Paper Airplanes and Church Growth

The world record distance for the flight of a paper airplane is 226 feet, ten inches. Joe Ayoob was the thrower. He was a quarterback and had the arm strength to make the record, but the design came from a man named John Collins.

Joe's job was to throw the airplane. That is not too difficult, but the more powerful the throw, the more distance can be expected. So John's selection was a wise one. However, the design is the most important part. 

I have no idea what the design is. If you are interested, you might enjoy going here. Make a few planes and try for the world record if you want. Then come back and finish reading. There is a connection between church growth and paper airplanes.

Paper airplanes do not technically fly. They either glide or are simply thrown like darts.The world record was set by a gliding plane. That is the best way to make a paper airplane. And if you want the record, the design is the key. Those things "fly" because they were designed for it. There is no need to put a computer on board to keep it in the air. They just coast along on the air by themselves. Just give them a good throw and the design will do the rest.

The church of Christ is the same in principle. Jesus built it. He designed its doctrine, work, and faith. All a church needs is a good "push". We do not need to reinvent the wheel. We do not need to change the faith, add to or take away from the design. If we will be the people God wants us to be, the church will grow. It was designed for growth.

Its foundation ensures growth. Ephesians 2:20-21 tells us Christ's church is "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord."

The works of the members ensure growth of the congregation too. Ephesians 2:10 reminds us that God prepared in advance the good works that Christians would perform. These were for the building up of the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12). Christians have been created in Christ for these good works (Ephesians 2:10). We are products of His workmanship. God knows the works He intended for us to do and through the word of His power we have been created to perform these deeds. The end result is expected, but that should not be taken to mean there is no personal development on our part.

As we live God's word, the church will develop and grow. It works because God designed it that way. Just as John Collins' paper airplane design showed his wisdom, the church's design shows God's. Ephesians 3:10 tells us that the church shows the "manifold wisdom of God". The existence of the church shows it. The work of the church shows it. The fact that it grows naturally as a result of its activities shows that wisdom.

There are great and powerful implications to this idea that we should consider.

1. If we design a church according to our own ideas and reject the ideas of God, are we not claiming greater wisdom than God in determining how a church should operate?

2. A design should not be judged based on what seems to work or what works short-term unless we are willing to argue that the best design is the one which lasts the least amount of time. God's design coincides with His proclamation that the kingdom would last until the end of time (1 Corinthians 15:25). Short-term success does not prove that it is God's design. It does not rule it out either. So we must use a different standard than "big numbers" to determine authenticity. The Bible is the only reliable guide to the pattern of the church.

3. If we are not growing as a church, the possibility exists that our pattern may have flaws in practical application. That is not to suggest that we cannot KNOW the pattern. But an honest person will recognize that if the church is not growing, but it was designed by God for growth, then perhaps one reason is that the problem lies with us.

4. Just get busy. The church is designed for the long term. It is designed to operate by laws God designed which we may not even recognize. We should take for granted that God knows what He is doing and that He wants us to succeed. To illustrate, one notable law that supports the natural growth of the church is the law of cause and effect. We might also think of it as the law of sowing and reaping. Unless the seed is sown, there will be no growth. If we are not growing, perhaps it is because we have not taken the time to plant seed through our good deeds and teaching.

What other implications come from understanding that God designed the church for growth?
What are some of the deeds which God has designed us to do? How do those relate to growth?