A Barrier

One of the barriers to growth is that we automatically drift into a maintaining the status quo mentality. We don't mean to do it; we want to see people join the church and see those in the church mature in their faith, but we just like things the way they are. Why do we need to try it this way when it has always worked so well doing... The young tend to think this is a failing of the old, but actually its a failing of all of us - sometimes the young are most trenchant because they have always aspired to be in a certain group. We like what we like and we do not relish change. We like to feel comfortable and sometimes growth unsettles us and brings change with it.

Say you are in a church of about 40 people, you will know everybody by name and the church is built on those relationships. What happens when 10 new people join? It's great the growth we have prayed for is realised, but what if those ten have different ideas and ways of doing things? What about the changes in dynamics it brings, will I know everyone in the same way, will it alter existing relationships?

What about the additional pressure it puts on the church leaders meaning they spend less time with those who were there originally? All these are consequences of growth, and I am not saying growth is a bad thing, but that our attitudes can be a barrier to growth.

We need to be prepared to pray for and welcome growth both as a result of mission and maturity and the changes that it brings.