Posted on September 26th, 2022.

I HATE THAT THE "CALLING" ON OUR LIVES FROM GOD HAS BEEN PREACHED AND INTERPRETED BY THE AMERICAN CHURCH AS "ACTIVITY" FOR GOD RATHER THAN A BIBLICAL VIEW OF "INTIMACY" WITH GOD.

The symptoms and sickness of that error are clearly evident in the hurting lives of people who by just "going" to church mistake that for Christianity. Program centered, personality-centered, building, and budget driven. Rather than being Christ-centered and making disciples and equipping the saints to do the work of Jesus! Just bring them they say, just "get their butts in the seats" is the goal, are the mantra and formula.

Discipleship has been relegated to mean membership! And whatever the activities of the membership says or does is scriptural, no questions asked. As long as we busy ourselves and participate in the activities of the group we are somehow mysteriously fulfilling all the commandments of Christ. We wrongfully feel exempt of any further faith or obedience required of us by Christ himself.

We are to put Christ first, love our neighbor, stop judging, share the power of the whole gospel in love. We are the army 'We' are called/drawn by His voice, called to know Him and to Love Him first. Have we abdicated our "spiritual authority" to advance his kingdom with power for a social presence or for political influence to a lost and hurting world? All we need is the finest of marketing tools and professional skills. Name branding, target marketing, new programs, new campaigns! There is no need for prayer meetings, no equipping the saints for the great commission. No need to go and teach all nations, just "give" and "invite" when directed to from the pulpit to ensure the success of the new programs is all the Christian needs to do these days. No personal obedience, no prayer meetings for our neighbors and co-workers, no real faith required or need to even share your faith. Just invite.

The success of the church and the program is measured by the "numbers" attending. The person you talk to outside the church to share your hope and faith and even praying with them do not benefit the program goals of the church (attending numbers). Ugh...what has the Christian culture in American churches come to? Does it even reflect the early church or make mature disciples in Christ anymore? What makes a mature disciple in the mind of Christ? Has the salt lost is potency? Are we just “A social organization gifted in the administration of people and resources to be directed at helpful "activities" to make an impact and give credit and notoriety to the local church”? "NO," you say this isn't what is being taught or the way it works? Then why the presence of all the logos and even signage being posted giving/identifying the name of the church? Is leadership showing/modeling for its members on how to share the gospel or engage or reach the lost? Or, is the sanctuary the most/only evangelized piece of territory in the Christians sphere of influence? Is the gospel message being shared in any place besides the sermon or sanctuary? Is Christ being lifted up or is the church Branding taking center stage? Is Christ really first? Or is the formula attraction model first? Is the proof really in the numbers or is it in the fruit?

Is His word being taught and followed? Well, of course, Jesus is talked about at all these activities....or do we just invite people to church at these activities? Do Christians really talk about Jesus to people on a personal level "speaking the truth in love" to people in need? Or do they leave it to the professionals on Sundays?

I pray for Christians to read the word and follow Jesus even if it doesn't look like what the group is doing. As the great prayer warrior and author E.M. Bounds has said "God is not looking for better programs...He is looking for better people"

Tagged: bible, church, jesus, God, millenials, tired of religion, religion, the american church, the church is in trouble, making disciples, bible centered, bible truth, truth, what is truth