Dilemma of the Twenty First Century Church (eBook)

CHAPTER ONE

The Mission of the Church

The early settlers built the United States of America upon the principle of in God we trust. Today, we have attempted to remove that trust. The Church was a stronghold for spiritual prosperity that influenced every phase of life. We have now created a rundown, outdated institution falling into ruin. The power it once held has become weak. The Church is a national institution designed to teach God’s absolutes, but in the twenty-first century, those absolutes are disappearing, with no one sounding the alarm. Each year thousands of churches are closing their doors because many who were once believers have gone astray. The tide of time has caused a significant shift, or rigor mortis, to occur.

The Church was the most prized possession in society. It was more valuable than gold because it was the breath of life in the community. We now generate a lost sight of God; out of mind, focus, and touch. The Church is losing the influence it once had on the masses.

God designed the Church to be the epicenter of culture and equipped the Church with spiritual gifts used for the welfare of humanity. The Church is where believers worship, fellowship together, and attract extra members to advance God’s kingdom.

Society has abandoned the Church, which has led to moral decay. Humanity’s values have attempted to triumph over God and the Church. The government has made efforts to destroy the core values of what we believe about God and the Church. Constitutional rights have become more prevalent than religious rights. We passed laws that guaranteed secularism. Those values that once held us together as a person, society, and country have taken on a new meaning. We no longer live godly lives as demanded by the word of God.

The Church is missing a variety of things: dedicated people, the word of God taught according to the Scripture, and Jesus Christ is not welcome. The Church is coming to an altar-less, cross-less, and bloodless Christianity. We are losing the cross in the Christian life.

Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matt. 16:24–25). No one wants to die for the Church. The cross and the blood no longer have the influencing power for one to sacrifice their life for the Church. Jesus sacrificing his life on the cross is no longer relevant.

The world will not give God the glory because we have people who seek the glory of God by calling themselves the chosen. It has altered values and principles that shape a world of godless people without a spiritual consciousness of right and wrong. How is the Church grappling with how to bring the Lordship of Christ back into society?

The world is more enthusiastic about food, sports, arts, music, work, and money. The norm is to worship people, a job, achievements, and money. The accepted standard is not to worship God. Isaiah tells us, “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips” (Isa. 6:5). God’s power, His greatness, His holiness, people of unclean hearts and lips cannot see His sovereignty, His love, and His compassion. Jesus Christ declared, “I will build My church, and the gates of hell [the grave] shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Jesus has given the Church power over the gates of hell. Nothing can stop the Church.

Jesus promised that the world could never destroy His Church. Nevertheless, we must ask: How do we find a great church? What do we look for in a church? Jesus Christ and His apostles said to identify His true church, examine the characteristics and fruits of that Church:

1. Members are half-committed to Christ, who stress rituals, ceremonies, and programs and cannot please God (Rom. 12:1–2; 1 John 4:1–3).
2. A church that cannot proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (1 John 2:22–23).
3. A church must commit to teaching the word of God (2 Tim. 3:16, 4:2–4).
4. Committed to evangelism and mission (Matt. 28:19–20; Acts 1:8).
5. Committed to stressing holy living for Christ (2 Cor. 6:17–18; 1 Pet. 1:16).
6. A church not committed to self-denial and sacrificial living will lose Christ. Humanity must deny self and live holy (Luke 9:23, 18:29–30).
7. Members are committed to the Church (Heb. 10:25).
8. Church members must attend and stay for service (1 Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:25).
9. Fruitful members support the Church (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7).
10. Committed to witnessing (2 Tim. 1:8; 2:2, 1 Pet. 3:15).

The world is transforming and making it harder for people to live faithfully. The future of the Church is becoming a lost quest for the world. Christians must continue in hope, holiness, grace, and truth.

The Church is damaged in various ways: unhealthy and destructive teaching; selfish, ambitious people bordering on individuality is producing a dangerous imbalance. Often biblical truths are being taught with embellishment, not going beyond an understanding of Scriptures. Biblical warnings are ignored or misinterpreted and taught without their impact or effectiveness, leaving people vulnerable to sin.

The local church is losing control to outside organizations, assigning leaders with title connected to a social unit of elders, bishops, and ecclesial apostles who will not discipline the flocks. The leaders of the local church no longer have control of the church and can be dismissed for inappropriate behavior and move after a short stay without the consent of the congregation.

The demographic of some countries continues to shift, and we have a decline of worshippers. A growing number of church buildings are being closed. The hallowed ground where believers prayed and worshiped is closing its doors. Places once welcoming generations of seekers are now empty sanctuaries. Many have become Dollar Tree stores and shopping malls for those searching for a bargain.

God no longer lives in some churches. Materialism, drunkard pleasure-seeking, arrogance, conceit, defiance, sinfulness, moral perversion, and corrupt leadership have rejected the word of God, the law of the Lord, and the Holy One Himself. “When a society does not want to hear from God, every man does that which is right in his own eyes and feels that he is the ultimate authority, he becomes the ultimate source of truth” (Judg. 21:25).

Attempts to expel the word of God from society have become a critical issue. It started in the public schools, and has spread to public places, courthouses, coins, the Pledge of Allegiance, and on to where today we are fighting battles about what we can even say in the Church and in public! It is no longer just about the separation of Church and State, but a separation of America from God. Humanity is tearing apart the woven fabric of God’s influence on society.

Politicians have established laws that have affected the Church in ways of empowering the practices of evil. They have been trying to remove God from this culture through court rulings awarding individuals rights.

1. The Supreme Court ruled school prayer unconstitutional in 1962.Bible reading in public schools was ruled unconstitutional in 1963.
2. Restrictions on abortion lifted and permeated the nation (through the infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court).
3. In 1985, the government ruled nativity scenes in public places violated the so-called separation of Church and State.
4. The Supreme Court ruled laws against gay and sodomy unconstitutional in 2003.
5. The United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.
6. In 2004, a federal court held it was unconstitutional for a school to teach intelligent design theory as an alternative to evolution.

Satan is the Church’s number one enemy. Give him an inch, and he will take a mile! Believers are hated, misunderstood, and persecuted around the world. The Church has the outstanding responsibility of warning every culture with the truth that transforms. The Church is in a coma and needs awakening in the twenty-first century.

The Bible tells us that things will get worse before Christ’s return. “For the glorious day of His wrath has come, and who can withstand it?” (Rev. 6:16). Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars and nation will rise against nation” (Matt. 24:6–7). The world is returning to the days of Noah’s time. “Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil” (Gen. 6:5–6). The earth will be so corrupt and filled with violence (Gen. 6:11–12). “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains” (Rev. 6:15). Corruption, violence, and evil will savage, and the world will be on the brink of self-destruction. People will hide under rocks seeking refuge, and the only comfort they will find is when they call on the name of Jesus Christ.

1. Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).
2. Truth feeds the inner man (Matt. 4:4).
3. The children of God...