“It’s
very clear from scripture that the expectation of the church is that it grows (Ephesians 4)”
— Crawford Paul
This is an interesting statement, and it’s
useful in helping us to consider the difference between the Church Universal
and any given local gathering of saints, denominational or otherwise. See, I’m
not entirely sure it IS the Head of the Church’s expectation of his local churches
that they always be in a state of perpetual growth.
The letters to the seven churches in Revelation clearly contemplate local
gatherings in danger of having their lampstands removed. That’s not a good thing, but it’s a recognized reality. And even if those seven
letters hadn’t been written, human nature, history and simple observation should
probably make us reluctant to consider local churches as much more than temporary
fixtures in a much greater plan; pawns on the divine chessboard, if I can say
that without offending too many who have invested their lives in the “local testimony”.
That being the case, so much for expectations.