To clarify, I’m not attacking the church. I’m just discussing things as they exist today in the church community on a broad basis. There are many different churches and all churches can’t be under the same roof, so to speak. This discussion is about the state of the church as a whole and the direction of the church as God moves forward.
The Oxford dictionary defines a church as – a building used for public Christian worship. Society views the church as a physical structure. But that definition doesn’t fit what is found in scripture. I’m not arguing that a building isn’t sometimes necessary for gathering as the Body of Christ, but the church isn’t by a structure.
Can structures meet the needs of believers? If the only need is to have a place to meet then it would, but believers need much more than a meeting place.
What is God’s objective for the church? Is it a place to entertain or serve? Is it to be admired for its architecture or its faith? Does God want big crowds or humble hearts? Is the church in our world today the church that Jesus saw from his Cross two thousand years ago?
Richard Halverson, a twentieth-century theologian, pastor, and writer broke down the historical journey of “The Church” through society when he wrote;
“In the beginning, the church was a fellowship of men and women centering on the living Christ. Then the church moved to Greece where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome where it became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe, where it became a culture. And then it came to America where it became an enterprise.”
- A Fellowship centered on Christ
- A Philosophy centered on Debate
- An Institution centered on Authority
- A Culture centered on Country & Doctrines
- An Enterprise centered on Competition & Finance
What is the next stage of the church’s journey? God is already setting a new direction.
Let’s compare the Organic church to the non-organic church. Here are my three discussion points related to the moving of God’s Spirit on the church through history and going forward;
- Is the church in decline
- Standing Against the Darkness
- Function over Form
Discussion Point #1 – Is the church in decline?
Recent polls show faith in God in America is at its lowest level ever. 19% of Americans don’t believe in God. The biggest age group drop in Americans is seen in 18 to 29 yr. old’s.
The poll results among all religions in America are as follows;
- Christian (70%)
- Non-Christian (6%) Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.
- Atheist (3%)
- Agnostic (4%)
- Don’t know (17%)
Of millennials who grew up in the church only 8% consider themselves resilient Christians. A resilient Christian is someone who attends church once a month. The number of Americans that have no religious affiliation, which means they don’t believe, don’t think, or have any desire for God, is 30%. By 2045, more Americans will have no interest in God than those who do. Those non-interested in God are labeled “Nones”. They are mostly under the age of 30 and they identify themselves as atheist, agnostic, or nothing.
Why is this happening?
Religious leaders in America give the following reasons why faith in God is declining?
- Not enough time to consider God or spiritual things at church
- Parents aren’t insisting that children go to church
- Young people aren’t nurtured in the church’s ways
- People don’t have a relationship with the church
- There is a lack of practicing church traditions
- COVID has caused isolation, church separation, and doubt
- Churches have “dumbed down” the faith through cultural accommodation
- Church speak on Sunday doesn’t translate to actions on Monday
What do all these excuses have in common? Church leadership is blaming people for not going to church. Do the church and its leaders have a responsibility for this situation? Are people uninterested in God or are they uninterested in the platform used to present God?
Is the church in decline? Yes, but it’s not declining not of believers, it’s declining because of its leaders.
But, two of the reasons given by church leaders for the declining church numbers are relevant to the cause for the decline;
- Churches have “dumbed down” the faith through cultural accommodation
- Church speak on Sunday doesn’t translate to actions on Monday
With regard to cultural accommodation, American society is being integrated into the culture of Christ rather than the culture of Christ being integrated into American society. Rather than the beliefs and values of Christ being assimilated into American society the beliefs and values of American society is being assimilated into the culture of Christ. Church culture (beliefs & practices) is being transformed by American society (organized purpose), rather than American society being transformed by church culture.
This is happening because the church has an identity issue. The church has lost its way.
Jesus had the same problem with Jewish society. When he overturned the money changer tables in the temple it was because cultural accommodation creep into their religion by accepting the practice of money changing a place of prayer.
Cultural accommodation isn’t about what we do or don’t do, it’s about what we will or we won’t do.
Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus and they were ordered by Jewish leaders not to preach in his name anymore. They decided they will obey God and they won’t obey the Jewish leaders.
Cultural accommodation is about the values of Christ and our faith in those values. When I became a believer 50 years ago I read my Bible at work. I attended a Bible study at lunchtime. When we are offered a promotion do we tell our boss, “I need to pray about it before I give you an answer.” Do we ever offer a Godly perspective in a business meeting? That is cultural accommodation in the wrong direction. How much of your conversation has Jesus in it?
How does the church help believers on Sunday with these difficult situations? This is why “Sunday speak is Monday weak.” The church doesn’t provide organic spiritual direction for living the culture of Christ in a society that is opposed to “too much God”.
I think we can agree that the church is in decline. But as we see the church declining we are also seeing the world in crisis. Can these two events be related?
Discussion Point #2: Standing Against the Darkness:
As the body of Christ, what is our organic spiritual response to the church & the world? In Matthew 5:13-16 Christ says that believers are the salt of the earth. Salt was used as a preservative. Believers keep the world from rotting away. But believers have to speak up for the spiritual standards of the kingdom of heaven.
The spiritual standards of the kingdom of heaven are a light in a world of darkness. If we hide those spiritual standards, then there will appear as dark as the rest of the world. The “Good Works” that Jesus speaks of in verse 13 means an active good. Believers have to actively participate in being salt and light in a work of darkness.
Paul further expounds on the effort that believers must exert in our battle against the darkness of the world in Ephesians 6:11-13. Paul says our battle isn’t against flesh and blood but against the influence of flesh and blood.
- The Devil – spiritual forces of evil (Accuser, slanders, chaos, instability, insecurity, violence, fear, conspiracy theories, etc.)
- Rulers – chiefs of any powerful world application (governments, institutions, information, education, religions, think tanks, Tech, etc.)
- Authorities – (influencers) academicians, scientists, climatologists, sociologists, politicians, economists, theologians, etc.
- Cosmic Powers – World Ism’s (Communism, Terrorism, Capitalism, Globalism, Idealism, Secularism, Industrialism, Mediaism, etc.)
The church is failing to recognize the true enemy and therefore not resisting the true weapons used against Christ and his Body. Instead, the church is picking sides and allying with those we should be resisting.
In Revelation 3:14-19 Christ told the church in Laodicea they needed to resist and withstand the darkness in the world. Christ called them “lukewarm” because they weren’t being salt and light in the world. If they weren’t going to do what they were called by Christ to do, then what good were they? Christ told them to “Buy from me gold refined by fire… be zealous and repent.” Gold is wealth, but true wealth is the wealth of the martyrs and disciples who stood against and resisted the dark influences in the world.
Believers face darkness every hour of their lives; at school, at work, at home, and at social gathers. Why is the church irrelevant, it isn’t equipping believers to resist the darkness they face minute by minute. In turn, believers leave the battlefield and cover their light. The salt and light are losing their purpose.
Discussion Point #3: Function over Form:
Is the church for believers or are believers for the church? Has the church become a legal obligation rather than a community where believers can find edification, exhortation, and support?
To understand the function of the church let’s look at what Jesus said in Mark 2:27. A similar statement regarding the church would be, “The church was made for man, not man for the church.”
To understand how the Sabbath relates to the church let’s look at Matthew 12:1-8. In verses 1 through we have the story of the disciples picking and eating grain on the Sabbath. This was illegal by Jewish law. No work was to be done on the Sabbath. No effort was to be exerted, including cleaning. You could walk but you couldn’t run.
But Jesus points out to the Pharisees that in 1 Samuel 21:1-6 David eats the consecrated offering bread of the House of God. It was lawful only for the priests to eat the bread of the Presence.
Jesus goes on to point out in verses 5 through 8 that even the priests sacrifice and attend to their priestly duties on the Sabbath and they are guiltless.
The religious leaders constructed absurd restrictions around the Sabbath. Jesus showed them the intention of the Sabbath by doing miracles on the Sabbath. His contention was that rituals were secondary to the primary concern for human needs. David wasn’t guilty because he ate the bread and the priests aren’t breaking the Sabbath by working.
The bottom line that Jesus was pointing out is that good work is not illegal. When Jesus quotes the phrase “I desire mercy, and not sacrifice” to the Pharisees he was telling them that the needs of humanity override the law. Function overrides form.
In saying that something greater than the temple is here he meant that the principle of the Sabbath was greater than the law of the Sabbath. The principle being the Sabbath was a “kindness” from God to man, not a burden. But the religious leaders focused on the form of the Sabbath rather than the function and made the Sabbath a burden instead of kindness.
The Sabbath was created for man as was all the law. Human needs come first. The church was given to mankind as a kindness, but it has become a sacrifice. Does the church today meet our needs? If not, then it should be changed. Does the church today stand against the powers of darkness, the evil forces?
Are believers being sacrificed on the altars of traditions, rituals, dogma, inclusion, and acceptance, to maintain institutions instead of supporting believers in the resistance of Satan, and the rulers, authorities, and cosmic powers in this world?
A “Living” church is what is required today. A church that breathes relevance into the lives of believers and edifies and exhorts them to organic spiritual growth to promote resistance to the darkness that attacks us all. This is achievable because Jesus said it is achievable in Revelation 3:19.
God loves his children, and he’s giving the church warning. Change the direction and stand against the darkness of this world. Put function over the form of yesterday.
What does this all Mean? We are being called by Christ to live an organic spiritual life within the culture of Christ, which is his body, so we can resist the dark direction influencing the world against God and be a light in that darkness. By faith, we must passionately follow the Spiritual guidance of Christ as his disciples.
What Can We Do? Make a list of how society influences you away from what you will and won’t do because of your faith in Jesus Christ. Discuss your list with another believer. Determine how you can make your faith shine in the darkness. Pray publicly (meals, people, etc.), Thank God publicly, start a Bible study at work, among friends, and at school, put needs over rules, kindness over judgment.
Talk about Jesus with others, seek the will of the Spirit of Christ before all things, and always be prepared to show the mercy of God to all.
