Church Revitalization: More useful than the phone book

This morning, as it is wont to do, Facebook provided me with a memory: on this date in 2018, two phonebooks were delivered to our church. You remember those, right? I remember using the phonebook to look up phone numbers of friends and services that I needed. Not long ago, phonebooks were indispensable sources of information, and we kept them always handy near the (wired) telephone. The advent of the internet and cell phones, however, changed everything. Now, instead of leafing through the phonebook, we Google the people and services we need. Thus, as soon as we received those phonebooks in 2018, they were relegated to the recycle bin.

Barely a week goes by that I do not hear a similar story about a church. This congregation made no appreciable difference in the community, or even in the lives of its hypocritical parishioners, and so yet another person jettisoned it from his/her life. People have no patience for things that make no difference in their lives, and too often, this issue is at the root of a church’s need for revitalization.

Healthy churches make a positive difference in their communities.

When my wife and I moved to Des Moines, I would introduce myself as the new pastor of Debra Heights Wesleyan Church. This, of course, led to the other person asking where that was, and almost invariably, when we described our location, the person would say, “There’s a church there?” Even people who lived in our neighborhood did not realize that our church was open for business because it made no appreciable impact in the community. Worse, when I did encounter someone who knew our church, our reputation was almost invariably bad because, at some point in the past, the impact we had made was actually negative!

It was no wonder we had no new people coming through the doors!

In Acts 2:47, we see the results of the early church’s efforts. Almost every time I have heard this message preached or expounded, the focus has been on the Lord adding people to the church, but it would do us well to note the precursor to that addition: they were “enjoying the favor of all the people.” Why did they enjoy the favor of all the people? As though to answer that question, Acts 3 begins with the story of Peter and John healing the lame man just outside the temple courts. The first-century church enjoyed the favor of all the people because they made a positive difference in the life of that man and, as time went on, countless others. Indeed, the church became known for helping the poor, caring for the sick, and protecting the vulnerable.

This, however, was nothing new for the people of God. The prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:7 advised God’s people who were about to be scattered as a result of the exile, “Pursue the well-being of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, for when it thrives, you will thrive.” In other words, make a positive difference in the community, even if it is filled with people who want nothing to do with God, and you will thrive.

Healthy churches make a difference in their communities. Our church has held block parties and Easter egg hunts, opened its doors to numerous community groups, invested heavily in our neighborhood association, and more. Two weeks ago, I was at a meeting where the city council approved a plan to revitalize our neighborhood commercial corridor, and our councilman mentioned that the whole plan began as a wild idea at a meeting in our church basement.

Please understand that the positive difference your church makes will no doubt be proportional to the resources God has placed at your disposal. Our church does not have the resources to build a new park or fund a homeless shelter. Peter and John did not have the money to help all of the beggars outside the temple gates in Acts 3. The point is that healthy churches will use what they have to make whatever positive difference they can. Because that is what healthy churches do.

Healthy churches make a positive difference in their parishioners.

Making a difference in the community, however, is not enough. Healthy churches recognize that, even if they spend millions to transform their communities, they will still fail if they do not also yield spiritual transformation in individual lives. We are looking for what St. Paul described in Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.”

This is essential because, if the church only makes social differences (e.g. helps the poor, repairs homes, builds parks and roads), then it is no different from a hundred different governmental agencies. And who visits a governmental agency office every week unless they absolutely must? Last weekend, my daughter and I spent more than 3 hours at the drivers license station, and I can tell you that I am not going back unless and until I absolutely must!

The same is true for churches. We must proclaim the good news of Jesus. We must demonstrate how he has transformed our lives. And we must help others experience the same sort of transformation in their lives as well.

What sort of difference is your church making in its community? Are you truly building favor and a good rapport with all the people? If not, then I would encourage you to take some time to study your community. What are its weaknesses? How can God use the strengths and resources of your church to address one or more of those needs?

Do not be discouraged if you can address only one issue in your community. In Revelation 3:8, Jesus told the small, weak church at Philadelphia, “Look, I have placed before you an open door that no one can close because you have but little power.” (This is actually one of my favorite biblical passages about church revitalization! Check out my thoughts on Revelation 3:7-13 here!)

What sort of difference is your church making in its parishioners? Are people being convicted of sin? Are they repenting? Are their lives being transformed as their minds are renewed?

If your church is making no more difference than a phonebook, do not be surprised if people toss you in the recycle bin and want nothing more to do with you.