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| Blogs > vizions007 > Pursuit of God Jer 29:13 |
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What has happened to the church, where are God’s people and why are they so hard to identify? Pagan Christianity - Most contemporary Christians are massively ignorant as to how the church got to where it is today and of how much current church practice is due simply to accumulated tradition, with little or no roots in Scripture. In addition, most do not understand the history of the church, its purpose and their role within it. This problem is so vast and pervading that the author Frank Viola took up the gauntlet to expose the truth in his book on the subject. 126 years ago, 1887, Charles Spurgeon published the first of his two articles “The Downgrade Controversy”. In it, Spurgeon describe that the Puritan fervor that had so captured the soul of England gave way to dry, listless apostate teaching. Churches became lax in granting membership privileges to the unregenerate. People who were, "strangers to the work of renewing grace" nevertheless claimed to be Christians and were admitted to membership—even leadership—in the churches. Fast forward to the 1950’s. A.W. Tozer spoke was concerned about the moral decay of America. In 1984, Frank Schaeffer wrote the Great Evangelical Disaster calling upon Christians to lovingly and truthfully confront a compromising culture. How much more so has the moral decay become so rampant 60 years after Tozer when the American Landscape is riddled with decay of Christian values from cultural liberalism, The Emergent Church, Post Modernism and Pluralism? Statistically, it has been estimated that between 73-79% of Americans consider their self Christian. If this is so, why has this country’s moral values continue to erode and why has the church lost its voice and presence in this country’s affairs? Could it be that the quantity is there, but the quality is not? What I mean by quality is rooted in the definition of the word Christian. Most say that they are Christian if they believe in Jesus as the Christ. Some do not even agree on this. But suffice it to say that there are a great many who believe they are Christian and yet, in the end, they are not (Mat 7: 21-23). Although the term Christian is used frequently, Christ called us to become Disciples (Mat 28:19). This word is rooted in discipline. Just because one wants to be a soldier does not mean he is able and capable to be on the front lines defending this great country. He must be broken first; then rebuilt, taught in the correct way with truth, understanding, discipline and obedience. So too is the process of the Holy Spirit working in us: first regeneration/brokenness, then repentance/forgiveness, then discipline/obedience, then joy/thanksgiving, then service/love. All too often most Christians get stuck being babes (Heb 5:12-14). How much repentance, brokenness, grieving, praying is done in the average church? Most start off with music and singing, which has its part; but that usually comes after we realize we need a savior and we cry out to Him in repentance for our sins (see process above). Why are we so concerned with numbers and making everyone believe they are Christian when Christ warned of being hypocritical (Mat 23:15)? I have read and my heart grieved over stories of families and members of the church where people have been hurt, mistreated, ostracized and openly criticized by people who call their self Christian, all the while claiming to be part of the body of Christ – the church. What has happened to the church, where are God’s people and why are they so hard to identify? |
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