If you see one of these, kill it …

It doesn’t take a distinguished political scientist to understand that in America, once Congress funds and launches a new program, that program will likely outlive the majority of us who see the start-up.

These are called “entitlement programs.” Social Security and Medicare are two of the most well-known government entitlement programs. Congress has a habit of starting a program, and then keeping it going regardless of whether the program generates positive results or fits within the budget.

The church does something very similar.

In fact, many churches have their own version of “entitlement programs.” Like Congress, churches are very good at launching programs and leaving them to continue on regardless of whether there is any positive results or if what they produce are worth the cost.

For example, many churches have Sunday school programs that have been offered for decades with very little results. Many such programs never lead a lost person to Christ. Many do little in building significant Bible knowledge or honestly providing a discipleship experience that eventually leads to the spiritual maturing of participants.

But the programs go on and on and on and on …

I’m not picking on Sunday school (I’ve seen some good programs out there). My point is that the church all too often launches programs but never assesses the “success” or effectiveness of what it is doing. We settle for that grand ol’ statement, “We’ve always done it this way.”

When was the last time your church leaders assessed every single ministry, program, and activity offered at your church to measure actual results? If they did, how many of these would show worthwhile progress as measured in real, direct impact and growth in the lives of people?

Perhaps one of the reasons the church body is biblically illiterate, failing at discipleship, and not reaching the lost for Christ is because we start things and never look at if we’re actually accomplishing anything from what we’ve started.

If a program, ministry, or activity doesn’t achieve desired results, it should be cut. Redirect the resources to something that will produce results.

And don’t spare the sacred cows!

Scotty