Is Every Church Supposed to be a Big Church?

Well that’s certainly what it feels like and whether the feeling comes from inside or outside yet as a pastor of “small” church, it’s a pressure I feel every day.  Yet I would never say that every Christian is supposed to be healthy, wealthy and wise, instead I realize that God is sovereign and will do for one what He wants and for another what He wants and it may not be the same, ie see parable of the laborers, Matt. 20:1-16.

So why then do I think that every church is supposed to be a big church? If God is sovereign in what he gives us individually why isn’t he sovereign and in charge of what he gives us as a church?  Well the truth of the matter He is.  Our only responsibility is to be faithful, faithful in keeping his word and not denying his name, or at least that’s what he told the church of Philadelphia, Revelation 3:8

'I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Though and open door was given to them that no one was able to shut, they were not given much power or in other words they were not great in number and influence, yet they had been faithful to keep the word and not to deny His name.  Thus they earn the Lord’s commendation not for their numbers but for their faithfulness.

I am reminded then of Paul’s encouragement to Timothy, 2 Timothy 4:2.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage--with great patience and careful instruction.

So if you pastor a smaller church or are a member of a smaller church don’t let it disturb or discourage you, just be faithful. And if you pastor or are a member of a larger church “be careful” as James MacDonald said,  “not to cultivate an attitude of disdain towards smaller works that are worthy of Jesus commendation.  Maybe it is, as Jesus said, one of the ways in which the first will be last and the last will be first.”  James MacDonald, Churchleaders.com