“Living things grow … dead things don’t.”
Is that true? Of course, it’s absurdly self-evident to say dead things don’t grow—they’re DEAD. I would agree that “growing things are alive” … but is the opposite also TRUE? Always?
In the natural world, there are countless examples of different types of life … of “growing things.” In human biology, the growth pattern of a healthy human body at conception, at birth, at 7 days, 7 years, 17 … or 70 years is vastly different—yet all are “alive.”
But are they GROWING?
Some living things on earth DO keep “growing” until they die—consider the growth rings evident in a freshly cut tree trunk, for example. Every ring, a year. However, unlike trees, humans reach their maturity and stop growing after about 18-21 years.
Even so, through all stages of LIFE, our human bodies do keep regenerating:
- Cells continually reproduce and carry on their respective tasks;
- Blood flows, wounds heal, hair grows, hearts beat, lungs inflate, livers cleanse, limbs move, brains think;
- Food and air is ingested and inhaled, continually converting into food for the body. The list goes on … Selah.
To suggest that all “living things GROW” is simply not true. As humans mature, though our bodies no longer GROW, per se (and may even SHRINK), they still work hard to MAINTAIN life. The human body is a busy place even when it is no longer “growing.” This activity may not appear as GROWTH, but it IS most definitely evidence of LIFE. In that perspective, it might be more accurate to say, “Living things continue to CHANGE … dead things just decay.”
Let’s get spiritual. How does this speak to the CHURCH?
“The Lord added to the CHURCH daily such as should be saved.” (Acts 2:47 KJV)
“So were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.” (Acts 16:5 KJV)
These days, it seems that the common goal of the Church in general, and individual churches in particular, is to keep GROWING bigger and bigger. To avoid being judged as “dead,” church leaders strive to keep the number of regular attendees increasing steadily—whatever it takes—requiring bigger and bigger buildings to accommodate the swelling multitudes.
Not to over-generalize, however, it’s been said: “It’s impossible to grow a healthy church and ignore core Biblical principles, including the practice of pruning. If we always add but never prune, we will get out of shape and our ministry will not be healthy.” —Tony Morgan
So, is church “growth” synonymous with “increase in size?” Perhaps we should start thinking of the Church less as a TREE and more like an ORCHARD. Less as a thing that keeps growing bigger and bigger—and more like a safe sanctuary where living things can grow TOGETHER, regardless of size. A place where individuals come together to learn how to each live, grow, and reproduce individually in a healthy environment—whether it’s a congregation of 20, 200, or 2,000.
A “growing church” is better defined as one where INDIVIDUALS are showing evidence of LIFE. Like the LORD Himself: “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” (Luke 2:52 KJV) The “growth rings” of a healthy church are observed in the mental, physical, spiritual, and social development of the whole. Where life is IN BALANCE, and where increasing size isn’t the only criterion for “growth.”
Digging deeper here, what is EVIDENCE of LIFE in an individual believer in Christ? After the “new birth,” it would include a GROWING:
- Appetite for God’s Word and desire to obey God’s voice.
- Hunger to be in God’s presence, to pray, and to wait on God.
- Understanding of Scriptural truth—converting it into faith and hope.
- Ability to translate increasing spiritual knowledge into practice—converting spiritual food into love, patience, gratitude, grace, self-control, humility.
- Enthusiasm to allow the Holy Spirit to speak through you—using your testimony to speak to others who don’t know Jesus.
- Strength to persevere and endure whatever LIFE brings, knowing that “all things WORK together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)
These things cause our soul to continue to GROW, despite our bodies’ age, size, or physical ability, until God calls us HOME. In Jesus, LIFE is ETERNAL.
“Jesus said, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me SHALL NEVER DIE.” (John 11:25-26 KJV)
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, as I live in YOU, and continue IN YOU, though my earthly body ceases to grow, my SOUL grows stronger and will NEVER die! ALIVE in YOU, I will thank You for EVER! Amen.
