Why Churches Fail

Every church, and every denomination, began with a group of excited and committed people. No matter how old your church is, or how far removed from that initial passion, somewhere in its past is the passion and conviction that it takes to start a church. No one ever starts out to fail, no one thinks they will loose their passion, but yet so many do. Everyone thinks their church will change the world but so few really make a real and lasting impact on the world around them.


So what happens between the passion and commitment that started the church and the dead or dying church we too often see today? Why do so many churches (and even entire denominations) fail? Something happens along the way that turns that group of excited people in a group of people who are just trying to hold on to the few people they have left.


I am sure people have written hundreds of books about why churches fail, but I think the bottom line is this - church fail when they loose site of what they were trying to do when the church first started - when they loose sight of what a church should be. Somewhere along the way the leadership of a church goes from wanting to change the world to trying to meet the budget. Their focus changes from the people they are trying to reach to the people they are trying to keep.


It is a difficult balance that so many churches find themselves in at some point (or maybe even several points in time), when the organization of the church starts to get in the way of the mission. It is hard to keep your eyes on the mission of reaching the world and making disciples when there are bills to be paid, buildings to build and meetings to schedule and plan. The hardest part though is trying to keep people coming back. And when we get into the trap of just trying to keep people happy so they will come back, that is the beginning of the end for the church. 


In some ways I guess you could say that many churches fail because they become victims of their success. Growth is good - we start churches to grow churches and fill them with people who need God. The problem is that keeping them full eventually becomes our focus and everything we do is just about keeping people and not about really reaching them. Then we stop taking risks and stepping out into the things God has for us, and we stop preaching the truth that might sting so that we don't offend anyone. These things are signs of a church in decline, and often the church is not aware that it;s best days are behind it.


So what is the answer? If you are a pastor reading this, then your job is to rediscover the reason your church exists - what is the unique mission that God has for your congregation that no other church can do? You and the leaders who assist you must find the balance in reaching people and keeping people. You must keep your focus pointed outward. Remember that we are to be fishers of men, not just keepers of the aquarium!


For church members - it is your job to give your pastor the freedom not to worry about loosing you. You must remember that it is not the mission of your church to keep you happy and meet all of your spiritual needs. You must pursue God on your own and serve him in his church, asking not what your church can do for you but what you can do for your church (yea I know, but it's true).


There is nothing worse than to see a church fail because of all of the people who will not be reached and all of the work that will not get done. We must do something about this and reverse the trend, and we will do it by remembering that church is not about getting what we want, but doing what God wants.