I am a numbers guy. I was always good at math, well above average if the truth be told, so its one of those funny things that God did to allow me to have a role where my primary role is to use words. I have never outgrown my love for numbers especially with sports. I pay attention to things like magic numbers in the standings and other things that many overlook.
I was told a long time ago to not worry about the numbers, and have had a long standing rebellion against such thinking. Numbers are all over the Bible (including the book bearing the name). We know Jesus had an inner circle of 12. On one occasion he fed 5,000 men, another 4,000. In Acts we have a number of 3,000 as being added to the church. These are just some of the prominent numbers we find.
Our issues with numbers lie in the fact that we like to embellish them. Basketball players are always listed2-3 inches taller than they are. For taxes we make less money than we claim, but when we tell others its more. Churches are the same, the numbers are always puffed.
David T. Olsen in his book The American Church in Crisis takes on the embellishment that has plagued the churches. If he is right, 4,000 new churches start every year 3,700 close every year. In his estimation 6,900 new churches are needed every year just to keep up with the population much less reach the lost already counted.
Other stats suggest that out those born after 1984 only 4% or so will come to faith in Christ. That's a decrease from in excess of 60% just 2 generations ago. Sadly, the numbers don't lie. While we have celebrated record budgets and buildings, while we have seen the birth of the mega mega church, we have seen little life change in our part of the world.
Perhaps numbers will once again help us. The first of all numbers is 1. Its the first whole number. Until we are whole in Christ, no other number matters. 1 is the number of persons it takes to be filled with the indwelling presence of God who can radically change 3,000 lives in one day. One is the number of persons we should be thinking about touching with Christ. After all, I learned 1 comes before 2 long before I knew anything else about numbers. Start with 1. - Alan
No comments:
Post a Comment