Isaiah 31:1

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
who rely on horses,
who trust in the multitude of their chariots
and in the great strength of their horsemen,
but do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
or seek help from the LORD.

Over the years that I have been in and around the organized church in America, I’ve seen many different ideas as to how to make the church grow. Some are gimmicky, some are Biblically sound. Some give the appearance of working, others are miserable failures.

Many of the efforts to grow churches borrow methods from advertizing and marketing to determine what changes will make the church more appealing to her audience. Perhaps this is akin to Israel looking to Egypt for her help.

The only way for real growth to happen in the church is for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed so that men and women are brought into a growing relationship with Him. We must be faithful in proclaiming the message, God is the one who provides the growth.

I am not saying that the church should not seek feedback as to how effectively she is communicating the Gospel. I am not saying that modern methods of communication should not be used.

What I am saying is that the methods do not save anyone, God does. When the message of the Gospel is changed, or muted to make religion more palatable, when there is reluctance to talk about sin, Hell, judgment and salvation, then the message has been compromised. When the message is compromised, no good will result, no matter how large the budget or how full the parking lot.

When we go to Egypt for help, we may have larger army but it will not be an effective army for the purpose of storming the Gates of Hell.