When I speak of church growth, I refer to spiritual growth, of course. There's no such thing that we do that would attribute to numeral growth in congregation, for God and God alone provides the numbers.
When the whole of a church has slacked preaching and tolerated matters to a point such as the welcoming of a new co-worker regardless of their faith or piety, perhaps, by devil's advocate, it is "better" that it should not seek nor pray to grow spiritually. For if it stays at the level it is, it would be more peaceful, it would likely expand numerically, financially and have more charity works, and they can call those their "spiritual" growth. Unless someone brings the question: Is it possible to do good works, charity, make peaceful friendships, etc. without worshipping the Christian God?
Because should they seek spiritual growth, rebuke is in order, for they have accepted that which should not be into their faith. What then? Could they be as humble as the Ninevites who repented after 3 days of harsh statements from a stranger who didn't even bother much about their salvation at first? Moreover, who would want to be the Jonah of this age - assuming that he is truthful to the righteousness bestowed upon him by God, as Jonah was to his Hebrew heritage?
Clearly, there is only one that is better among these two options, the only options. And the only way to choose the better option, is that someone stands on God's side regardless of others' reaction, yet not forgetting that he is merely God's servant and therefore also answers to God of his own actions.
As for those who tolerate non-Christians into servitude, there are two kinds:
1. The lustful ones, those who seek after their own pleasure and delight for fear of loneliness.
2. The hypocrites, for when it comes to the marriage of their own daughters and sons, they inspect their would-be-family-members as if under a microscope.
So whether deliberately or not, these people are cursing the next generation of co-workers in the family of Christ.
And as for those who love to argue: "Maybe these non-believers would be (and there are cases where they are) saved THIS WAY!"
I would answer: It is not the souls of these that is in concern, but the souls of those who think their own care is better than God's, their own love is better than God's and their own way is better than God's. For they believe that no one, not even God, should question or correct or halt anyone's support. And they fool themselves in reasoning that if it "truly" isn't God's will, God will show them signs and wonders. But they will not receive it, except the sign of the prophet Jonas.
