American Church Trends

The state of the american church is devastating. Yet, when Gordon spoke Tuesday night about the church as a whole it was amazing to hear that the problems we have in America are not unlike any other. They have the same degrees of trouble in Scotland also. I guess when I was there I did not see it with the discerning eye he has. I was more caught up in that they are so deeply rooted in christian history, I could not see past their decline. Brad taught from Rev 3.

"And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation. 15 “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! 16 So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 17 For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. 19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. 21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. 22 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

Wow - these words pierced. I have read this passage many times and yet it had a totally different meaning Tuesday night. It was staggering to think upon the disarray of the church today. All of the passage gives a stern word of wisdom to those living in complacentcy. I find myself all to often too comfortable in my skin. Yet, I had never really applied the passage as it should be, a passage speaking to a group, a church, possibly the American church. When I finished reading it I saw the last verse, let him who has ears hear, I began thinking about that verse. Everyone has ears, yet how many are in tune with the Father? As christians we all have the capability to follow God's will and hear His voice, but many of us have gotten comfortable with turning off our hearing aids. It is crazy. Preachers will preach from the pulpit without fresh words from God. Families will function as the world demands without regard. People will live without careful instruction from the Lord. We act in impulse, but rarely contrast our actions to scripture. We cannot grasp the sufficiency of scripture and turn to many other things to answer our questions, self-help boks, counseling, etc. I am not saying these are bad things, but many have not exhausted the scriptures before putting on the help light. Oh how this troubles me. People are so content with not hearing and waiting on the Lord, reading the Word is laborous. It troubles me to see artificial growth measured by less than godly means. As churches grow and programs expand, many times spiritual decay goes unnoticed. People learn not to discern the will of God, or rely on the truth that they are part of the royal priesthood, or draw on scripture for guidance, but turn to other softer, more comfortable things. We know that Christ is the Word. It is also living and acive, sharper than a two edged sword. Christ is also the Bread of Life. As christians, living without partaking of the word, is learning to live on starvation. It all makes little to no sense.