This article deals with a relationship between church growth and spiritual gifts in the thought of John Owen. Although he did not directly write on the issue of church growth, it could be derived from his concept of church declension and its preservat...
This article deals with a relationship between church growth and spiritual gifts in the thought of John Owen. Although he did not directly write on the issue of church growth, it could be derived from his concept of church declension and its preservation & continuation. Church growth is achieved by overcoming spiritual decay caused by sin, and preservation and continuation of church function as the backbone of church growth. One of the most striking features of Owen’s understanding of spiritual gifts is his insistence on its ecclesiastical character. He argued spiritual gifts are necessary in performing ministries in church and lack of them in ministry results in church backsliding as well as her decay. Spiritual gifts are given to church for the purpose of encouraging one another among church members, resulting in growth in the grace of Christ. Here Owen developed an idea, for all the members of church, spiritual gifts are required in promoting the communion of saints. Therefore, it might be confirmed that a prositive relationship between church growth and spiritual gifts was established in the thought of Owen.