church” in Charlotte, North Carolina; “Triumph Church” in Detroit, Michigan; “Fellowship Bible Church” in Rogers, Arkansas; “The Rock Church” in San Diego, California; “Destiny Metro Worship Church” in Atlanta, Georgia; “Flatirons Community Church” in Lafayette, Colorado; “New Hope Christian Fellowship” in Honolulu, Hawaii; “Mission Ebenezer Family Church” in Carson, California; and “The Austin Stone Community Church” in Austin, Texas. I was surprised that Joel Osteen’s church down in Houston did not make the top ten list. I visited a few of the websites of these denominations. One thing that seemed to stand out on the two or three sites I visited was the emphasis on Bible study, fellowship, and outreach. Those three factors have contributed to the rapid growth (at least in numbers) of each and every one of those denominations. Meanwhile, the so-called “main line” denominations continue their trek away from God and the Bible toward a more liberal and less stringent view of God, Jesus Christ, and the Bible. As a result, those main line churches began losing numbers more than 50 years ago, and their shrinking numbers have not abated to this day.
Now let me share with you an observation that the late Paul Harvey, a nationally famous news commentator, made in 1970. Referring to the various denominational churches, Mr. Harvey turned his attention to the Catholic Church and their efforts to attract young people. His observation was that additions decreased, rather than increased. Listen to his words:
“And if a diluted dogma was intended to revitalize the church, it has had the opposite effect. During the past year (1970, TW), the membership gain in the Roman Catholic Church was less than 1 percent; less than the population increase; the least increase in 25 years. Similarly, major Protestant denominations which have tended toward liberalization in doctrine, liturgy and social attitudes are in the most trouble. Lutheran churches in the United States gained only two tenths of 1 percent in membership last year; the least ever. The United Methodist Church, which has perhaps, ‘gone modern’ with the boldest strides, suffered a decline in membership approximating 2 percent. On the other hand, the strictest churches continue to grow fastest. The Assemblies of God, America’s largest Pentecostal body, enjoyed a 9 percent increase in membership last year. The strictly fundamentalist Church of Christ grew about 9 percent. The Mormon Church, which continues to frown on drinking, smoking, dancing, and such, established new congregations last year at a rate of almost one a day. How much the diluted dogma of the major denominations can be blamed for recent rebellion outside the church is impossible to establish.”
I joined the Coast Guard in 1966. During my last few years at home I was blessed to be a part of an active youth group at the old Urbandale congregation in east Dallas. The one thing I remember perhaps more than anything else was the stress that was placed on Bible preaching, strong doctrine, and what it was that made the church “right.” The inspiration of the Bible was upheld, truth was emphasized, and moral living was expected on the part of every single member. If I remember correctly, it was sometime in the mid 1960’s that the Dallas congregations sponsored a huge joint effort to preach the gospel and reach the lost. The Convention center was rented, and for 15 nights, there was an all out effort to reach every household in Dallas with the precious, pure, and powerful Gospel of Jesus Christ. The crowds each night numbered in the 1,000’s, and the last night—Sunday evening—the congregations turned out early in order to gather together at the Convention Center for the finale of that 15 day meeting. The Convention Center was filled to capacity, and by the time I got there, the fire marshal was turning people away. I was blessed to witness first hand the amazing fruit of a unified brotherhood; a brotherhood that loved the truth and preached and practiced the same.
Socially, the 1960’s were a time of cultural upheaval here in America. The sexual revolution, anti-establishment mind set, and affluence in our nation combined so as to turn the attention of the masses away from spiritual matters toward materialism, self indulgence, and moral laxity. Consequently, the growth rate among churches of Christ began to slow. With each passing year the growth rate seemed to slow even more, and brethren were wondering what had happened.
Sometime in the late 60’s and early 70’s the winds of change began to blow across the brotherhood. In an attempt to be “like the denominations” around her, there were congregations from California to Carolina that began to compromise the truth in an effort to recapture the growth rate of the first half of the century. “What are we doing wrong?” seemed to echo from every corner of the brotherhood. What brethren failed to realize was that we were not doing anything wrong. We were still preaching the truth, and the spirit of liberalism had not yet infected the largest majority of our congregations. The problem was not with “us.” The problem was with the world and it’s sudden disinterest in things spiritual. But the proverb still rings true, “There are none so blind as they who will not see!” The calls for “change” became louder and it was not long until the Lord’s church here in America became enamored with the “programs” of the denominations that, at least at the moment, were producing great growth in numbers. So, like the denominations, some began to abandon strong doctrinal preaching in exchange for a milder, less “offensive” approach to outreach. Meanwhile, the numbers continued to decline, and conversions became almost non-existent in the closing years of the last century. Sadly, too many congregations quit preaching the sound doctrine, compromised on marriage and divorce, and began to question whether or not there were devout, sincere Christians in the denominations. This paved the way for the acceptance of instrumental music, increased fellowship with the denomination churches, and an abandonment of the proclamation of the truth. Gospel meetings have shrunk from two weeks, to one week, to four days, eventually giving way to two day, or even single day meetings.
Perhaps it is time we took a lesson from the late Paul Harvey, and get back to the “strictness” of our doctrine and practice, the proclamation of that uniqueness, and holy living on the part of every member. We cannot control whether or not hearts will be receptive to our message. But just because the world refuses to listen is no excuse on our part to do what we know is important and essential to church growth. Meanwhile, we pray that the hearts of the world will become more receptive. When that happens, we need to be there to give them hope and guide them to the truth. If we fail in that regard now, while the world is not listening, what makes us think we will make a difference when the world eventually does listen?