Expectant vs. Reactionary Churches

By Chuck Lawless

Most churches that contact my church consulting firm do so after they’ve recognized a problem; that is, they are reacting by asking for outside help. I’m grateful to assist them, but their process itself often reveals a problem that inflicts most churches: they are reactionary rather than expectant congregations.

Is your church more expectant or reactionary? Review these characteristics to see where your church is.

Vision

Expectant churches have a clear Great Commission vision. They know that God is drawing to Himself a people from every tribe, tongue, and nation (Rev. 5:9-10), and they are humbled to play a role in that task. That vision is evident in their staffing, their programming, and even their conversations. What God has in store for them in the future really matters.

Reactionary churches, on the other hand, do not typically have a Great Commission vision. Instead, their goals are often just the opposite of a biblical church: guarding their tradition more than reaching the unchurched; surviving the world’s onslaught rather than being light in the world; protecting positions rather than offering life.

Leadership

Expectant churches have leaders who are “ignitors.” That is, they have a passion for igniting the fire in others. By faith, they see potential and promise in others. They invest in the next generation. Ignitors lead a church into the future, not worrying about personal recognition or reward in doing so.

Reactionary churches have leaders who are more “firemen” than ignitors. Firemen spend their time putting out troublesome fires. This task is not an insignificant one, but firemen seldom have time or energy left for casting vision. Their ministry quickly becomes reactionary rather than proactive.

Prayer

Expectant churches have an intentional, strategic prayer ministry. They teach believers how to pray, mentor them as they learn, and hold them accountable for praying. Staff members pray regularly with each other. Small groups include prayer leaders. Senior adults pray by name for students and children, and all generations pray for missionaries.

Reactionary churches, though, only respond in prayer. A family struggles, and then the church prays. A teen wanders, and then the church prays. In fact, many churches pray only when needs are added to a prayer list—after the problem has developed. Prayer is more a band-aid than the DNA of a reactionary church.

Outreach

Expectant churches understand that the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20) is about going. They think about, pray for, plan for, and reach out to people who have never attended as well as those currently attending. These churches so prominently influence their community through evangelistic ministries that their neighbors would miss them if the church did not exist.

Reactionary churches are instead inwardly focused. A quick review of the church’s calendar and budget shows little energy and few dollars devoted to reaching others. No church would ever include this motto on their website, but reactionary churches often live this way: “We’re here, and you know how to find us if you wish. We’ll respond when you get here.”

Change

Expectant churches are so accustomed to discussing God’s future that they enthusiastically talk about “what’s next” for their congregation. In fact, change is their norm. They are always experiencing “excited chaos” because leaders are continually calling them to the next level. Stagnation rather than change is most alarming.

Reactionary churches are just the opposite. They do not prepare for the future; they fight to protect the past. Little has changed for years, if not for decades. The norm is so routine that members would be uncomfortable if God did something not already scheduled in their church’s bulletin.

Growth

Expectant churches, by definition, expect God to grow their congregation. They believe God gave the Great Commission because He intends to use believers to make disciples. These churches rejoice publicly as God adds to the church (Acts 2:47), and they grieve when growth does not happen. Moreover, they have in place a strategy to grow new believers in their congregation.

Reactionary churches are not only unprepared for growth, but they are surprised by it. Any growth is unexpected and startling – threatening, even, if the growth requires change. New believers in a reactionary church seldom grow, as the church does not have a spiritual nursery ready to take care of them when they join. Numerical growth is usually only temporary in this kind of church.

What other characteristics would you add to describe expectant or reactionary churches?

 Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary.

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