ChuckLawless.com is a blog about Missions, Evangelism and Biblical Church Growth

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I recently read a book by a mainline pastor who longs for the churches of his denomination to grow again.  Comparing those churches to growing churches, he hinted throughout the book at what he could not bring himself to say forthrightly: growing churches are usually characterized by conservative theology. 

This finding is not new.  As long ago as the early 1970s, Dean Kelley showed in his book Why Conservative Churches Are Growing that congregations with a clear belief system were more likely to grow.  Kelley’s work spoke of “strong” beliefs more than conservative doctrines and included “churches” that are hardly orthodox, but he did show that belief matters. 

Thom Rainer’s works, including Effective Evangelistic Churches, later confirmed that finding.  In fact, Rainer’s studies have shown that churches that grow by reaching non-believers have a theology that is best described as conservative and orthodox.  The bottom line is this: theology really does matter if we want to grow biblical, healthy churches. 

We conservatives know this truth, and we are quick to remind others of this fact.  What we are not so quick to acknowledge is the focus of this blog: we do a poor job of teaching the very theology that we claim is so important.  We think that our church members understand and believe our basic doctrine, even while those same members are learning their theology from TV talk show hosts, popular television preachers, or the latest religious novel.  Do an anonymous survey of your congregation’s beliefs, and see what you learn.  If the majority knows and believes basic biblical doctrine, your church is more an exception than the norm. 

Consider these guidelines for teaching theology to your church:

Do not assume that your church members don’t care about beliefs.  Too many church leaders give up on teaching theology before they even try.  “Nobody cares about theology any more,” they think.  Not only does this thinking ultimately question the power of the Word, but it also denies reality.  It is precisely because people do care about beliefs that they turn to places and people other than the church for their belief system.  Where the church fails, somebody else fills the void.

Realize that attending worship and small groups does not automatically lead to doctrinal fidelity.  Here, I am NOT arguing that preaching and Bible study are unimportant to teaching doctrine; indeed, good doctrinal training does not happen apart from preaching and teaching the Word.  I am simply arguing that our church members do not typically hear our teaching and then automatically connect the dots to form a biblical theology.  Teaching good theology must happen intentionally. 

Include basic theology in a required membership class.  In some ways, the best time to teach the basics is when a person first follows Christ or first joins the church - when he or she is most focused on a Christian commitment.  Capitalize on that enthusiasm by teaching early the inerrancy and authority of the Bible. Show why the exclusivity of Christ is non-negotiable.  Talk about the necessity of the death of Christ.  Lay the theological foundation early, and lay it well.   

Take advantage of doctrine studies.  Some denominations teach annual doctrine studies.  Case in point, my own denomination (the Southern Baptist Convention) is promoting studies entitled The Baptist Faith and Message (2008) and Vibrant Church: Becoming a Healthy Church in the 21st Century (2009).  If we believe that theology matters, why not take advantage of already-prepared material and teach the proposed study?  Plan extensively, promote well, and prioritize this type of study.   

Raise the bar for small group leaders who teach the Word.  These leaders have a great opportunity-perhaps one of the best in the church-to influence lives through teaching small group members.  Few other leaders have such a ready hearing.  For that reason, we must hold group leaders accountable to holy living, sound doctrine, and good teaching.  We should not be surprised when members view doctrine as boring after lackluster teachers have taught it.  There is simply no excuse for allowing untrained, unfaithful, or boring teachers to drain the life out of Bible studies.  

Begin in the home.  Teach parents biblical doctrine, and then help them to teach their own children accordingly.  Because Deuteronomy 6:7 and Ephesians 6:4 demand nothing less from believing parents, our churches should work in cooperation with them-not replace them-in teaching theology to the next generation.  Provide good resources that teach basic truths at a child’s level without compromising scriptural teachings, but expect parents to do the teaching.    

Be willing to start with the few.  Just as Jesus did, focus on the few rather than the many.  For example, invite a few men to join you in studying theology one morning each week.  Give them the Bible and a basic theology textbook, and challenge them to study the week’s lesson.  If you prepare and teach well, you will likely be surprised at how interested the men are.  Those men and their families will be stronger because they are learning the Word.

And in the end, your congregation will be more poised for biblical church growth.

I have always used my blog to address issues related to biblical church growth, and I have intentionally spoken to evangelicals in general rather than my own Southern Baptist denomination.  For this post, though, I am changing my pattern.

Over twenty-five years ago, I began serving as pastor of a Southern Baptist church in Ohio.  I was young and energetic - ready to take on the world, but knowing far too little about the denomination in which I served.  I am grateful for a few older Southern Baptists who encouraged me to get involved, including inviting me to attend my first Southern Baptist Convention (1985-the largest and perhaps most controversial Convention ever).

I find it hard to admit, but I am now becoming one of the older Southern Baptists.  In that role, I offer these encouragements to younger Southern Baptists.

Know that many of us realize that we have much room for improvement.
We grieve when we see our baptismal numbers, and we know that our record of making disciples is not good.  Many of us are praying for a Great Commission resurgence.  We are also concerned that too few of you believe that attending the SBC is important.  We fear that many of you will simply drop out of denominational life.  Please know that we are not ignorant of the issues that concern you in a denomination that you believe is increasingly irrelevant.

Do review the history of this denomination.
We have much work to do as a denomination, but we have also experienced God’s blessing.  More missionaries are serving on the mission field.  More students are attending seminaries affiliated with the SBC.  Your generation has the potential to be a great blessing.  Remember, though, that others sacrificed much to lead this denomination to a renewed commitment to the Word.  These leaders deserve respect, and we ignore their passion for continued doctrinal integrity only at our peril.  To be Southern Baptist is still a commitment to the Word, to biblical doctrine, and to a unique way to support North American and international missions.

Do not give up on the SBC.
Despite our denominational malaise, what we do together remains stronger than what most of our churches can do alone.  We need you as part of this team.  We need your churches to be involved.   We need your creativity and your passion.  We need your honest input when meetings are boring and discussions seem irrelevant to the task of the gospel.  We need your unique commitment to reaching the world for Christ. You, your church, and the SBC lose if you simply walk away without patiently trying to make a difference.

Continue to support the Cooperative Program even while you seek your role in the denomination.
Tell us your concerns, but do not pull away from the Cooperative Program that supports more than 10,000 missionaries in North America and around the world.  Help us to address issues that all of us recognize as significant, but continue CP giving that reduces the seminary tuition of thousands of students.  Talk to us when you see current structures and processes as outdated, but remember that many good people and programs are still dependent on your Cooperative Program giving.  Be kingdom-minded enough to give even when the immediate benefits for you and your church are not always obvious.

Stay focused on the entirety of the Great Commission.
I am grateful for young pastors who want to strengthen churches that are weak, and I applaud efforts to make membership meaningful again in SBC churches.  My concern is that we will focus so much on fixing troubled churches that evangelism remains neglected.  Do refocus our churches on strong discipleship, but never allow evangelism to be a “back burner” task.  When God begins to change lives through our ministries, some of our other concerns may not seem so important.

Pray humbly for Southern Baptist Convention leaders.
From pastoring a local church to leading a denominational agency, the tasks involved in SBC life are not easy.  No one can please all sixteen million Southern Baptists, each one with an opinion to express and a willingness to articulate it (whether or not he has actually been involved in his local church).  The Internet has provided a means to critique others, even without first speaking with the brother involved.  I confess that I have spent too much time reading posts and too little time praying for those who lead us.  That omission will be corrected beginning today.

Young Southern Baptist, I believe in you. I want you involved in SBC life, trusting that you affirm our clear stand on the Word of God, choose to live a God-honoring life, and are committed to the Great Commission.  Be both patient and persistent with us, modeling humility for us in all that you do.  All of us want to see God do a mighty work through this denomination.