You know your church is too big when ... -updated

I've invited lots of folks to church with me. The funny thing is, seems like non-church goers are more likely to say Yes than people who even only occasionally attend other churches.

Typically they shrug and explain, "I'd feel lost in a church that big." But there's also a subtle, uneasy squint in their eyes implying, "And whatever they're doing over there to grow that fast can't be right ... and it can't keep growing much longer before something goes wrong."

That's their reasoning for staying away, as though there's a perfect preordained size that, like Goldilock's porridge, is neither too small nor too large ... but somehow exactly "just right."

Maybe the critics think it's easier for "megachurch" members to sin when they're surrounded by thousands of other believers on Sundays and in fellowship with other members throughout the week than if 50 or 60 members meet together for an hour every Sunday morning.

So what would the critics prescribe as the "right size"? 1000? 500? Less than 100?

Christ had 12 disciples, but Judas was among them. So when the Perfect Church reaches eleven members, maybe it's time to bolt the doors and not take chances. Just to be safe.

Scripture doesn't tell us what happened, but Paul describes a major falling-out with Hymenaeus and Alexander, "whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme." 1 Timothy 1 19:20

Uh oh. Maybe that example shows us that three members is too large to be perfect, too.

The conclusion might be that the Perfect Church has just one member, but every follower of Christ I've ever met has admitted to having a few shortcomings, so that's out too.

Wow. So how do we know what's the right size to keep everybody happy?

Maybe the surest sign a church has reached the "right size" is when its leaders lose their enthusiasm and conviction about reaching outwards with the gospel, ignore the Holy Spirit and turn their attention inward to concentrate on their own agendas, squabbles and selfishness instead.