BY NZEH UCHE

DEAR BODY OF CHRIST,

We all know that the church is not the building where worship is done but the worshipers. With the number of churches around the world, growth is still a very big problem. Many wonder why stagnancy and slow growth have permanent front row seats in the church, well here are the reasons and i will be brief as possible.

1. MEMBERS LOVE THEIR CURRENT STATUS

If you will agree with me (or not), you will notice that when members have enough income to foot the bills of their current endeavours, they really would not inconvenience themselves to attend time taking services or services at late hours. Many people feel problems are norms, but when this problems over powers them or is more than their income, they start attending vigils and start looking for ways to make vows and covenants with God which would have just been best if they played their roles at first.

 

2. EVERYBODY KNOWS BEST

When everybody leads, who will follow? These days in churches, members want to be seen as active so they can collect “best worker award” at the end of the year with their pictures hanging at the church entrance. Well, no one is saying do not work for your God but remember that He knows the heart of men

 

3. MEMBERS DON’T CARE

A church that is growing or grown would always have reliable members handling delicate positions. A church where “i don’t care” rules the atmosphere, would have no Ushers (different people collect for different services), no Choir etc. Its either they are business men and women or just too busy for their Maker.

 

4. MEMBERS NOT AT PEACE WITH EACH OTHER

Malice, gossiping, backbiting, envy and many other gifts of the devil are well possessed in the house of God. How will the church grow when its members are always in a fray? Most times it’s even for funny reasons; you stepped on me, you hit me while you passed, she drives a better car, her clothes are always well ironed, he behaves as if he alone knows the word, his preaching is always very long etc. All these reasons are what the devil have cooked in our hearts to stir up problems in the house of God.

5. NO PEACE AT HOME

Let me start with parents. A husband’s obligation is to love his wife as Christ loves the church (that is being able to die for her). Moreover, the best way to teach your children love is showing love to their mother. A wife’s obligation is to submit to her husband as the head no matter what; she would definitely develop love for him (that’s if she didn’t before). Now, the responsibilities of both the husband and wife are to strike (when young) and impact morals to the children; which are acts of love. The role of the children is to obey their parents to lengthen their days. The church is made up of units which are individual families. Dismayed families would definitely be thwarts to church growth.

6. NO GIVING HEART

Not having a giving heart could be that reason your church is not growing. I know three types of blessing that comes from giving. First is giving to God (tithes and offerings); God never ignores who ever obeys his 10% earnings rule. Another is prophetic blessing; it comes as gratitude from whoever a person helps. The third is blessing from helping your spiritual father (pastor).  Pastors place blessings on their members. A pastor that is unhappy with his members will never bless them; also a pastor that does not care for the members will get nothing from them.

7. NO TESTIMONIES

He who is not grateful for one, will not be given more

8. 8. TOO MUCH PROSPERITY PREACHING

These days, many have dived into becoming a pastor without hearing from Him who knows all. The offerings and tithes are used by some pastors to enrich themselves; this is a possible reason those pastors keep preaching prosperity and giving.

9. LACK OF NEW TESTAMENT TEACHINGS

So many churches never move because the preachers focus on teachings of the old testament; some even go as far as telling members to go to their home towns to bring sands, stones etc. The weapon of our warfare is not canal; all that is needed is the spoken word.

 

10. MEMBERS DON’T KNOW THE WORD

Knowing what the word (the ruling truth) says about a believer would remove impatience that has lead to wrong choices and in turn unpleasant outcomes. A believer ought to on a daily basis study the Bible because it is forever new and knows the best path to a destiny.

11. NO TRUE WORSHIPERS

A church that lacks true worshipers would definitely lack growth

12. MEMBERS LACKING THE BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The baptism of the Holy Spirit has countless benefits like helping Christians build up their most holy faith and overcoming the inabilities to produce results because of some limitations (infirmities). A lot of Christians have not received the baptism of the Holy Spirit; hence find it difficult to operate in the supernatural. The Holy Spirit equips the church to come to the fullness of Christ; baptism of the HOLY SPIRIT is essential for any church growth.

13. NO LOVE AND ONENESS IN THE CHURCH

The Church is one part but many. Love and unity is the major key to growth. Nobody is useless. On the contrary, those people in the body that seem to be unproductive are necessary. There should be no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with him; if one member succeeds, all the members succeed also.

As i have highlighted the problems of a slow growing or stagnancy in church (THE BODY OF CHRIST), i would also give a possible solution.

SOLUTIONS

 

1. ASK IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

If the body of Christ is tired of their current status and position, let them ask in spirit and truth.

2. BEG GOD TO PURGE HIS CHURCH

Pray to your maker and he would answer you.

PLEASE NOTE

The reason stated above may not have been said enough or too much, let us all be aware of the main points.

The letter is to both the writer and the entirety of the BODY OF CHRIST because no one is perfect.