I like how this author looked to the "city" level as a better measure of how the church is really doing. That's how it should be. 

He does fail to mention, however, one of the biggest driving forces behind the push for church growth - money. I don't mean greed - just the perceived need for money for salaries, buildings, and programs to operate a church - none of which are essential features. I am part of a church with none of those - no budget, no politics, just family in Christ stirring each other toward growth. 

It is impossible for a vocational pastor of a small church to ignore numbers. The numbers determine whether he can afford to stay there or not, unlike any other member of the church. Perhaps the problem there is the vocation part - pastoring as a career. Perhaps Paul knew what he was talking about when he told the Ephesian elders in Acts to keep their day jobs to provide living examples of generosity. It also avoids this unhealthy dependence on numerical growth, and the competitive, territorial mindsets of churches as corporations that distract us from seeing the church at the city level as we should.