New church buildings . . new outreach ministries . . new ways of reaching people . . change. I've heard these phrases and ideas over the years; I'm probably even used many of them while preaching or leading conferences.
I'm a part of a denomination that is in decline. Oh, we put on a good face and some good numbers. But the truth is this . . we are not experiencing the power of God at work in our churches. We know how to "do church" and how to appear to be successful. BUT . . it is the church at play.
Charles Nuckolls said, "People feel they want something they've lost, and they don't remember what it is they've lost."
What is it that we've lost?
Is there such energy and excitement in your worship that people can't wait to meet together as the body of Christ? That's what we've lost!
When is the last time the altar of your church was filled with people crying out to God for his outpouring? That's what we've lost!
When was the last time that your church felt such unity and love that there was criticism and discord among the people? That's what we've lost!
When was the last time the Holy Spirit took over the worship hour, and no one even cared about a time schedule? That's what we've lost!
Is the bond of love so strong that every age group in the church wants to be with every other age group in the church? That's what we've lost.
As I've aged, I have learned one important thing. It doesn't make any difference how good we look or how good the church looks. The thing that is most important is "our" relationship with Christ. The "our" relationship is the church body. It's all of us, working together.
That's what we've lost.
2 comments:
Charles and I just had this discussion moments before I read your blog. (Our words were cetainly not as well-articulated, though.) We feel "lost" in a world of denomination and religion, and we are hungry for God's idea of "church."
In 1961 Elton Trueblood wrote a book entitled "The Company of the Committed" which deals with the decline of "The Church" in America. One of his major conclusions (its a short book - about 130 pages) is that which you mention... that the church is so well run (read "good at doing church") that individual bodies can be dead but still function in the same way it has for decades because "the management" is so astute at what it does. Remember this was written in 1961 so "The Church" has had almost 50 more years to "improve" on its situation. It should be obvious I agree with your premises but I don't know how to get the rank and file on board with what God wants to do with "us". The future isn't very bright, is it?
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