I’ve started reading a 70-word daily blog from economist Elliot Eisenberg. Here’s what he wrote on July 12, 2022. (It’s not an excerpt – the whole blog is only 70 words! Don’t say it: “Bob, can you get yours down to 70 words?!”) Anyway, back to Dr. Eisenberg:

GDP in 22Q1 was -1.6% annualized, 22Q2 looks to come in at -2% annualized. Yet job growth in 22H1 was superb, averaging 456K/month. How can this be? Are firms hoarding workers despite falling sales because bosses expect a mild downturn or because hiring is so tough? Maybe the GDP data will be revised up or employment data downwards. Otherwise, productivity must be sinking at 6%/year which is historically unprecedented

He calls it opposite observations. Employment up, productivity down. This raises an interesting question with respect to churches except we have no clear way to measure “productivity.” It should be in terms of “fruit,” which I have written about before. Here’s a list of possible kinds of fruit (“how God can use me today”) from Mark Green’s book Fruitfulness on the Frontlines:

• Model godly character
• Make good work
• Minister grace and love
• Mold culture
• Be a Mouthpiece for truth and justice
• Be a Messenger of the gospel

Most churches measure only attendance, along with income. But attendance or membership translates roughly into “employees.” Even the celebrated metric “baptisms” is only measuring employee growth. We’re not measuring employee productivity or fruit. And yet, fruit is of paramount importance: more about that tomorrow.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last… (John 15.16, NIV)