I recently ran a poll in which participants rated the church; primarily American, when asked to complete this statement: I would say the church is _________Doing a good job. (0%)
Doing an OK job. (33%)
Not doing a good job. (46%)
Pathetic. (20%)
I realize it isn't very scientific poll, however; it certainly gets right to the point. More than half think that the church is doing a poor or pathetic job. Wow! Now consider that this, Christians are supposed to have the answers to life. Our answers are to be better than the government, better than business, and better than any other philosophy or religion. Jesus is the Rolls Royce of spiritual entities, the Ruler of All and the Lover of our souls. And our portrayal of Him-- our report card if you will-- to the readers of this blog anyway -- which for the most part consider themselves Christians, is a little above pathetic! We have a "C", a couple of "D" and some "F". Wow squared! Think about what you would say to your kid, or what your parents would have said to you, if you brought home a report card like this? Now consider this, these are Christians that are probably giving us grace. Imagine what the unbelievers think?
Is it possible that this is the best we can expect when yielding ourselves unto God? Romans 6:13 Is this the excellence Paul spoke about? Philippians 4:8
If you don't think this is really a problem, why don't you do the same poll on your blog, or print out some cards, and hand them out at church and the shopping mall? Maybe its just my readers-- but I doubt it. Better yet, circulate this link ask your friends to post a comment. The first part of solving any problem, is recognizing that there is one.
Unlike a jury, the church spends a lot of time "hung" while believers vie for position, run after fragmented vision, debate scripture that has been debated, listen to non-biblical teaching, read horoscopes, watch Harry Potter, ban or abandon the spiritual gifts, and consequently stand for pretty much nothing. That's how you get a"pathetic" rating. Without a vision which encompasses the entire gospel-- one that includes a body with many parts; each functioning together to create a healthy church-- which is the essence of Jesus, we'll continue to attract a very limited number of near pathetic believers that will probably never grow into a useful disciples. Sad.
Or, we can do something different! There are a host of scriptures pertaining to doing something different. I am sure you can think of at least a few. Here are some thoughts on what we might try taking a good look at. The Bible says that we are to train believers in the laying on of hands, an elementary teaching according to Paul. Yet in seminaries around the world, we train people in homiletics, public speaking and "proper" exegesis. Why? So that we can conjure up convincing words? In Acts 2, Peter spoke powerfully by revelation and it was effective. He had no training, just 120 folks praying and running around drunk in the Spirit. Maybe it would be good to send our pastors away on a prayer retreat and get 120 folks praying for them so that they too, could be effective.
Most seminaries also teach counseling yet, 23% of Americans have taken, or considered taking, anti-depressants. You get the idea. Personally, I think we need a working model of Ephesians 4. Until that happens we'll probably keep doing the same thing.
I was pondering this passage this morning. 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
I have come to believe that if a person does this, they will be in revival, and if a church does this, they will be in revival, and if a country does this, they will also be in revival. No matter what the church global does, their action is the result of the individual decisions made by individuals in that group.
We need revival, are you willing to do something different?
Please leave a comment and circulate this link. I would really like to see what you, and those you know, believe needs to be done here. And better yet, let me know what your part in the body is, and how that is going... even if you are a nose hair or an armpit.
4 comments:
excellent as always!
I was asked the other day as part of my entrance testing for seminary, would the world be an ideal place if every one were converted to Christianity? My first answer was more "Biblical." I said no, it wouldn't because there is nothing that suggests the world will be ideal until the Parousia (return of Christ - got to use those big words in seminary :-).
However, as I pondered the question later I thought ideal? Like all our churches with all the nonsense that goes on? With denomination after denomination and their historic mistrust of each other? I've been through at least 4 church splits. So I see nothing ideal in the way we conduct ourselves as Christians so perhaps the world would be more of a mess than it is now if we were all Christians.
Obviously, this is not as it should be. It is long past time for believers to become true followers of Jesus Christ rather than all the political and religious implications of being a "Christian."
I'm tired of church as church. Tired of membership classes and committees. Tired of pretty good worship times without any blow-your-socks-off worship times. And on and on. It's way too easy to become spiritually dull in this atmosphere. And this is in a church that's a quite good one, where the people love God and the Word and are I think learning to love each other. Am I just greedy?
I really really want to be doing and experiencing the "stuff"--all that awesome NT stuff. Most of the real body life that I experience is in the parachurch ministry I'm part of, for which I am truly grateful.
David:
Bucking the status quoa? That is what I would like to think a chruch should be doing.
Nothing turns me off after a strong music worship only to hear a well prepaired oracle so regimented that there is no room for expression of the spirit filled emotions of the congregation.
Hey what about the Spiritual Gifts? No body likes to talk about them or will change the subject. You can't even find many books on nuturing the Gifts. Looking for a mentor? You have a better chance of finding a needle in a hay stack.
I can remember years a go after church the members would hang around talking to other members and some would go out to eat together or gather in small groups to be social. I don't see that today.
It is rush in at the last minute to worship and after services all make a mad dash to their cars to race out of the parking lot. What ever happened to fellowship?
I got to tell you, I just joined a small group in bible study and I get more out of that than I do going for church services. At least there you can have fellow ship with others, let your self go in worshiping God, Hear of others crisis, pray for their issues. and have a good meal to boot.
Revival? Yes we need a revival in the worst sense.
My part in the Body of Christ? I don't have a clue. I think it is evangelism. No wait. That is the Gifts. Lately I have had this compulsion to buy a large tent but who would come to see an old man preach the gospel? Any one?
@sls - Right on! I want to be doing the "stuff" too. I have had to do some para-church ministry because I can't seem to be part-of-church and be who God has made me. Today in church they had the "home group carnival"... It's important, but they are not teaching folks to be in relationship, just to get together and see what happens. It's not happening.
I could have made the exact same comment.
Give me a call, and we'll go do some stuff!
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