The other day, I visited Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. I was with my boss, Tracee Swank, the next-generation leader of Church Doctor Ministries. Years ago, I had attended Saddleback when my classmate, Rick Warren, was the young leader. It was an amazing church back then, and it is even more amazing now. I love to visit and learn from churches that are effectively reaching people for Jesus!
At Church Doctor Ministries, we have consulted over 1,800 churches from 78 denominations, along with some independent and nondenominational congregations. This is not simply a summary of how many churches we have helped. It is an amazing reflection of how much we have learned. And we just keep on learning!
We don’t only learn from churches. We read, study, and find guidance from a wide variety of resources. Just recently, one of our friends, a Christian businessman from northern Michigan, gave me a book called Leader’s Guide, published by the Betenbough Companies, a large business that follows a strong commitment to biblical principles. They ask all of their key employees to read that book, all 230 pages. I found the entire book to be refreshing and a great testimony that any business can be run on spiritual principles. That includes the Lord’s business, the local church!
Here is an excerpt from page 46 of Leader’s Guide:
So what does hearing the voice of God look like on a practical, day-to-day basis? God speaks to people in many different ways, so there is no straightforward, one-size-fits-all answer to this. While we prefer checklists and repeatable recipes, that isn’t the way God works. Honestly, if we can come up with a formula or put it in a box, we can know for sure it is NOT the Holy Spirit.
If a company like Betenbough can find a way for biblical decision-making, what is possible for your congregation?
As Church Doctors, we look at input in the context of the local church, which is in the “business” of reaching people for Christ and growing believers in the faith. So, you have to wonder: Why don’t more churches eagerly seek expert input for their congregations? Why do denominations perpetuate worn-out approaches in a world that is constantly and dramatically changing? Even worse, why do some church leaders abandon biblical directives in an attempt to “sync up” with popular, secular trends? Nowhere is this more evident than how we run churches and make decisions.
Churches That Make an Impact
There is a wide range of “effectiveness” among churches in the Christian movement. Some congregations—and whole groups of churches—are healthy and growing. Those churches aren’t “perfect”—mainly because they are operated by people like you and me. Yet, they are effectively reaching new people for Jesus. Lives are changed by the power of God’s Holy Spirit.
Other churches—and whole groups of congregations—are declining. Some even boast of their “pure doctrine” or “orthodoxy.” Yet, they are declining in great numbers of people. They are closing churches that are aging—the median age continues to rise. These churches have more funerals than baptisms. Worship attendance is declining. Death is in the air!
Some Christians in declining churches point to other congregations or denominations that are growing and say, “They aren’t true to Scripture.” However, failure to reach new generations is not a reflection of the Bible either. This is often called “dead orthodoxy.” In other words, Scripture is absolutely essential. So is the way your local church makes decisions. And that goes for denominations as well.
Political Impact
One of the greatest roadblocks for many churches is the approach to making decisions. The use of Robert’s Rules of Order is a huge deterrent that hurts congregations from being healthy. Politics, votes, and elections are totally contrary to the tone and function of the New Testament approach to ministry.
In many politically oriented denominations, leadership practices draw politicians who are influenced by legalism. There are boards of control and voting procedures that are completely contrary to the tone and purpose of Scripture. I have written about this in the book Church Politics: Pain-Free Decision-Making. On the cover, we quote Acts 15:28a, “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us….” That Scripture has a revolutionary impact on the local church.
If you study growing churches around the world, you will find a direct relationship between political approaches and plateaued and declining churches in contrast to mission-focused congregations that equip people for ministry on the basis of their spiritual gifts.
Read the Book of Acts. The disciples tried to replace the “12th man”—Judas—by having a vote, “drawing straws.” Matthias won, and you NEVER hear about him again! It is like Scripture is saying to us: “Don’t ever do that vote thing again!”
Further, on the road to Damascus, Jesus Himself, chose the 12th man: the Apostle Paul. God is amazing! Paul seemed like the most unlikely candidate as a former persecutor of believers. Yet, his contributions to the Christian movement—and the New Testament—declare otherwise.
Political Approaches
Having worked with hundreds of churches, one of the most popular forms of church decision-making is a “church council.” (There are other names used in some churches, but the approach is similar.) People are “elected,” and there are “votes.” Someone “wins.” Of course, someone else “loses” the election in front of their friends! Why should anyone willing to serve God ever be put in the position of being a “loser”? How does that fit the spirit of the New Testament?
Most often, those who are placed in the decision-making mechanism of the local church are not chosen according to their spiritual gifts, their involvement in Bible study—personal study or at church—or their commitment to mission and ministry.
On a denominational level, the political climate is often worse! This contributes to the attraction of politically motivated candidates who are organizationally biased rather than mission-driven. The result? Many denominations are closing congregations. Individual churches continue to decline.
Add a Church Doctor to Your Decision-Making Group
Most churches don’t have a resident “Church Doctor.” Yet, any church can recalibrate to a biblical form of decision-making. You need to reshape the basic nature to your approach to decisions. Church are NOT political entities. The church is the body of Christ. Your decision-makers are not a political council with votes, but a biblical counsel. Those on the counsel seek God’s direction through Scripture and prayer.
Check out the Book of Acts. The Pharisees had councils, while the apostles sought counsel from God. That change is transformative! Proverbs 15:22 says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors, they succeed.”
As Church Doctors, we love helping church leaders—and denominations—get transformed to a prayerful, biblical form of decision-making. The popular approaches of politics—votes, elections, rules of order—tend to draw politically oriented behavior rather than biblically focused direction. The constitution and bylaws don’t rule the body of Christ. The Scripture and Holy Spirit are God’s approach. Your church is not an organization. It is a spiritual, living organism. It is led by the Holy Spirit. Proverbs 18:2 says, “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.”
Pray for your church. Pray for churches everywhere and denominations caught in the decision-making approach of the Pharisees: votes, Robert’s Rules of Order, constitutional restraints, and decision-making that is not driven by a biblical approach. Take counsel from the Scripture not just for what you decide, but for how you make decisions.
Kent Hunter is the creator of the biblical Church Governance Consultation for churches and denominations and the author of Church Politics: Pain-Free Decision-Making.