Thoughts on the State of the Church

I'm sure you've heard some version of the following statement if you have spent much time in church:

"The church is about 20 years behind the world in terms of culture, behavior, attitudes, etc."

This is meant to bring home the point that the church is not standing firm and immovable on the unchanging principles of Scriptures, but is compromising. I agree with this statement, but not with one of its implications. That implication is that the world is somehow driving the church. The world discovers a new outlet for wickedness, and it takes the church about 20 years to get used to it and eventually accept it as mainstream. I used to believe this, but I'm not sure that it is true or Scriptural.

Take the following verses into account when thinking about this concept:

Matt. 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Matt. 5:13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

Now I will not discuss the connection of Peter to the "rock" in Matthew 16:18 as that is another topic. Suffice it to say that Peter and rock are not the same word in the original language, and so do not refer to the same person. Yet in this verse, the church is seen as overcoming the gates of hell. Gates do not attack, they are defensive, indicating an offensive posture on the part of the church. There are many ways to interpret what the "gates of hell" refer to, but my belief is that, as Satan is the prince of this world, his kingdom extends (for now) from hell to this world's system and culture. Thus, the church is supposed to be in continual, victorious battle with Satan's spiritual forces, which certainly take shape in the world's wicked cultures.

In Matthew 5:13 we see another viewpoint of how the church should interact with the world. As the "salt of the earth", our function is to preserve, or slow, decay and rot within this world. This is also an active, or offensive, posture since the verse also shows that the salt can lose it effectiveness and is worth nothing but to be used to help hard-pack the road. I think we would all agree that the church is currently seen as insignificant in its impact on our society and is being trodden under foot on a continual basis.

Given these two verses, can we then say that the world takes a step further into wickedness and then the church follows, but with a delay of some years? Or, as the one who is supposed to be on offense in this battle, should we rather say that the church gives in, compromises, falls for Satan's deception, which then allows the world to descend one step further into hell? This may seem like semantics, but I don't think it is. There is a practical difference.

If we are following the world, then we create an excuse - a fall guy. It's not really our fault. Look what we have to work with today. Someone gets saved and they are not going to pull themselves out of the muck of this world to stand out among their former buddies as a holy roller or someone who is better than them. Furthermore, the methods of Scripture don't work anymore to reach these misguided wretches. We have to go where they are and reach them with a form of message that is appealing to them. So you see, it's not our fault, it's just how this world works, degenerating over time until Christ's return.

Now I agree that this world will continue to deteriorate, but I do not agree that we can discard God's methods in favor of the world's idea of marketing in our churches. Sure, if you want to build a mega-church with dozens of programs and nationwide TV and radio syndication, then you have to reach a LOT of people to keep the money pouring in. However, that seems more like a corporation than a church to me. We should remember that EVERYONE except his chosen disciples, left Jesus after John chapter 6 because they could not bear His teaching. If Christ Himself had so small a following, why does any mere man believe his church should be packed with thousands every Sunday? I'm not saying it's wrong based on the numbers, but how did we get those numbers and what good are they in the fight against Satan and his minions?

If we, however, turn it around and say that our failures to hold tight to the principles of Sola Scriptura, and to maintain the lifestyles and holiness such a belief requires, have allowed the world to slip further and further toward perdition, then we accept responsibility and have a corresponding path toward a solution. There are many passages in the Old Testament that show the effectiveness of corporate repentance. God blesses those who look at their predecessors, humble themselves, and ask God to forgive them for the sins of their fathers as well as their own sins. The church will not see revival, nor will the world experience a renewed societal impact from the church until we stop saying that we aren't responsible for the past.

It is the church's fault that evolution was not laughed out of existence. Were we there personally? No, but we are the only ones currently able to take responsibility for past failures and turn to God in repentance and hope that He may bless us once again. It is the church's fault that our country is no longer a Christian nation. We had every branch of government and every state and federal foundational document and practice supporting us. We gave up the fight and let the atheists and God-haters take over. It is the church's fault that Christians everywhere have given up and are quietly waiting for the Rapture since the world is "so bad" that we can't do anything about it. The list goes on and on.

Perhaps one of the most egregious errors is that the church has allowed itself to split into so many factions waring with each other that it has no ability or strength to fight our real enemies. This is not a call for the current brand of ecumenism, which sacrifices doctrine for the sake of peace. Rather, this is a humility that leads us all to understand that we don't know everything, nor do we stand in judgment of other Christians. Church leadership is called to make sure that church members are born again and Biblically baptized. Further, they must conform to the practices of that church and be in submission to Church authority. However, that authority extends over practice in the church and certain practices outside the church that may require discipline. It does not extend to demanding absolute doctrinal conformity. It couldn't truly police such a jurisdiction anyway.

Why do we argue and split over doctrinal positions that ultimately do not significantly impact behavior? And if the behavior is the point of contention, why do we not then strive to find the Biblical answer together, rather than believing our position to be unassailable? Pride is the only answer. And that pride has led us to where we are today. Some churches know very little doctrine and focus on emotions, leading them astray because they have no firm foundation. Other churches strive to perfect their doctrine, but have no compassion for those who are not as pure as they are. And there are myriad churches in between. Yet, as the American church, we have proven ourselves to be petty, childish, and effeminate - something that is not appealing to anyone, regardless of the packaging.

If you have any love for this once-great country, and a desire to see it restored to its place as a light to a dark world, I humbly ask you to examine your own heart and the heart of your church. Repent personally on behalf of your local church and the church in general. Prayer is a powerful tool when wielded by the weak and humble, for therein is God's strength made manifest. Our country and culture are not hopeless. If Jesus were to come tomorrow, our attitude of repentance and brokenness for our country would still not be wasted. If there is never another revival in our land before the return of Christ, doing what is right for the honor and glory of God, and not for ourselves or our pet program at the local non-profit organization that is misnamed a church, will not go without reward.