The issue is never whether the Lord will forsake us. The issue is the hard, provable, earthy facts of life.
In my not so humble opinion, 95 percent of the congregations with fewer than 150 members, worship attendance under 75 (or certainly under 50) not only will not survive, but should not survive.
They do this.
They become "personal chaplaincies" for the remaining members, often members of families exercising extraordinary influence.
They drain the energies of low-paid or first-call pastors or retired pastors who think they are advancing the mission of the Church rather than just keeping some church doors open.
They spend down the assets of reserves and endowments solely for the satisfaction of the few remaining members.
They let neighbors and the neighborhood see a sorry picture of what a church should be.
They never become part of the broader church, either locally or nationally. A contribution to the local food bank, maybe a pittance to synod or district isn't mission or outreach.
"But what about the people there?!" I hear you say.
Send them off to a nearby church.
"But what if there isn't a nearby Lutheran church?!" I hear you say.
So what? We're not the only expression of Gospel fellowship.
"Is it so wrong to keep the doors open for those people?"
It is, unless you are clear about your longer-term objectives. Make it known that the church is in the "closing" mode. Get people ready. Maybe even set a date. Don't just keep sending them first-call or retired pastors so long as they can afford to underpay them.
We visited a congregation in 1981 that hadn't had more than around 17 attendees on Sundays for many years. The formerly beautiful old church was in great disrepair, the bell tower actually a crumbling ruin. The Pastor had not received a call in many years, and had expected to actually die with the church. The surrounding community disparaged the failing church and its members were seen as very insular, and widely shunned because they weren't with the contemporary culture and stayed with that pitiful congregation.
The congregation in question was in a town in East Germany (well, the Wall had come down very shortly before, and East Germany was extinguished that Sunday). Members who stayed could not get better, if any jobs; their housing was fixed, they were condemned to immobility in that place. Children were not greatly evident.
But, they had, because of Christ, persevered through decades of Communist oppression. The welcome we were given in the garden across the street was full of children, eager to hear words of encouragement (in English, that they had been forbidden to learn) from fellow Christians. The Communist Mayor and over a hundred folks gathered from far around to fellowship with fellow Christians, with Lutherans. Someone proclaimed (not theologically correct, perhaps) "We know that God is alive because you are here.
Maybe, just maybe, there are incredible lessons to be learned by the church here from such "failing" places for the future of Christianity, even Lutheranism, in America. Maybe, just maybe, those people and their congregations that you consign to the dust bin might have the strength of faith, the perseverance in their mission to their community to carry on and by their demonstration of faith in their communities, not the condemnations that you lay on congregations of saints in dire circumstance in this country and else where in the world.
Such places, their pastors and people, may well be the future of Christianity in America - not just in rural or small town areas, but in the big cities, as well. It is in the big cities, you must be aware, that the church endures the greatest trials and tribulations.
Actually, I'm certain of it. Learn from the struggling saints and their churches and communities great lessons that apply to all - actually scale upward to all. If some of them fail, and some will, give them at least the dignity of which they are worthy in their walk of faith.
