Hermit Crabs

In many churches I’ve visited the membership has splintered and some people have moved on to plant one or more additional churches. I can view this as God’s kingdom growing, but I’m struck by the church that is left behind. It reminds me of a hermit crab that needs a bigger shell in order to grow, but in the process he leaves his old, empty shell behind. Churches with an attendance of under 10 are a shadow and a shell of their former selves. This is not to say that the message, music and the Spirit are no longer in these churches, but the members themselves are often downcast and burdened with being caregivers of a large facility with few volunteers. In some cases the bulk of the members are in their 80’s and physically unable to clean the building or maintain the yard. During announcements one pastor, who is himself disabled, reported he sprayed the weeds and will start pulling them in hopes of getting the yard in better shape. I gave pause at his offertory prayer, “Father we are just grateful that our utilities are low.”