Description of a "Typical" Church

"It is easier to give birth than to raise the dead."

The typical church in America has lost its First Love. In most congregations, the reason for existance has become self-serving and self-centered. The pastor, God’s appointed leader within the body, is many times little more than a paid errand boy. The direction and focus of the church is controlled by the official board (Elders, Deacons, Trustees) or by unofficial power centers (the wealthiest family, the most intimidating women, those with the longest tenure in the church). The pastor is either frustrated by his inability to lead the congregation or he has surrendered his authority and credibility in exchange for a comfortable paycheck and lifestyle. Official meetings (board meetings and annual congregational meetings) are a study in trivial pursuit. Those in resistance to change stand guard over every item on the agenda. Issues involving finances bring harsh discussion and open division. The qualifications for leadership within the church body are many times based in secular beliefs rather than biblical principles. As a result, men (and women) reach levels of considerable influence within the church in spite of their lack of biblical qualification.

Most stalled churches:

• place little emphasis on spiritual growth, prayer, evangelism, and discipleship.
• have worship services that are boring and out-of-touch with today’s needs.
• emphasize tradition and embrace the past instead of the future.
• have a history of short (5-7 year) pastorates.
• have an aging congregation (50 years of age and over).
• have a small core of truly born again, Bible believing members/attenders.
• struggle to meet their basic budget needs.
• have little, if any, missions emphasis.
• receive new members either through birth or same denomination transfers.
• have outdated facilities.
• survive because of the service and giving of less than 20 percent of the congregation.
• have inadequate ministries/programs for today’s needs (Singles, Divorced, Generation Xers who grewup without any church background, Families struggeling financially, children living in a world without moral boundaries).
• have one or more “sacred cows” or dead horses that consume a large portion of the church’s resources (time and money).

Do you see any of these symptoms in your church? How would you diagnose a stalled church? How can you begin to infuse life into a stalled church?