Growth brings new members to ministries, groups and church social functions. Leadership may shift with the incoming influx of members. Many members are simply not comfortable with new attendees changing long-term relationship patterns. They would rather obey the perceived mandate of the Great Comfort than the mandate of the Great Commission. Thus, the church exists for me, myself and I. It’s all about my worship style, my programs, my ministries and my pew. 

The confrontation was probably one of my more sobering moments as a pastor. The woman, a long-term church member, used the classic moment right before I preached to tell me God had spoken to her.

He told her under no uncertain terms that I was supposed to leave the church.

My first challenge was to figure out why God had told her and not me. It seemed like direct communication would have been far more efficient.

My second challenge was framed in a simple one-word question, “Why?”

She responded with smug certainty, “Because all of these new Christians are messing up our church.”

Oh.

Goal of comfort

Of course, I am not alone in dealing with such a perplexing reality. Many church members really don’t want to see their churches grow. Some of them are content with sufficient growth to help pay the bills, but none thereafter.

I have learned from countless pastors and members over the years why this seeming Great Commission disobedience is so pervasive in many churches. Here are six of the most common reasons.

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