Success – what an interesting and challenging word.  It is a word that speaks to a favorable outcome in life or in a project or emphasis of some kind.  It requires some form of measurement to know if the goal (whatever it might be) has been attained.  Success means different things to different people – some see it in reference to a degree of wealth attained, to others it is the achievement of some level of recognition or a rise to a certain position of prominence or power.

So, how do you measure success in the church?  I am so very convinced that the church is God’s chosen vehicle for the advancement of His Kingdom in this world, and how He has chosen to help people find relationship with Him so their lives can be filled with abundant peace today, and to eventually spend eternity with Him when this life is over.  So, how do we measure the success of the church in fulfilling that mission?

Might I suggest to you that many churches tend to measure their success by the number of those people they bring out of darkness and into the Light.   And that is, of course a worthy goal that is consistent with God’s will for us – to win people to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  But, I think the goal should be broader than that.  While we are bringing people out of darkness into the Light, we should also be developing people to send back into the darkness carrying the Light of Christ with them.  Frankly I wonder how successful we are in actually bringing people out of darkness, but I wonder even more how successful we are in sending people back out into the darkness with the Light so others can find their way out.

The Word of God does say, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”  (1 Peter 2:9, NIV).  And he goes on to talk about how different the Light is supposed to make us – becoming aliens and strangers in the world, belonging to God and not this world or the things of it; and about how our lives change as we abstain from sinful desires.  When we come into the Light of Christ we are to be changed and transformed in every way, so that our lives shine with him.

And all of that is so we can then carry that Light naturally out into the darkness of the world around us.  For the Word of God also says, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:14-16, NIV).  And the Lord of the church tells us that we are to, “become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life.” (Phil 2:15-16, NIV).

You know what, I am just thinking that we need to re-evaluate our measure of success in God’s church today.  Let’s first of all be sure we are rescuing people from the darkness of sin and bringing them into the wonderful Light of Christ.  But, let’s not forget to do the polishing work of discipleship and disciple-making that is also integral to the accomplishment of all the Great Commission.  And, as we win people to Christ, and grow each other up to be dedicated followers of Christ, then let’s prepare each other to carry that Light back out into the darkness where so many are still lost and need to find their way back to God.

What do you think?  How is your church making sure it is rescuing people darkness?  What is your church doing to send people back out into the darkness with the Light that will lead others back to Christ?  What is your evaluation of the church in general in succeeding in all these ways?

I’d love to hear from you and share together some ideas of how we can better SUCCEED in advancing the Kingdom here on earth, and especially here in Wyoming.

God bless you all!