God’s Pace

This is the fourth post in a series reflecting on lessons learned from 15 years of experiencing simple church with my family.  

Jeremiah 6:16 (ESV): “Thus says the Lord: ‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.’ But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

When I first began exploring simple church, the thought that excited me most was the possibility of rapid multiplication. I was (and still am) convinced that what our world needs is more churches. To me, the only way that even remotely seemed possible was by lowering the cost and the bar of what we have traditionally defined as “church.”

A few weeks ago, at a simple church gathering, we discussed a recent lecture at the Lewis House at the University of Kentucky, highlighting the inherent problems caused by population growth in the U.S. and the decline of church attendance across the board. I was reminded of one of the very first blog posts I shared online about why simple church was so badly needed. It still seems to me that it is needed now more than ever.

The analogy from one of my favorite books on simple church still rings true: elephants multiply slowly; rabbits multiply rapidly.

Rapid Multiplication?

Seeing the rapid multiplication of churches across the globe—and experiencing authentic community and discipleship through simple campus FCA groups—led me to believe that God wants to, and can, rapidly grow the church in America as He has in other nations. And often the vessel He uses involves house churches.

Fifteen years in, I still believe this is possible. I pray that I will see the rapid multiplication of simple church expressions in America in my lifetime. Because of that, I continually evaluate and pray that nothing I encourage adds even an ounce of unnecessary complexity to the simple, organic nature of the local church.

However, it is becoming clear—at least to me, and perhaps to many of us on this journey—that this tipping point of rapid multiplication may be something we are helping lay the groundwork for, rather than something we will fully see ourselves.

This isn’t because we are doing something wrong, or because we haven’t read the right book or discovered better techniques.

And it certainly isn’t because God is unable to accomplish what He promised when He said He would build His church and that the gates of hell would not overcome it.

No—the reason may be that God has always been more interested in depth than speed.

The Jesus Example

Look no further than the life of Jesus, and you find a man whose methods often run counter to modern church sensibilities about reaching the masses. Jesus never traveled far from where He was born. At times, He told people not to publicize His miracles. He spoke in parables that didn’t always clarify but sometimes concealed truth. He withdrew from crowds. He spent just three years investing deeply in a small group of people—and that was His plan for changing the world.

Even the timing of His coming speaks volumes. God chose to enter the world long before the conveniences of air travel, fiber-optic communication, or smartphones. It suggests that God’s primary objective has never been speed.

Perhaps God’s ways truly are best. Perhaps He is right on time—even if His timing feels slower than we would prefer.

While I still believe that a simple, organic expression of church is something God uses—and will continue to use—to grow His family and His Kingdom, I’m learning that simple church in America may be more about slowing down than speeding up.  It’s more akin to walking along ancient paths instead of speeding down an expressway.

God wants to slow us down.

To help us breathe.

To help us connect with Him and with others in meaningful ways—ways that take time and real relationship.

He wants us to become comfortable with slowness so that when we meet people on our street whom He intends to draw into His Kingdom—perhaps 25 years from now—we will be as patient with them as He was with us.

He wants us to walk with people along the winding road of life so that we don’t miss the beauty found in its twists and turns, its mountains and valleys.

He wants us to know Him—and to experience the rest for our souls that our weary (both spiritually and physically) culture so desperately longs for but struggles to find.

He wants His bride to be seen as a real, living, breathing organism—not a polished system designed to process people, fulfill religious obligations, and ultimately produce more fatigue.

So by all means, if you are drawn to simple church, pursue it with a commitment to keep things simple—so that when the wind of God’s Spirit moves, the church will be nimble enough to move with Him.

But also be prepared for the stillness.

Be prepared for the gentle breeze that moves slowly, almost imperceptibly.

Be prepared to experience the beauty of slowing down—of making space for real relationships and for truly knowing Him.

This journey has far more to do with what God wants to do in you than what you are going to do for Him. And one thing I am learning is that simple church—and the Kingdom way of life that undergirds it—can help people slow down and find rest for their souls.

Related Posts:  Rethinking Multiplication, Godspeed (Video),

Other posts in this series: 15 Years In, It Takes Courage, Unity With Your Spouse