UNHEALTHY GROWTH
I don't know that many of you can understand this word very well, so I'll try to explain it as best I can, because I'm sure most of you have never been personally involved with it.
It's [the word] 'Flabby'. Now you say to me, 'Pastor, what's flabby?' [how does it relate to spirituality?] Well, let me tell you about it.
1. I think it basically has to do with getting bigger, but not necessarily stronger.
2. It has to do with an appearance of being bigger, but an absence of strength.
3. It has to do with being limp and sluggish, rather than firm and alive.
(note - these are mental notes from the cranium of a slightly overweight pastor.)
Because of our [congregations] rapid growth, the Lord watched over us and kept our growth firm, strong, and spiritually weighty. We're not interested in bigness if its going to cost us strength and firmess and life. Healthy growth won't allow for the disappearance of any of these things. I desire for us a strength of spirit, a strength of heart, a largeness of attitude.
Some congregations are intimidated by their littleness. If they wouldn't be, they could still have a large ministry. Some congregations are impressed by their largeness, and thereby stumble into the snare of barreness and pride. Some people like to hide in large congregations, insensitive to the fact they are weakening it by their anonymous presence.
I think healthy growth has to do with people not becoming impressed with themselves. Here's how not to get impressed with yourself:
1. Keep your focus on Jesus, 'by whom, of whom, through whom and to whom are all things.' It helps keep the glory in the right place.
2. Our building, too, is a blessing of sorts. We don't have a grand edifice to point to.
3. God is the Author and Finisher of all things in us and we acknowledge the fact that everything we enjoy together was born of Him. It keeps us dependent on Him.
When we're admonished to be 'strong in the Lord', I think that's what He's saying: 'Firm up the flabby places,' because He would want for us to be larger and stronger than we are big... a largeness of spirit.
Firming up,
Pastor Ron"