Everything but the church itself (as defined in point #7, above) has an expiration date. No denomination, worship style or tradition is forever. Sometimes a congregation, tradition or denomination dies because it has finished serving its purpose.

(This point is not meant to trivialize the very real pain of a local church going through serious hardships. I stand with you. Like John said to the suffering saints in Philadelphia (Rev 3:7-13), “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” You have my heart, my prayers and any help I can offer.)

11. The Church Is the Most Relentlessly Growing Organism In History

For almost 2,000 years of great triumphs and horrifying persecution, the church keeps going.

When Jesus builds something it tends to stand. And stand strong.

12. Worry Doesn't Work

In fact, worry makes it worse.

13. Jesus Told Us Not to Worry About Anything

You can toss the previous 12 points. This is all I need to know.

To wildly (but hopefully not inappropriately) paraphrase Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5:25-33:

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your church building, where you will worship or fellowship; or about your denomination, what decisions it will make. Is not church more important than buildings, and the faith more important than denominational creeds? … Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his church’s life or a dollar to its offering basket? … But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Whatever is of worry is not of faith.

And we need all the faith we can get.

Copyright © 2015 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal.
Click here to read our guidelines concerning reprint permissions.