Church is a group of Christians that gather in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to worship God. I am worried about the trend of the church. Is Jesus Christ in the church of our generation? Can two masters control a home? Can the Spirit of God and the spirit of worldliness control the church?
Barna conducted an analysis on the state of the church in 2016, and revealed that Americans are attending church less, and many are practicing their faith outside of its four walls. I am sure that other continents are experiencing similar trend.
Today, I want to share some practices going on in the church, which we need to stop. I don’t intend to judge anyone or any denomination, but I want us to trace our steps back to the Bible.
The world’s civilization/modernization is putting more pressure on the church. We must take our stand in Christ’s rules alone!
The church does not want to ‘hurt’ anyone with the blunt truth of the Gospel. Preaching topics like holiness, perseverance and so on is now a boring topic in many churches.
The church chose to be friend with the world with the intention to win souls, and such intention is affecting the integrity of the church. First John chapter 2 verse 15 and 16 says:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world–the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life–is not of the Father but is of the world.”
I am sure Jesus Christ saw this church trend long ago, and He asked His disciples this question: “… Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8)
It is wise for us to stop the following practices before the Faith in Jesus is changed to faith in worldliness.
1. Using Worldly Styles to Present the Gospel
a. Music ministrations in the church are less different from the worldly music. The unique gospel musicals filled with powerful messages of salvation is uncommon in our generation.
The new converts could not stop singing the worldly songs, because we use the worldly musical tones and beats in the church choir.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other….” (Matthew 6:24)
b. The Hollywood style of presenting the Gospel had produced more lukewarm converts to the church.
c. The introduction of cosmetics and fashion into the church makes it difficult to distinguish a Christian from an unbeliever.
For instance; Piercing of the body is not limited to the women anymore, because men in the church are piercing their ears to wear earrings. The use of Tattoo in the church is no more news…
“Who’s adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1peter 3:3-4 KJV)
The church should stop imitating the worldly styles of doing things. It attracts unbelievers to the church, but they don’t understand the godly styles of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. Obeying the Ungodly laws of the Land
The church is not prepared for persecution. Let us stand against the ungodly laws of the land imposed on the church. How could a government ask us to organize wedding for homosexual!?
We shall serve only One Almighty God. The church should not be afraid of persecution from the rulers of the world. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10)
The church is scared to pray, read the Bible or preach the salvation of Jesus to the public. The church should stop pretending that the ungodly laws of the land are manageable.
3. Let’s Stop Church Discrimination
It is unfortunate that we have thousands of denominations, but the figures separated us from the one love of God. For instance, the Protestant disregards the Orthodox, while the Orthodox disregards the Evangelical, and the discrimination continues on and on…
Let us unite! Jesus did not ask us to form denominations, but He told us to go preach the gospel to the world. “And He said to them, “Go into the entire world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15)
4. Church Extravagance
Let us stop spending millions of dollars on church buildings. Let’s spend it on spreading the Gospel to the world.
The expensive church buildings will be crushed on the Day of destruction. So, let us stop church extravagance, and spend our funds to help the poor.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”
5. Church Politics
a. The poor people have less attention of the Pastor, but the rich enjoy more attention of the Pastor.
b. The rich are giving altar post such as Elder, Deacon and Pastor in the church, but the poor are limited.
c. The chair of the rich is different from the ‘ordinary’ people in the church.
“My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality… you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool, have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:1-4)
“If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.” (John 15:19)
The church should come together to speak in one voice. And enough of these adopted worldly styles that pollute the church every day. The church should do things differently from the world.
