8 Dangers of Church Revitalization

I’m convinced we need to focus on church revitalization as well as church planting to reach North America. At the same time, though, I see at least these dangers in church revitalization: 

1. That the church will grow, but without much prayer and power of God. The simple truth is that a strong leader can help produce growth in a local body, even if he does it in his own power. It might look good on the outside, but on the inside it’s man-centeredness and self-dependence. 
2. That the church will grow, but only through transfer growth. The church that is revitalized on the back of a struggling church down the street is not really revitalized with new life; it has just transferred old life – and often leaves other churches that need to be revitalized in its wake. 
3. That the church will grow, but only through inactive and wandering members returning to the church. Helping them return to the preached Word is a good and necessary thing, but it’s not the same as reaching non-believers. Members who return to the church should be returning to evangelistic living so others become believers. 
4. That others will celebrate the church’s growth, but without asking about the source of the growth. In my estimation, denominations ask too few questions about the source of church growth before celebrating numerical increase. Not all numerical increase is worth celebrating.   
5. That growth will be the product of one man’s charisma and speaking ability, without expansion of ministries and reproduction of leaders. When that happens, the same church that grows under one leader will often return to decline when that leader leaves. The growth is only short-term. 
6. That survival rather than Great Commission growth and expansion will be an acceptable goal for the congregation. Some churches who claim they want to experience revitalization mean only, “We don’t want to close our doors. We want to keep them open, but on our terms alone—and preferably without much change.”  
7. That the merger means of revitalization will be more about building one man’s kingdom than about building the kingdom of God. In no way am I assuming that every merger comes from a wrong motive, but I nevertheless contend we need to be aware of this danger. Faced with victory and growth, few of us default into selflessness and humility. 
8. That revitalizing leaders will give up too soon in the process. Church revitalization is not easy. The work can be hard and time-consuming. It can require much faith to believe that God is changing a congregation even when you cannot see the evidence. Those who leave too soon may not only miss a blessing, but they may also leave a struggling church even more discouraged. 

I’ve said it before: I’m convinced we need to focus on church revitalization and church planting to reach our continent. My cautions above are just that – cautions – as we re-emphasize the important strategy of revitalization. Let us know your thoughts.