I'm growing increasingly perplexed by the Japanese church. Nearly all Japanese Christians I've met are in complete awe of huge churches. The 1000+ member churches in Korea, the few some hundred member churches scattered in Japan, etc.. Anytime any of these churches are mentioned, it's automatic... glazed eyes, mouth gaping... it's incredible. "It'd be so nice if we were like that." "Aren't they so incredible?" "It'd be so cool to be a part of something like that." The quotes are seemingly endless.
But it doesn't stop there. It seems like because Japanese churches for the most part are small, their dreams, their visions are small. I'll suggest a new ministry idea or concept, and about half the time, it almost immediately gets shut down because "we don't have the strength to do something like that... if we had more people...". It's kind of a inferiority complex.
Actually, come to think about it... maybe this isn't exclusive to the Japanese church but to all small churches in general. Regardless, since when did the church feel like its power came from the number of people in attendance? Just before Jesus ascended into heaven, didn't he tell his disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit so that they'd receive power? "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the Earth." -- Acts 1:8
Our power doesn't depend on how many people are with us. Our strength doesn't depend on the skills or "giftings" of our members (or ourselves for that matter). Our power depends on God being with us through the Holy Spirit! Our strength depends on our members having the Holy Spirit! Can I get a witness up in here?! Can I get an Amen?! Surely the disciples knew this because Jesus told em straight up... wait for the Holy Spirit because HE'LL GIVE YOU ALL POWER.
Aww man... look at what I've done to myself. I'm all jumpy and excited now.