Does Glasgow Need Another Church?

125. That is how many churches the city of Glasgow has listed on their website. In a city of roughly 15,000 people, the Glasgow area has 125 churches from 18 denominations. Why, then, should we plant another church?

  This is a question most church planters within the Bible belt must address, and it is certainly a question I have had to wrestle with myself. It can feel a bit selfish, even arrogant, to drive past church after church on my way to start a new church. The questions rattle around in my head… “Why not pastor a church without a pastor? Why not try to help the churches that are struggling? Does Glasgow really need another church?” After much prayer, conversation, and consideration, I can confidently say yes. Glasgow does need another church. Here are 3 reasons why.

1.) Healthy Churches Plant Churches

The church is the means by which the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spread across the world. It is through this Gospel that God is saving people and bringing about the redemption of mankind. The task given to the church at the end of Matthew 28, the Great Commission, is a task that is given to every believer. However, it is not a task that is given for each believer to carry out on their own. No, this task is given for believers to carry out together with other believers, the church. 

This is seen throughout Acts and Paul’s letters where churches are continually sending elders out to appoint elders in other places. We can see an example of this in Acts 14:23, “And when they (Paul and Barnabas) had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.” Paul and Barnabas did not do this because it was the latest church growth strategy, rather they did this because they understood the task at hand. If they were to make disciples of all nations, they must establish churches. They understood that a healthy church plants churches. Whether this is by sending elders to lead, sending people to join and serve, or sending money, encouragement, and prayer.

2.) New Work Brings New Life

There is something about the smell of a new car that is attractive in a way the smell of a used car just isn’t. That isn’t to say the new car is better than the used car, in some cases it may even be worse. Still, there is a uniqueness to the new car that the used car can attempt to replicate, but can’t really. I think something similar can be true with churches. There is something about a new church that is attractive in a way an existing church isn’t, and because of this, it draws people that existing churches might not draw. 

Now, just because a car smells new does not mean that it is a good car. The purpose of a car is not to smell new, but to be a car. In the same way, the purpose of a church is not to simply feel new, but the purpose is to be a church. So while by nature of the church being new, it will draw new people, it is not what will keep them. What will keep them is the church doing what its intended purpose is, to seek the fulfillment of the Great Commission. (The way in which our church has committed to doing this can be seen here). A church plant is afforded the ability to do things that existing churches might not be able to, so they must steward these things well. Not by trying to retain the new car smell, but by being a healthy church.

3.) Obedience, Despite Our “Better” Judgement

As I mentioned earlier, the church has been tasked to make disciples of all nations. Our response to this must be obedience in accordance with Scripture. What I mean by this is that we obey in the way that the Bible tells us we should obey, not in the way we want to obey. In the case of the Great Commission, we obey by planting churches. We should not presume that this task has changed because there are so many churches in Glasgow. Instead, we ought to obey despite our “better” judgement that says there are already enough churches. 

Truthfully, we do not know the state of all 125 churches in our area. Some are likely laboring well, preaching and teaching the Bible, seeking to glorify God in all they do. Others are likely not doing this, but have become sidetracked by things that should not be the primary focus of the church. No matter the number of churches in each of these categories, we do know that the call of Great Commission is a call to obedience in preaching the Gospel and making disciples. Our obedience means we plant churches. 

God has made it clear to my wife and I, Cornerstone Community Church (the church that sent us to Glasgow), Coral Hill Baptist Church (the church that is sending us out in Glasgow), and the many families faithfully going with us, that to obey, is to see this work take place. So we go in service and obedience to our King, Jesus Christ.

“For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Romans 10:13-15 (ESV)