The Successful Church...

This topic is problematic because everyone has their own idea or definition of success, and it isn't always the opposite of failure--there is wiggle room or spiritual no-man's-land where it is not definitive either way, but only a value judgment call by subjective members or observers. Success doesn't necessarily imply numbers or high membership rolls, though this may be an element or sign of success, as it keeps a tally on the numbers in Acts, for instance, going from 120 in the upper room to 5,000.

Some megachurches are failures at being what a church body is meant to be--a family, an organism and not an organization, and an open door to the Great Commission. If it isn't in the process of fulfilling the marching orders of the Great Commission, it is a failure. Numbers is a byproduct when we aim to do God's will, not when we specialize in gathering "crowds."

We must be able to participate and interact with fellowship and service in the body according to our gifts, and not just observe others doing the work of ministry and mission on our behalf. We are all called to be ministers of reconciliation and to contribute according to our unique gift or gifts and not be passive, but active in the church. And that implies we don't worship by proxy or vicariously.

The purpose of the church is given in the Great Commission to evangelize, equip for ministry, and build up the body of Christ to fulfill the mission to the world. The onus and responsibility for the Great Commission aren't just the pastor's but shared by all--each with a different gift, but the same Spirit. The church's job description involves discipleship, worship, and fellowship, and even one-on-one mentors.

Only when the body is functional and not ultimately dependent on any ONE gifted teacher or preacher, that even might have the charisma or be celebrated, do we have a genuine church--we don't want to build cult-like followings or personality cults, based on the teaching of one individual, no matter how gifted. Some megachurches are just crowds and you can get lost in the shuffle going there, being completely incognito or unnoticed. One should always wonder what he or she can contribute to the church's ministry to the believer or mission to the lost.

The church is to be obedient to God's Word and not try to focus on being like the world at large, or be the "church of what's happening now." There are many fads that spread throughout the body and some churches don't think they are in tune with the times if they don't follow the latest thing.

How does a church grow? By the faithful preaching of the gospel, the power is in the gospel message and it should never get old to preach or to hear. Paul strove to know nothing but Christ and Christ crucified. The lost should be able to come to the church assembly and be convicted and find out the way of salvation--this is the raison d'etre of the church!

The church's function is twofold: pastoral and prophetic to the body, while its ministry is to them, its mission is to the world. They should have a relative message to the world and an edifying message for the believer. Prophecy entails interpreting the times and making people aware of what's going on in the world, not foretelling, but forthtelling. This is because the church is the "pillar and ground of truth," according to 1 Tim. 3:15 (and all truth, according to Augustine, is God's truth), and Christians are to be the salt and light in the world, but not of it (cf. John 15:19).

Being faithful is more important in God's eyes than success in the eyes of the world; small churches can be successful because God can require some just to be faithful in little, according to their opportunities and gifts. The most important sign of a successful church is a church that is alive and vibrant and it is apparent that the Spirit is moving in the body and speaks through the preachers with edification. Jesus severely rebuked the church of Laodicea for being "lukewarm" or lackluster and lackadaisical in their worship, which was tepid and lacked spirit--We must worship "in spirit" (cf. John 4:24): "God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth."

If people confess that they met God or that they sensed the moving of the Spirit during worship, God is alive in that church--there are many a moribund church that needs revival, on the other hand. If the individual members are healthy and walking with the Lord, the byproduct will be a healthy church. We want to be careful that we don't get so seeker-sensitive that people become converted to the program, instead of converted to Christ.

Don't ever lose track of keeping the main thing the main thing, our fulfillment of the Great Commission. This is why the social gospel is a misnomer, and we are not to turn stones into bread, to use metaphoric language. The church is in the business of changing lives through Jesus Christ and doing it one person at a time, and no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. It is a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints. and no perfect people need to apply.

Samuel said to Saul that "to obey was better than sacrifice" (cf. 1 Samuel 15:22f) and this means avoiding the Dance of the Pious or going through the motions. There are too many Christians "playing church" and even see it solely as a social event and/or opportunity to make friends. We are to obey in spirit and in truth and according to the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law, as in legalism. God is still looking for that church willing to do His will--trust and obey. This can only be done when believers realize their duty doesn't end at church attendance; which is one of the biggest misconceptions in the body. Caveat: the church should never get complacent and feel it's arrived at success--there's always room for improvement; perfection is the standard, the direction is the test.


The purpose of the church is manifold and is accomplished corporately and to be done as a family united in Christ: The mission of the Great Commission consists of a mission to the outsider or lost (evangelism), discipleship of members and attendees of the corporate body, and ministry or exercise of the gifts (including preaching or pastoral/prophetic gifts) to the church body, while observing the Great Commandment that necessitates worship of God (loving God) and mission to the lost (loving our neighbor) or what's called turning stones into bread, but not without keeping the main thing the main thing and eyes off the mission, for without vision (i.e., the mission statement or goal) the people perish (cf. Prov. 29:18). It has been well said that a great Christian has a great commitment to the Great Commission and the Great Commandment., which define the fivefold function of the church (worship, mission, discipleship, ministry, and evangelism). Soli Deo Gloria!

The Wonderful Spirit-energized Life

"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:17-18, ESV).
"[F]or we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7, ESV). 
"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25, ESV).
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:7, ESV).

"TRUE HOLINESS CONSISTS OF DOING THE WILL OF GOD WITH A SMILE."  --MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA, CANONIZED AND NOBEL PEACE PRIZE WINNER 

All Christians have the power to walk in the Spirit with the Lord all the days of their lives, not just in church or among their friends and fellow believers--but even with the sinner!  "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God"  (cf. Gen. 6:9). That would look good on any resume!   Likewise, "Enoch walked with God, and was not, for God took him"--he was translated into heaven like being raptured!   To enjoy a continuing, ongoing, progressive fellowship with God the Father and God the Son through the resident Spirit is a blessing and privilege all believers share.  It is good that Jesus left us the legacy of the Spirit so we would learn to lean on Him and realize we are actually better off that way than if He were still residing on earth. He promised not to leave us "orphans" but to send another Comforter, the Holy Spirit!   Few believers avail themselves of the fullness of the Spirit and find their otherwise unrealized potential.

We all have an innate ability to walk with God and are commanded to continually be filled with the Spirit from Day One of our salvation. To do this we must keep short accounts with God and readily confess all known sin as we get convicted, not letting them get stacked up and having a backlog or spiritual "docket."  Martin Luther mentioned progressive repentance in his Ninety-Five Theses as his first objection!  In God's economy, emptying comes before filling and repentance before faith; they go hand in hand:  if one doesn't believe, repentance is to blame; if one can't repent, belief is the issue!  All in all, it's not always how big our faith but how thorough our repentance.  "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear" (cf. Psa. 66:18).  We must come clean and fully surrender!  We don't have permission to live in the flesh, but a new power and energy to live in the Spirit!

The genuine Spirit-filled believer isn't one who goes by feeling or walks about on Cloud Nine or on some perpetual, religious high, but must learn to lean on his faith in times of testing and trial, for his faith must be tested, being more precious than silver or gold.  Lewis Sperry Chafer, the founder of Dallas Theological Seminary, wrote a book entitled He That is Spiritual in 1918 that was a bombshell in the doctrinal schools because he introduced the terminology of carnal believers as a separate class of believer (i.e., not spiritual).

There is no dichotomy in the body, for all believers are spiritual and all are subject to becoming carnal or getting out of fellowship or falling into temporary sin unless confessed.  A believer who thinks it's all right to live in a carnal lifestyle needs to repent and surrender to the lordship of Christ, not just call himself carnal.

But one thing is certain, Jesus left us the legacy of peace in turmoil and faith to move mountains as it were.  We are more than conquerors in the power of the Spirit as a fringe benefit of salvation.  The primary perk of salvation is inner peace with God and oneself.  It is a proven fact that one can face any trial if one has peace about it!

In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is the primary manifestation of the Spirit-filled Christian.  We are to become fruit inspectors of our fruit and we also are to know others by their fruits!  These two are different meanings of fruit since we judge others by their actions since we cannot see their thinking and heart's condition.  False teachers will be exposed by their fruit or deeds!

It is a known fact that those who know their God are able to do great exploits in His name and have great energy for God (cf. Dan. 11:32).  Having great thoughts of praise for God is another sign of filling (cf. Dan. 4:35).  Spirit-filled believers display boldness for God and are content in their relationship, as we stand up for the truth and fly our Christian colors and realize that God meets all our needs in Christ so that He will give us everything we need to do His will (cf. Phil. 4:19).

Athanasius is known as taking such a stand against Arianism that he said he'd be "Athanasius contra mundum" if the whole world embraced the heresy.  It is oh so very important to be vigilant of heresy creeping into the church!    Likewise, Ignatius and Polycarp, two disciples of John the Elder, gave up their lives as martyrs rather than do homage to the emperor Trajan.

When you hate your life without Christ and only live for the glory of God you are being filled.  With Christ at the helm, life is worth the risk and the venture.  Just like Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ..." (cf. Phil. 1:21).  That's the essence of spirituality:  to not think or dwell on ourselves, but to be overcome with thoughts of Christ and to be obsessed with divine thoughts from the Spirit, not selfishness--we don't think less of ourselves, but of ourselves less!  We live for the glory of God to be displayed in us as His vessels of honor!

In the power of the Spirit, we find that energy to do His will that cannot be done in the energy of the flesh!  We have the power of God at work within us both to do and to will of His good pleasure (cf. Phil. 2:13).  In fact, everything done solely in the flesh is in vain and cannot be rewarded!  Paul would boast of nothing but of what Christ accomplished through him (cf. Rom. 15:18).  The world may ask us, "Where do we get our strength?"  Our answer must be that we have a secret:  We can do all things through Him who strengthens us!  (Cf. Phil. 4:13).  The Christian life is not hard, it's been said, but impossible!  We must learn to seek His face and find God's strength to do His bidding.  That power resides inside us because we all possess the same Spirit, and it's not how much of the Spirit you have, but how much of you He has!  John 15:5 says that apart from Christ we can do nothing!

That's why the Spirit is called the Comforter and the Paraclete, or the One called alongside.  We must learn by experience how God speaks to us and to realize that the primary M.O. is the Word of God and our relationship to the Word is an indicator of how in tune we are to His will.  We are all anointed by the Spirit (cf. 1 John 2:20-21) and need no one to teach us these things if we only get into the Word God will illuminate it for us.  One telltale sign of the apostles was that when they were filled with the Spirit they spoke the Word of God with boldness.  The Spirit-filled believer has his antennae sensitized to the Word and realizes when God is speaking to him through it by conviction and enlightenment. He will open our eyes to wonderful things in the Word!

Only the power of the Spirit transforming their lives can explain the way the apostles turned the Roman world topsy-turvy!  That was the biggest miracle to witness--their conversions from cowards to bold witnesses for the resurrection.   Today we don't so much as witness the resurrection but we do see the miracles of transformed lives and what God can do.  We must realize that what He's done for others He can do for us! 

Our prayer ought to be:  Just a closer walk with Jesus!  Richard of Chichester prayed to help people "to know Jesus Christ more clearly, to love him more dearly, and to follow him more nearly."  Job was admonished:  "Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee"  (cf. Job 22:21, KJV).  Brother Lawrence, a monk in a French Carmelite monastery in the seventeenth century, practiced the presence of God throughout the day no matter what he did, even washing dishes according to his book, The Practice of the Presence of God.  

We must realize the divine order of events:  fact, faith, feeling!  We must first get our thinking straightened out and know right to think right, then we are equipped to do the right thing, and finally, we will reap the benefits of feeling right!   A good litmus test is having peace as Christ's legacy (cf. John 14:27).  We must rejoice in the Lord always as Habakkuk said, "[Y]et I will rejoice in the LORD..."  (Hab. 3:18, ESV).   And Nehemiah said, "... [F]or the joy of the LORD is your strength"  (Neh. 8:10, ESV). 

NB:  THE ONLY HINDRANCE TO ENJOYING THE WONDERFUL SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE IS THE AMOUNT OF YOUR SURRENDER, AND IN HOW CLOSELY YOU PAY ATTENTION TO THE PROMPTINGS OF THE SPIRIT TO DO GOD'S WILL.  TEST THE SPIRIT:  IS THERE A SPIRIT OF THANKSGIVING AND OF PRAISE TO GOD?  WHEN WE GET OUR EYES OFF OURSELVES AND DWELL ON THE GLORY OF GOD IT HUMBLES US!   

CAVEAT: DON'T ASSOCIATE THE FILLING WITH FEELINGS PER SE, THEY MAY ACCOMPANY IT AND MAY NOT FOR GOD REQUIRES US TO WALK BY FAITH AND STEP OUT IN FAITH TRUSTING THAT HE'S WITH US TO EMPOWER US.  ("BY FAITH ABRAHAM OBEYED!")     Soli Deo Gloria! 

The Church With A Reputation...

"... When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.  Let all things be done for building up" (1 Cor. 14:26, ESV). 
"I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD" (Psa. 122:1, KJV). 
"[F]or there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognized" (1 Cor. 11:19, ESV). 

NB:  ALL CHURCHES HAVE A REPUTATION;  THE JURY MAY STILL BE OUT AS TO WHAT KIND THOUGH!  SPURGEON WAS RIGHT:  THE CHURCH HAS SO LITTLE INFLUENCE ON THE WORLD BECAUSE THE WORLD HAS SO MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE CHURCH! ALSO, THERE IS A SOCIAL COMMISSION ONLY IN LIGHT OF BEING THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD--WE MUST NOT TURN STONES INTO BREAD AND NOT MEET SPIRITUAL NEEDS AS GOD OPENS DOORS.  

Sardis, the church mentioned in the Book of Revelation, had a reputation that it was alive; but it was dead!  Even today many people mistake the church's vitality and life because of its "social gospel".  They are "turning stones into bread" and not preaching the Word in tandem.  We ought not to get a reputation of do-goodery!  Even Christ didn't want to get the reputation of being a miracle worker.  They are meant to go hand in hand!  The Spirit-filled (energized) and consecrated church bears fruit and has a witness to the outsider that it is against sin and for Christ--it will take a stand lest it loses its focus by default.  Christ through the church offers hope to a lost world!

The Bible says that we ought to preach the Word in season and out, and the gospel is always relevant, front and center.  They keep the main thing the main thing and encourage members to get with the program.  This can only be accomplished by the power of the Spirit:  "... Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" (cf. Zech. 4:6, ESV).  But what we seem to see in the Evangelical Right is a loss of its bearings to forget about the moral compass of the rule of law it must set, and not keeping the main thing the main thing--we are salt and light, not the sanitizer of the world!  The church's calling and mission is to complete the Great Commission, not to get sidetracked with a political agenda.  Baptists traditionally and firmly adhere to the belief of separation of church and state, as one theologian said, when they are joined, "it's good for the state but bad for the church!"

A church can have quite the reputation and be dead spiritually, even a megachurch or media empire can become apostate or heretical!  But authentic fellowships are organisms, not organizations.  We can be edified in a crowd, for instance, but not be able to function in our capacity as believers using our spiritual gifts.   The church must become a living entity and that means spiritual growth:  life means growth and removal of what's dead!  This doesn't necessarily mean growth in members!  One must not compare ministries and size isn't the measuring stick.  There will always be those who "play" church and go through the motions as they "nod to God" once a week singing "Onward Christian Soldiers," then go AWOL on Monday. 

God clearly condemns lip service and halfhearted worship.  We must "worship the Father in spirit and in truth"--that means being filled with the Spirit and with integrity and correctness of doctrine--not heresy.  We must know the Author of the book we are reading and studying, and not for academic reasons.   Even though doctrine is important, it's not everything (necessary, but not sufficient), one's heart must be in the right place.  We must not give place to faction and contention over disputable points and gray areas, and reason from the Scriptures as the arbiter of truth and final word of authority. Sectarianism is a sin:  As Augustine's dictum says, "In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity."

The vibrant church isn't for socializing:  we attend for fellowship, worship, edification, discipline, getting our spiritual batteries charged and energized, taking spiritual inventory, getting a spiritual check-up, and the opportunity to serve with our gift.   The functional church displays the gifts of the Spirit as people enjoy each other and submit to one another in the Lord as unto Christ; i.e., no one lords it over the others, but in love preferring one another.

Love is manifest and people will say, "Behold, how they love one another."  They will know we are Christians by our love, not our bottom line or 401(k)!  Sinners attending a sound church will get convicted and not feel comfortable in their sin, but they will realize they don't have to live in it but can have a way through life without sin controlling them.  Different strokes for different folks; i.e., different denominations.  In sum, we never should judge one another for their experience with the Lord or church affiliation; for there's no one-size-fits-all for worship!   (No church can claim a monopoly on truth or doctrine.)    Soli Deo Gloria!

Getting Something Out Of Church...

Most believers go to church for the wrong reason: For comfort; for fellowship; for making friends; for spreading their agenda or ministry; for music; for a sermon; ad infinitum. We may go to church for the wrong motive, but we ought, nevertheless, go: "Let us not abandon the assembling together of ourselves as is the manner of some (cf. Heb. 10:25), but encourage one another." Today, the typical Christian will die for a church he won't attend! God wants us to have the right motives, but can work with us even if our motives are wrong--He wants us in church and that is where we belong.

The church is an organism (a living entity) and not just an organization or a business run by some well-intentioned do-gooders. All the members need each other and no one has all the gifts necessary to make the body function. We all bring our gifts to share with the body or family we are part of and contribute as God has equipped us (cf. 1 Cor. 14:26). Our gifts are for the edification of the body, and not to be selfishly used for our own service or profits. We do not peddle the Word of God but make it available without price and without cost. Our ministry is to the body and in another vein, our mission is to the unchurched or unbeliever.

Someone might say, "I didn't get anything out of worship today!" That person went for the wrong intent and needs to examine his motives and heart and the doctrines pertaining to the church's raison d'etre. Christ established the church for the edification of the body and the dissemination of the gospel message to the world at large. The church's primary goal is to fulfill the Great Commission.

When you go to church do you feel better equipped to do that? You may need a spiritual workout or even a checkup!
Worship isn't passive, but active, it is contradictory to listen to worship because worship is giving and not receiving. It is an invitation to worship and an opportunity to prepare our hearts. And God has commanded all creation to worship its Creator and corporate worship can only be done in the assembly of believers known as the local church. There is a special presence of Christ when two or three are gathered together in His name.

The key to worship is surrender and the more one loves God, the more he has to give in worship--there must be a relationship there to build on. In God's economy, the way to be filled is to be emptied first! Some churches teach that there should be no holds barred in worship and everyone should feel free to be as spiritual as they are inclined to be and not inhibited or concerned about what others think, but the truth is that there is no one-size-fits-all worship service and everyone is at a different "stage" or phase, in there spiritual journey and walk in the Lord, and we cannot compare ourselves with each other. "Everything should be done decently and in order," (God is not the author of confusion).

Everything we do in church is worship: Singing spiritual songs and hymns; giving of our tithes and offerings; fellowshipping and reaching out to others; serving with our gift, and even listening to the sermon is worship! "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).

We go to church to contribute something of our spiritual gift and to receive from other's gifts in exchange--it is mutual and we need each other; no one is an island to himself. We only get what we put into it and we shouldn't go unprepared, like showing up without any spiritual preparation or devotion. We all can minister to one another and reach out to those in need with our gift.


Finally, to get the most out of worship, we must empty ourselves, or stop dwelling on ourselves, and get our eyes on Jesus. The gateway is to focus on others and not be self-centered but reach out in love to one another. Emptying comes before filling, and being filled with the Spirit is imperative because worship is unnatural and we can only do it in Spirit and in truth (cf. John 4:24).

To conclude: We are to be active listeners: Listening with a purpose like we want to learn and be challenged. We don't go to church solely to hear a wonderful sermon and get uplifted, but that may be part of the equation of well-balanced church attendance. This may involve taking notes or discussing the sermons afterward--anything that reinforces it and it doesn't end up in oblivion after church. You will find that the more in the Word you are the more interesting you will find the sermons and the ability to follow them critically and positively. God commands our respect and attention, and it is sacrilegious to purposely be a distraction and cause others to lose focus on the message. Remember, God has anointed the minister and has something in mind for you to learn and apply directly to your life. Soli Deo Gloria!

The Seeker-sensitive Church...

The church is "the pillar and ground of truth," not a safe haven for the lost and happy place for the sinner, who must become convicted and find the truth. The church is not to be consumer-driven or aim to please everyone and become all things to all people. It can be sound in its doctrine and still miss the boat (it's necessary but not sufficient), for the most important goal is to have the heart in the right place, not to have one's doctrine impeccably correct, which can become a source of pride and faction. Seekers are not to become comfortable in their sin, but not feel singled out and judged by the members. Church is always in a state of renewal and reform; hence, the slogan of the Reformers: Semper reformanda or always reforming. Martin Luther said he had only begun his reforms when dying.

The marching orders of the church should always be front and center and the biblical evangel is never to be neglected, keeping the main thing the main thing--the fulfilling of the Great Commission. The church has a duty to preach the Word and to disciple the family that gathers for spiritual renewal and checkups and to exercise their gifts. Church should throw out the welcome mat to sinners and be ready to accept people for who they are, after all, it's a hospital for sinners, not a hotel for saints, and no perfect people need to apply. Remembering that Christ loved us while we were yet sinners and enemies of the cross! We learn to love by showing it to those in need of it and the most difficult recipients. Christ is the friend of sinners and those who realize their sin are on the road to recovery and salvation. But this doesn't mean the preaching ought to be watered down, dumbed down, nor its gospel domesticated and contextualized to suit the fancy of the listeners. Let God do the convicting and He will!

The church is more than an organization; it's an organism of a body that functions in a synergistic manner as a family to fulfill the Great Commission. The body together can accomplish more than individuals can solo. The evangelical church has become The Church of What's Happening Now doing its own thing, trying to be popular and see how big a crowd it can amass. What the latest thing is and seems to be the focus is being all things to all people, and not the gospel message. We don't go to church for socializing, but fellowshipping, worshiping, edification, discipling, and ministering--basically getting our spiritual batteries charged and our growth assessed and appraised as we examine ourselves and take a spiritual inventory. We are there to prepare for the Lord's battle and get equipped for our mission to the lost.

The truly seeker-sensitive church is one where the truth is preached and defended, not where it's watered down and avoided. The sinner needs to hear the gospel which should be the consummation and finale of every sermon. Church is to be the hospital for saints and those who realize their sin. Outreach starts with the truth being preached as the expository Word of God. Preachers ought to be biblicists of the first order--men of the Book--who rely on the Word and the Spirit, not their own acumen, scholarship, talents, academic training, for many preachers have been effective without seminary training, e.g., Spurgeon, Moody. God always honors the preaching of the Word which will not come back void and be used to God's glory to convict and edify. Doctrine is important for vitality, but church shouldn't be content just to be doctrinally correct and pure--orthopraxy (right actions) are just as important as orthodoxy (right belief).

Sinners ought not to be comfortable in their sin and realize they need salvation and came to the right place! Remember, the church is a functioning family and builds relationships, missions, and ministries. Whenever the body gathers in the name of Jesus, each member should feel free to exercise their gift and feel like themselves in their comfort zone. The seeker is the one who is out of his element and should be convicted of this. Megachurches often miss the point not seeing the church as a living, functioning body, and become some sort of a personality cult focusing on the preacher, who is more of an entrepreneur, and not the mission and gathering crowds, not families. If there is no opportunity for the member to serve, then he's in a crowd, not a ministering body that meets members needs and exercises the gifts. In a healthy church, there is a place for everyone and everyone feels welcome and part of the family! Soli Deo Gloria!

The Church Of What's Happening Now,,,

Today's church is not really growing, in fact, it is in a state of decline, and what is happening is just a relocation of the saved from dying churches to ones tuned into the newest thing. We refer to this as The Church Of What's Happening Now! You may even find coffee bars selling lattes and bookstores! They may also be into self-promotion, marketing their ministry on the media and the church may be built upon one personality who has a reputation and this is akin to being a personality cult--especially if the pastor is "in charge" of the one-man show. Many churches are reverting to Catholicism in that the members don't search things out in a Berean style (cf. Acts 17:11), and accept the "authority" of the preacher much like the "cult of death" (i.e., The People's Temple) did to Jim Jones, who was said to speak the Word of God, so that you didn't even need a Bible in church anymore. What happened to the words of Martin Luther: "I dissent, I disagree, I protest?"

Why do you think we have church history to study? But to avoid the same mistakes and to build on the past, and also to keep that which is good (i.e., 1 Thess. 5:21, ESV, says, "[But] test everything, hold fast what is good"). A vibrant, living, and growing church has members who exercise their spiritual gifts and no one is self-sufficient or even thinks they don't need the body. The Reformers said that the church was to be Semper reformanda, or always reforming (there's always room for improvement). Our mindset never should alter from this focus of reformation. We should never think we've arrived, but we are to preserve the better part.

The church has been known to turn a deaf ear to what's going on politically, and the converse, to get overly involved in partisanship. The Bible is not a manual for government reform, but Christians should have a biblical worldview and not any secular one. When you leave God out of the reckoning disaster is sure to follow suit. Remember, the German church turned a deaf ear to Hitler and didn't stick up for rights and morality while they had the chance. The church is the salt and light of the nation and God uses it to dispense His grace. You can say a lot of things about the Roman Catholic Church, but they are more involved in outreach and dispensing mercy and good deeds than any other church. We are not just to minister to the spirit, but to the soul and body as well. Christ has no hands but ours to reach out to a lost world.

In the modern church, we see many who are "holier-than-thou" and have forgotten what it's like to have a relationship with Jesus. The only solution is to get into the Word see themselves for who they are and repent. Yes, repentance is not a one-time event, but progressive and we are to live in a state of repentance, just like we live in a state of faith. Living by faith and walking by faith is the only way to grow in Christ. We must keep our eyes on Jesus and get reacquainted with Him on a personal basis. Even seasoned believers can grow distant and become estranged. That's why we all need the body to give us regular spiritual checkups and to stay in sync with Christ. No one is an island, a lone wolf, a spiritual Lone Ranger, or a rock in God's eyes--we are all members one of another. Remember, one doesn't defect from Christ as a believer, but gradually slips away and before you know it, he's backslidden. As an example, he doesn't rebel against the church, but misses on occasion and gradually comes to the conclusion he can get along without it. "[Not] neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some..." (Heb. 10:25, ESV).

Today's mainstream Protestants are becoming apostates, buying into all the liberal worldview and agenda, even some are known as the Christian left, as opposed to the evangelical right. The evangelicals are soon becoming outnumbered and few truly independent churches exist. It is increasingly difficult to find a vibrant, growing fundamentalist church. Members are transferring from one church to another, and the net effect is zero on the church at large. Christendom is having little impact on the world because the world is having so much effect on the church.

This is where spiritual self-sufficiency or complacency gets a hold on a believer who falls away from fellowship--and this is precisely what Christ wants of us--us--i.e., to have fellowship with us. But we must open the door--Christians are the ones who've opened the door! There are believers who are out of fellowship, living in disobedience, but Jesus loves them and the proof of that is His discipline and rebuke. The verse in Revelation 3:20 primarily refers to unbelievers who need to repent and let Christ reign in their hearts, but it can be applied to believers to help them find the locus of their disillusionment or disenchantment with the church and with Christ. Soli Deo Gloria!

Churchianity...

Some Christians "play" church and go through the motions of worship and never go for the right reason--to worship God--they say, "I didn't get much out of worship today!" (maybe they should concentrate on what they put into it). God condemns us for having worship without our heart in it or hypocritical worship, this is just "memorizing the dance of the pious." A real hypocrite (hypocrite means wearing a mask, or acting in a play) is not one who falls short of his ideals, but one who uses religion as a cover-up and knows he is insincere. The theme of Psalms is Psa. 29:2, "Ascribe the Lord the glory due to His name, worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness." Deut. 17 condemns insincere and dishonest worship or sacrifice. Amaziah was known for doing the will of the Lord, but not with a true heart. Someone has said that there are four persons that we show: The one God sees; the one you see; the one the world sees; and the one your intimate friends see. Let's be careful not to just have a "public persona" and parade our spirituality or piety.

Worship should be a delight and our feelings should be in it (or we are blaspheming God--like doing it as a "duty" not because we want to) as the command "Delight yourself in the Lord..." says. In summary: Psa. 84:1 says, "My soul longs, even faints, for the courts of the Lord" and Psa. 122:1 says, "I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'"

We can worship or be edified in a "crowd," but we need to function in a local body of believers with our spiritual gift. Rick Warren says that there is no "one-size-fits-all" for worship and there are many ways to worship. He says we believe, we belong, we become. We are to be committed to our church as a token of our commitment to Christ--they go hand in hand--and then we will grow and be accountable.

I can't stand the legalistic crowd that goes to church thinking that will make them a Christian, like going into a garage will make you a car, or eating a donut will make you a cop. They are called the "nod-to-God" crowd, which thinks it is fulfilling its obligation by a short visit to the local church, just out of guilt. The true Christian wants to worship God and wants to fellowship with other believers with whom he is a "fellow in the same ship." I think some mega-churches miss the boat in worship, you just don't hear people "amen" the preacher (where is the worship in the Spirit and in the truth?). But different people are at different stages and God has a purpose for their existence--mega-churches aren't where I'm at, because I want to know my pastor personally, not just from afar.

Some think their religious performance is enough to save them. To some, it's only a formality and not a relationship. John MacArthur says, "We can't enter through our religious emotion or our sanctified feelings...Lip service is no good--there must be obedience...You don't get into the kingdom by sincerity, by religiosity, by reformation, by kindness, by service to the church, not even by simply naming the name of Christ; you get there only by personal trust and faith in [the person and work of] Christ." We can have a form of godliness and be empty. The church at Sardis had a reputation that it was alive, yet it was dead (see Rev. 3:1). We can even have "sanctimonious emotions" and not know Christ. There is a difference between knowing the Word and knowing the Author of the Word.

We can have many experiences in church and everyone has a different one, but I believe we should test our experiences by the Word of God and not the Word of God by our experiences. That's an important concept--we are not to become either rationalists nor empiricists (going by reason or experience only), but belief in the Bible (revelation) and sound teaching. The more we learn the more we realize where the wiggle room is and what is not worth fighting about. We are to "maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Sectarianism is a sin according to 1 Cor. 1, and we shouldn't divide into factions if we can help it. Pascal said, "In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, in all things charity." Soli Deo Gloria!