Do we really need another church? It is a legitimate question. Do we really need to invest the time, resources, and energy into an area where it seems like you can’t throw a rock without hitting a church? Add to this the fact that many churches are declining, struggling to survive, and even dying. So, why another church? There are several reasons:
1) Jesus’ divine mandate to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) has never been rescinded.
2) Increased personal isolation dictates the need for new churches. Unfortunately many churches develop an introverted mentality that hinders their impact. As A.W. Tozer wrote, “If we evangelicals had one-third of the enthusiasm of some of the cults we could take a continent.” Individualism characterizes our culture and much of the church. From catering to personal preferences in music style to a failure to confront sin in the church, at the core is a self-centered attitude. God demands that His children be involved in impacting the lives of others (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8; 1 Peter 3:15).
3) The lack of biblical teaching and preaching dictates the need for new churches. For decades liberal theology has infected the church and eviscerated the Word of God by denying the inspiration, infallibility, and sufficiency of Scripture, thereby eradicating any clear communication of the gospel. While the past few years has seen a plethora of new church planting, many of these new starts have followed the unbiblical and man-centered “seeker-sensitive” model which is characterized by pragmatism and a lack of in-depth exposition of Scripture. As a result, these congregations are typically theologically weak, immature, and are lacking in sound doctrine. Some fear that people will not tolerate the in-depth teaching of Scripture, or that it is too divisive. However, just the opposite is true. The only true unity is that which is grounded in objective biblical truth. Spiritual maturity results from the clear, accurate, and faithful exposition of God’s word (Heb 5:13, 14; 1 Peter 2:2).
4) The spiritual hunger of God’s people dictates the need for new churches. Many Christians today are frustrated that they cannot seem to find a church that gives priority to the in-depth exposition of God’s word. The words of Amos 8:11- 12 are applicable to our generation, “Behold, days are coming,” declares the Lord God, “when I will send a famine on the land, not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, but for hearing the words of the Lord. And people will stagger from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east; they will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord. But they will not find it.” (NASB)
Do we really need another church? Yes. The cause of Christ is in desperate need of Bible-driven churches that will faithfully, boldly, and accurately proclaim the whole counsel of God, disciple other Christians, evangelize the lost, and equip the saints for serving others for the glory of God.