When a congregation is facing, or has faced, rough times - declining attendance, declining membership, declining revenues - people often pose the question: will this church close its doors forever? Will this congregation cease to exist? Certainly these are painful, and even frightening, questions, especially for those who seriously embrace their faith communities as a family, who find many of their important relationships within the context of this congregation.
If the course of time continues to unfold, and after a while, the attendance bottoms out and begins to slowly increase, if the losses in membership eventually stop, and perhaps even a few new members are added, and if financial losses finally begin to correct themselves as budgets are adjusted, and a few more contributions begin to trickle in, then, at such a point, some people may breathe a sigh of relief, and think, "we're going to make it! Things are OK!"
As much as we might want to believe that, we must not look to these external measurable physical variables to judge the health of a congregation. It is quite possible to see increased attendance, membership, and donations, but at the same time to have a congregation which is getting spiritually sicker and sicker.
The worst thing that can happen to a congregation is not that it goes out of existence, not that it goes bankrupt, not that it closes its doors forever. Those things are bad, to be sure, but the worst thing that can happen is that a congregation grows in members and attendance, and receives many large steady financial contributions, but remains dysfunctional. If the love and Gospel of Jesus are not clearly preached, and even more clearly lived, and if saints are not equipped for ministry (II Tim 3:17, Hebrews 13:21), then it would be better for that congregation to cease to exist, than for it to continue in a spiritually sick manner.
Certainly, we want to see growth in attendance and membership, and to see people tithing for the support of widows and orphans; but all of this must take place in the context of true doctrine and loving Christian fellowship.
Do not take comfort because your congregation resumes growth after a difficult season of internal dysfunction. Take comfort because Jesus is the Lord of the church, and He uses the congregation to show His love to all mankind.
