Are you as desperate as Rachel?

Poor Rachel. She was all lined up to marry Jacob, but her sister Leah was given to him instead. So when Rachel did marry Jacob, a week later, there were three of them. Not a good situation.

But there was more pain in store for Rachel. Leah turned out to be a fruitful bearer of children. She gave birth to four sons. But during the time Rachel was unable to have children. This was no doubt a source of pain, shame, and anxiety for her. She longed for children, but it just wasn't happening. But out of this pain comes one of the most desperate statements found in the Bible.
Rachel said to Jacob, "Give me children or else I die!" (Genesis 30:1)

I have a question...

Are you as desperate to see people saved as Rachel was to have children?
Am I?

Do we LONG to give birth to spiritual children? This is not simply about "wanting results." It's having a Holy Spirit inspired, passionate longing to see people saved. It's even having the personal heart-cry, 'Lord, please give ME spiritual children!'

Are we as desperate as Rachel?

Is Transfer Growth a Cause for Rejoicing?

Churches grow through bilogical growth (couples having babies). I love babies! Being a father is one of the joys of my life. It's a wonderful thing when a church is populated by lots of vibrant, delightful children. Bring it on!

Churches grow through conversion growth. Lost sinners coming to Christ. Fantastic! A cause for rejoicing!

Then churches grow through transfer growth: Christians joining the church because they've moved from interstate, become dissatisfied with a previous church, or other reasons.

I have a question. Is transfer growth a cause for rejoicing?

Well, it can be a blessing. When people join a church and are keen Christians, willing to serve, and enthusiastic to attend prayer meetings and help at Working Bees - that's great! They may even become leaders in the church.

But transfer growth can also be problematic. People may bring "baggage" with them and even have caused problems in their previous church. But there's another issue that we do well to consider:

Transfer growth can be a smokescreen that hides the fact that a church is not going well.
ie. A church increases from 50 to 80 through transfer growth, AND THAT HIDES THE FACT THAT THE CHURCH HAS NOT SEEN ONE SINNER COME TO CHRIST IN FIVE YEARS. The transfer growth gives the appearance of growth, but it is merely a case of sheep switching paddocks. Church leaders may have a sense of satisfaction that there are more people on seats on Sundays and even boast of "growth." But is it growth?

Is your church growing through conversion growth? Is mine?

Is transfer growth a cause for rejoicing?

Who are the hard ones?

Now and then lost sinners are referred to as "hard." Have you heard this expression? A Christian may say "The people around here are so HARD!" or "The people in this city - their hearts are HARD! They are not interested in the gospel."

Only the Lord knows how many times lost sinners have been called "hard" by Christians. But, could it be that this is not the major problem? Perhaps it is US who are hard! Maybe THE CHURCH has the problem.

The evangelist John R. Rice once said in a sermon,

"Listen, it is not sinners that are hard. The trouble is it is the preachers that are hard. It is the Sunday School teachers; it is the Baptist deacons and Methodist stewards and Presbyterian elders that are hard. I find it easier to win a soul and get a drunkard or harlot converted than it is to get a preacher on fire for souls."*

Perhaps we need to do some self-examination and ask "Who are the hard ones?" Is it us?

Perhaps it is US who need to repent, before them.

David Hunt