The state of the church address.

Every January the president fulfills Article II Section 3 of our constitution by giving a report to congress on the “state of the union”. It’s an evaluation, a pulse check on our condition, a S.W.O.T. analysis: our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The report has become an address that makes for great television theater. I enjoy keeping score on standing ovations, polite applause, scowls from the other party, etc. Of course, in the end, this evaluation is the perspective of one person – the office where the buck stops. The president should have a good perspective from where he sits, but he is only one opinion – which is why it is followed by a televised speech from the other party, and by hours of analysis from the TV news experts.

What if God called for a “state of the church” report from you in January? An evaluation, a pulse check, a S.W.O.T. analysis. We know that as church leaders we will one day give a report on the state of the flock [hebrews 13:17]. We should be in the continual practice of evaluation, of asking, “how are we doing?” Evaluation makes us see what is, not what we hope will be someday. Honest assessment is hard for visionaries who live over the next hill, in the picture God has given them of where the sheep are going. But if the sheep are wandering, diseased, starving, or being eaten by wolves ‘here’, they’ll never get ‘there’.

How do we evaluate? Better question, what do we evaluate? Offerings? Budget? Buildings? Staff? Attendance? Yes. But those only serve the mission. The church is a body, a family, an organism and organization. It must be measured by intangibles and tangibles, by numbers and Spirit. In the book Simple Church the authors encourge us to not only measure the success of programs, but to zero in on how successfully we are being at accomplishing our mission, of reaching and growing people.

Scripture gives us many evaluation points. Paul, Peter, John, James, Jude were church leaders who had to take the honest look at the flocks they led, and give feedback. Their writings were often their “state of the church” addresses. Search their letters for evaluation points they used with their churches, and then apply to yours. But the ultimate ministry assessment comes from the Head of the Church.

In Revelation 1-3 the church evaluator has a robe, golden sash, snowy hair, blazing eyes, sharp tongue, brilliant face, glowing feet, and a voice like rushing waters. He is the First and Last, the Living One who holds churches in His hand, as if to weigh them. He alone can evaluate. These were points He graded, His assessment report to the churches on their progress:

• Deeds – Are you doing good works? Are you working hard? Have you increased your serving over time?
• Endurance – Are you persevering in the ministry? Are you successfully enduring suffering or persecution?
• Holiness – What sins are you tolerating inside the church? To what degree do you hate evil?
• Teaching – Are you testing or tolerating teachings that come in to the church? Do you evaluate leaders and teachers within to be sure of their soundness?
• Love – Do you love each other? Are you loving Jesus as much as when you first started?
• Loyalty – Are you remaining true to the name of Jesus? Are you renouncing Him in any way, due to cultural trends in your community, political correctness, theological innovations, or new ministry philosophies?
• Scripture – Are you faithfully practicing and adhering to God’s Word?
• Intensity – What is the strength level of your church? Have you grown weak or mediocre?

Christ is always aware of the state of our church. It would do us well as church leaders to partner with Him and honestly weigh our ministries. Not for the purpose of naval-gazing assessment-just-to-assess, nor for glory and boasting, nor for self-condemnation. We evaluate so the church will be healthy, pure, mission-effective, and pleasing to her Master.

So, what’s your State of the Church report for January 2008?