Should Churches Take Attendance?

Last updated on: October 28, 2016 at 10:16 am by Jack Wellman

Should Churches Take Attendance? 2016-10-28T10:16:36-05:00 Jack Wellman

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Should churches be concerned with taking attendance? Does it matter?

David’s Census

King David was now king over all Israel and the nation reached the zenith of its power and territory under his reign, so this might be why David decided to take a census. Perhaps he saw the enormity of the nation as an indication of his own power and not God’s sovereignty. Whatever the reason, we know that “Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number” (1st Chron 21:1-2), however “Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord’s servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel” (1st Chron 21:3)? Joab immediately knew this was wrong. Perhaps it was motivated by pride since David sat on the throne of such a huge and powerful kingdom, but Joab tried to talk David out of doing this because he knew it was sinful and ask David, “Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” Of course, he was right, and “God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly” (1st Chron 21:7-8).

Not so Good Reasons

I believe we have identified one reason that God was not pleased with David’s taking a census, and although it’s certainly not the same scenario, the same reason could be behind why some churches take attendance. One church I attended years ago not only listed the attendance, but also the Sunday school attendance and the collections (or offerings) from the week before. What troubled me even more was when someone made a greater offering than normal they would put their name in the church bulletin with the amount they gave. What I would ask is, “What about the poor widow who attended at that church and could only give a few dollars? Didn’t she, like the widow who put in all she had (two mites), give more than all the rest who had more? Yes! It’s not the amount that’s important, but the sacrifice of how much they gave in regards to how much they have. Printing someone’s name and their offering tends to create pride in my opinion. Our church keeps the offerings of everyone private because it’s none of our business, and is between them and God. Besides, isn’t publishing the offering amounts (for the large ones) only being done so that others would know? Doesn’t this create the possibility of pride by those who give more? If so, they have already received their reward. Its okay to take attendance, but to publish it seems to place too much importance on numbers rather than focusing on the mission of the church.

Good Reasons

Our church is not in a position to help too many people in our community. Why? Because our church includes 3 people on disability, 2 homeless people, 2 unemployed, 3 former prisoners (we have a prison ministry), and even though we are really struggling to keep our doors open, we are still the only church in town with a prison ministry, a nursing home ministry, and a ministry for the poor, and being a bi-vocational pastor that has to work because our church cannot pay me a salary (which is fine), doesn’t diminish the fact that Jesus stresses faithfulness. Jesus never said, “Well done though good servant for your perfect attendance at church, or Sunday school, or at Bible studies.” We take attendance only to measure the growth that God brings to our church (Acts 2:47), but also, if we don’t take attendance, we won’t know how many Sunday school lessons to order or how much bread and juice we need for Communion. We also need to know how many are available to serve in our various ministries. God doesn’t care about the size of a church, or if the parking lot is full, or if the pews are filled. He is more interested in how faithful we are with what we’ve been given. God has always reserved for Himself a remnant and I fear that many will come to discover that they thought they were believers, but Jesus will say to them, “Depart from Me for I never knew you” (Matt 7:23). In fact, God often uses smaller numbers to accomplish more so that He is more glorified and that He receives full credit because it’s not us that give the increase; it is God. Gideon’s army of 300 defeated thousands of the Midianites, but it was only by God’s hand, not Gideon’s.

Conclusion

If you have a small church, don’t be discouraged because God is no respecter of size or impressed by numbers. God can accomplish more through a small group that is submitted to Him in humility and faithfulness than He can through a large mega church that is only interested in numbers and dollar signs. Why do we tend to see size as being equal to success? Churches are not like the world where bigger is always better. In fact, bigger can sometimes get in the way of a church being a close-knit and unified group. What is it about numbers that we get so hung up on? More is not always better, and in some cases, less is more in the sense that we can do more with a few who are faithful than greater numbers who are not interested in doing what God has commanded the church to do (Matt 25:34-40; James 1:27). The Apostle Paul reminds us “that the remnant of mankind may seek the Lord, and all the Gentiles who are called by my name, says the Lord, who makes these things known from of old” (Acts 15:17-18). God doesn’t care about the size of a church but about the church’s heart toward Him and their being faithful. Jesus didn’t say, “Well done though good and large church,” but rather, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matt 25:21).

Article by Jack Wellman

Jack Wellman is Pastor of the Mulvane Brethren Church in Mulvane Kansas. Jack is also the Senior Writer at What Christians Want To Know whose mission is to equip, encourage, and energize Christians and to address questions about the believer’s daily walk with God and the Bible. You can follow Jack on Google Plus or check out his book Teaching Children the Gospel available on Amazon.

Previous Post

October 27, 2016

Should Churches Work Together?

Next Post

October 28, 2016 Should Churches Use Social Media?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Bible Answers Bible Definitions Bible Story Bible Study Bible Verses Christian Books Christian Entertainment Christian Fathers Christian Mothers Christian Quotes Devotional Famous Christians Music News Parables Prayers Quotes Sunday School Lesson Uncategorized Youth Sermons

Select a Month October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who said, "As for me, I know that my redeemer lives"?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joseph Abraham Job Moses