When we’ve accurately and responsibly kept church records, they can serve as a useful tool to keep a pulse on the Body and assess growth. They don’t tell the whole story but usually enough to give us a basic idea of the condition of our flock and a starting point for changes needed. Records don’t lie but we can misinterpret them. Records don’t lie but the enemy does.
Misinterpreting Records
When we look at records through human wisdom rather than through a God lens, we will most likely misinterpret records. We will emphasize what the world views as most important. Consequently, we could find ourselves comparing and competing with others rather than seeking to align with God and His ways. Numbers could become a status symbol. The Apostle Paul warned us, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom. 12:2)
When we look at records as human achievements rather than as God’s power at work, we will probably misinterpret results. If we like what we see, we will most likely find ourselves taking credit for what God did. If we don’t like what we see, we will probably strive harder and harder, yet still lack spiritual fruit. Remember that Jesus warned us, “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” (Jn. 15:5)
Lies our Enemy, the Schemer, Would Have Us Believe
Satan is a schemer (2 Cor. 2:11; Eph. 6:11), out to skew the purpose and value of record keeping at its ground level with lies such as …
- We don’t need God’s power for something so mundane as record keeping.
- Church leaders should take a hands-off approach to record keeping because it’s below them and their leadership roles.
- People involved in record keeping aren’t as significant as others.
Falling for these lies undercuts the ministry aspect of all we do. It devalues some members of the Body which goes against the teaching in 1 Corinthians 12 that every part is needed and important. — “God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.” (1 Cor. 12:24-25)
Lies Our Adversary, the Accuser, Would Have Us Believe
If Satan didn’t get our attention on the ground level of record keeping, he may work at using the results to tear us apart. Satan, our accuser (Rev. 12:10), would have us play his blame game to distract us from moving forward by believing …
- Church leaders deserve the blame for not doing enough.
- People deserve the blame for not doing their parts.
- God deserves the blame for not providing us with sufficient finances, a big enough building, or more people resources.
Falling for this tactic tends to lead to discouragement and division rather than repentance, if needed, and renewal. We stop trusting God to work all things for the good (Rom. 8:28), which includes even our failures, lack of resources, and current condition.
All Posts about Records and Reporting:
- Record Keeping & Reporting: Measure Your Objectives
- Record Keeping & Reporting: Keep Pulse on Body
- Record Keeping & Reporting: Facilitate Ministry
- Record Keeping & Reporting: Assess Growth
- Church Records Management
- Transparency in Church Records Management
- Confidentiality in Church Records Management
- Responsibility in Church Records Management
- We’ve Been Hacked!
- Record Keeping & God’s Power?
- Record Keeping Based on Human Wisdom
- Records & Reporting Point Back to God’s Grace?
- Record Keeping & Reporting Kept in Check by God’s Grace
- Records Keeping & Spiritual Gifts
- Record Keeping That’s Not Mundane
- Lay It All Before the Lord
- Meaningful Record Keeping
- Whether Good or Bad, Make Records about the Name of the Lord
- Records and Reports from the Resurrection
- Record Keeping Precedence in the Word
- How Biblical Leadership Roles Affect Record Keeping
- Are You a Good Example in the Use of Church Records?
- Records Don’t Lie But …