Know It All

Have you ever known a know-it-all? Of course you have. Aren’t they irritating? If they think they know it all about just about any subject but don’t, there is just no talking to them. And if they think they are a know-it-all and aren’t, you are almost overcome by a huge urge to strangle them to put both them and you out of your misery.

With that said, I must admit that I am a know-it-all. At least that is how I am often billed when it comes to the subject of church transformation. I must be a know-it-all since I have written two books on the subject (Renew Your Congregation and Developing a Significant Church), lead seminars on the subject all across the country, have consulted with several churches and coach several pastors in the leading of transformation in their churches. The difference in my books on transformation and others on the subject I have read is that I am one of the few who has actually experienced being a part of a transforming church. Admittedly that doesn’t make me an expert but I claim more credibility than most writers on the subject. The truth is, I don’t claim to be an expert on church transformation. But just by knowing something on the subject puts me worlds ahead of others. Transforming a church is a subject few know much about. This is rather astounding considering that there are hundreds of thousands of churches in North America in dire need of transformation. I would seem that more help for those wanting and needing transformation would be available.

For years it has been my view that there are really no experts in transformation because transforming a church is such an organic operation. There are no two churches just alike, so a one-size-fits-all approach will not work. There can never be a handbook made available to churches to get transformation done – something like “Church Transformation for Dummies”. There are some basic principles and systems that must be in place and functioning well for any church to be healthy and grow. I believe it is true that a church may have an increase in worship attendance, even a sizable increase, without being healthy. Measuring the attendance in morning worship is not the only or the best indicator of health and growth. Things such as worship attendance and giving are much like vital signs that are taken to keep abreast of the present condition of the patient. Working as an Emergency Medical Technician I have taken lots of vital signs. Sometimes they told me exactly what was going on with my patient and sometimes they misled me. Occasionally a person with great vital signs would completely crap out on me. The vital signs are helpful but not the only thing to be looked at.

A much more important measurement to be taken is the spiritual vitality of the church. One must consistently ask, “Are these people growing spiritually.” Some people believe spiritual growth can’t be measured. Perhaps not. But it can almost always be observed. Just take a look at how individuals are treating those closest to them. Is that behavior getting better? Take a look at how the people are investing their time. Are they spending more time doing significant ministry in the community? Don’t confuse spending more time at the church with doing significant ministry. Sometimes these are two very different things. I am a great believer in the 1-5-4 principle of church growth. 1-The church’s primary mission is summed up in the Great Commission: to go into the world and makes disciples. 5-A healthy church does five things consistently and well: Worship; Discipleship; Evangelism; Fellowship and Mission. When I say, the church, I mean those of us who make up the church. 4-Growth is measured four ways: Numerical growth; Spiritual growth; Ministry growth and Mission growth. In a healthy church, each year more believers are being added to the Body of Christ; more people are deepening their walk with God through practicing spiritual disciplines; more people are involved in ministry in the life of the church and more people are involved in the outreach/mission of the church. These things are much more difficult to measure than counting heads and counting dollars. It takes a system to be close enough to the people to observe these things. The best way to do that is by implementing healthy small groups.

Another thing that almost every church must address is how we speak to and treat each other. For some odd reason we think we should tolerate extremely poor behavior in the church. Like it is the “Christian” thing to do to never call down bad behavior? We allow people to speak unkindly to each other; for disagreements to deteriorate into name calling; for voices to be raised and we explain that behavior away with, “That is just the way they are.” And that is probably the way they will stay unless someone challenges them to adopt better behavior. Churches need to adopt clear policies on what is and what is not appropriate behavior in the church.

Another system that must be changed is gossip. More harm is done through gossip than any other sin in the church. We are so accustomed to gossiping that we often don’t realize we are doing it. Here is some help. If you are talking negatively about someone and they are not present, that is gossip. If you are talking about a person or a problem and you are not a part of the problem or the solution, you are gossiping. When first moving away from gossiping, it is amazing how quiet things become and how short conversations are.

Another basic system change in the church is raising the bar. For several decades, churches, in an effort to attract more unbelievers to the church, have lowered expectations of church membership. Expectations have now been reduced to occasional attendance in Sunday worship and some sort of limited financial commitment. And that is considered an active member. Everything else has become optional. And for the church member who doesn’t even show up, we just move them to inactive status. When more is expected of a church member (a disciple of Christ) more is delivered. Also, younger generations are not interested in something that has so little expectations. People desire to be a part of something that matters, that impacts them and others, something that has real meaning. A church must raise its expectations to become a growing, healthy church.

So, like it said; I am not a know-it-all. But I am a know-a-little-something.

BTW, if you haven’t, that a look at my new web site – www.williamtmcconnell.com.

Copyright © 2014, William T. McConnell, All Rights Reserved