I try not to focus too much or too long on the discouraging things I see, simply because I think I have to be careful not to become resentful and cynical. Being Scottish, I already have an indigenous tendency to melancholy! But it’s true. that there are many things to fear. The passage from my ordination to the gospel ministry was 2 Corinthians 4: 1-6, and it has served as my guide ever since. Paul says that he has given up not only shame or disguised manners, but who hasn’t? something simply because it “works”. Instead, he exposes the truth and does it so that the truth of the gospel and his own integrity are clear. On the other hand, we have become a very pragmatic church; we crave size (bigger is considered better).
We have also sown a cult of personality and guru. I have seen documents from the pastoral reference committee that state bluntly that they needed an “extraordinary communicator” who was their minister. Much of our philosophy has become really very worldly.
- Recent proof of this is the peace of mind with which some Christians today speak of “the quality of our worship”.
- But unlike their ancestors.
- They worship only once on Sunday.
- Many pastors know that a night service would not have much presence for all sorts of reasons that I believe would not serve before the God of the universe who is worthy of praise and worship.
- Forever.
- ‘Eternity! I wonder what you think of the quality of our service*.
I am also concerned that we live in the age of the sect leader and counselor instead of the preacher (what do we do and what do we talk about?Unfortunately in general of ourselves? This takes precedence over God in speaking to us. )
Once again, there is a lack of prayer and a church that prays. For me, this is the most concerning, for this reason: We have built seemingly strong, large, prosperous, and active churches. But many of our churches never meet to pray. Bounce: never! What does this indicate that we are saying about the life of the church as a community? On the other hand, the mark of the true apostolic spirit in the Church is that we give ourselves together to prayer and the Word (Acts 6: 4). Doesn’t that surprise me? The word of God has grown and [?] Has the number of disciples multiplied? (Acts 6: 7). So it should come as no surprise that while many churches see growth, it is generally a replacement of numbers, not conversions. I sincerely hope that our churches will learn to keep the essentials at the center, that we learn to be true churches, loving partners in gospel prayer, gospel teaching and ministry, and in true love for one another. Ultimately, does such a Church just need to be? so that visitors feel that it is a new order of reality and feel drawn to Christ.
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Non-translator: Services in the US are not the only ones in the world. But it’s not the first time It’s mainly in the morning.