Two Institutions: Re-Defining The Success Of Your Ministry

It's both humorous and depressing to look around you and see how people define success. One of the classic worldly definitions is, "He who dies with the most toys wins". This definition is oddly funny when a man is in his prime, but becomes rather hollow when he is staring death in the face. As ministers who should keep eternity before us, we should have our own definition. This begs the question then, "how do we as ministers of the gospel define success?"
According to Mr. Webster success is:

a : degree or measure of succeeding b : favorable or desired outcome; also : the attainment of wealth, favor, or eminence

If your definition in any way, shape, or form relies on part b of Mr. Websters, then its high time that you re-define the success of your ministry.

One of the greatest weaknesses I see in the modern, evangelical church is the tendency to place un-Biblical standards on ministry. It's been going on since medieval times. Instead of being content with having the less quantifiable but infinitely more genuine pleasure of God resting on us, we have created a cult of numbers. I see this cult manifesting itself in many ways not the least of which are:

1. Discipleship - Many evangelical churches are more concerned with converts making a decision and joining the church to fill the pews than they are in they unglamorous and sometimes laborious process of nurturing a new believer to maturity. Oh and by the way, don't assume that because you have a Sunday School that you have a discipleship ministry. (read this post from April 9th)

2. Church Buildings - It is at the same time breath taking and shocking how many evangelical churches are built. There are churches with Starbucks stores, fitness centers, movie theaters, etc. People are obviously attracted to such magnificent facilities and therefore attendance is at a record high. I would applaud this kind of massive growth were it not tainted by non-spiritual allurements. It makes me wonder how Peter and the lads in 1st century Jerusalem did it. After all, they only had the gospel and the Holy Spirit.

3. Family Abandonment - Of course with all these facilities and satellite locations you have to have activity. There are youth activities, men's activities, ladies activities, kids activities, they may even have family nights where families can wave at each other across the room. The time that families spend at "church" grows greater and greater while the real opportunity for parents to disciple their kids as mandated in Deuteronomy 6 dwindles away.

Little by little we give in to the pressure to bolster our numbers. Sunday after Sunday we sacrifice the families of our members and our own families on the altar of numbers. At some point we have to stop this madness and re-define success as parents discipling their kids (Deut. 6) and churches supporting this end by modeling a proper fellowship (Acts 2:42) Its not about a building, or about numbers its about spiritually healthy families and churches.

How do you define success? How you answer this question will determine your philosophy of ministry. I hope that when you answer it that your answer reflects a statement made by God many years ago when He said...