Numbers DO Matter

Numbers matter. In fact, one of the books in the Bible is titled "Numbers"! In all seriousness though, it is biblical to make mention the number saved.

Things I noted while going through the book of Acts on this subject:

- 25 times the word "number" is used in Acts.
- 15 times the word "number(s)" is used when referring specifically to people being saved.
- 2 times a specific number is used when referring to people being saved.
- 3 times adjectives (great, large) were used in regards to numbers when referring to people being saved.

Some examples:

Acts 2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand
were added to their number that day.

Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to
about five thousand.

Acts 5:14 Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were
added to their number.

Acts 6:7 So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased
rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.

Acts 7:17 As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the number of our people in Egypt greatly increased.

Acts 9:31 Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.

Acts 11:21The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and
turned to the Lord.

Acts 11:24He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord.

This has been on my mind recently because I'm not seeing conversions happening around me. The baptisms I have been witness to have not been as a result of conversions necessarily, but re-dedications or "I thought it about time to be baptised" baptisms.

I used to be really put off hearing things from churches like "we baptised 9 last week" or "last year, our church saw over 900 come to the Lord!" because it shouldn't be about numbers! We shouldn't keep stick counts on things like salvation! We shouldn't "chalk up another one"! It shouldn't be about numbers! Or should it?

A healthy church is one that is functioning biblically and is teaching scripture and holding its members accountable when they fall away. A healthy church teaches the Good News, the GOSPEL, it shares the faith! If a church is functioning biblically as the early church did in Acts, THEN THERE WILL BE NUMBERS! There will be numbers added daily, weekly, monthly and yearly! If a church is functioning Biblically it would only be natural that God would use it to add numbers to His Kingdom!

ZERO is a number.

ZERO is what I've been seeing.

It is about the numbers.