Lets face it, church is not what it used to be and it’s not what most people in their late 40′s remember growing up. The church was a place where the pastor certainly had the respect of the community and the people he served. In our present, the church members seem to be serving the pastor. A friend shared with me, their experience while they visited a local church. The people were short-tempered, rude and set the worst example for a group of people representing their local church and pastor. Well, maybe they were representing themselves and the name of their church.
You can tell a lot about a local church, by how the people treat you. Duh..of course you can. You don’t need a theological degree the sense that you’re in a social club and not a house of worship. In many gatherings and meetings that churches will have during the week days, you can really see who the people are. When members aren’t wearing their Sunday faces, dressed in their sexually provocative attire and talking in their church vernacular.
What is a dying church? You can answer this yourself by looking around. Where is the growth? Do you have the same 15, 25 or 30 members and now and then a visitor (and the visitor never return)? Are there any young couples, or were they chased away? A dying church, in my opinion and observation, is a church that follows the printed program and their weekly activities and they are not aware of the spiritual and natural needs of the people. Real preaching has taken a back seat (in many churches) to spare the feelings and sensitivities of the people.
There was a time when those who were drunk had enough God sense to sober up when they walked in the doors of the church and women in scantily clad clothing would coverup or not come into the church. Everybody seems to be at home in the church, no one feels uncomfortable with their sin anymore. Am I being judgemental? I would think I was being rather observant while others look the other way and embrace tolerance and compromise. When the people in the church, called members, are numb to the move and guidance of the Sprit of God and they would rather embrace the church program and its activities, that’s a church dying a slow and disgraceful death.
Where can the sinner run to, when they are tired of their ways? Where can the burdened and discouraged go when they need a hand up? Many places of worship are too busy having church and going through the motions of religion to notice and realize they are passing up the greatest opportunity to work in the harvest. Many churches are at the point of death and the only ones that realized it, already left and those remaining are stuck in the cycle of, follow the program, read the opening Scripture, sing a song, say amen and go home. Some churches will even delay the worship service because the programs are still being printed in the back office.
If you are concerned about the death of your church and you can plainly see the people around you are stuck in social club mode, maybe you should have a talk with the leadership. Sometimes there is a time to stop praying and start doing something. Remember the time when you couldn’t wait to fellowship with the people of God? If you’ve said to yourself, “I don’t feel like dealing with any drama this Sunday”…maybe its time to fellowship elsewhere.
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Hello my brother, in the normal or usual since I’d say correct, however since I’ve been here in Waynesboro Ga. @ Calvary Tabernacle, I see a different side of this argument; which leads me to ask the question of, what if the very statements you’ve made are portrayed in just the opposite manor, i.e. the Pastor speaks truth, members show love for God as I’ve seen, no dress to impress spirit is present, yet the congregation is small. Now it could be a snow job, yet as I notice the example of the young ladies in the fellowship, as well as all the women there; no scantly dress issues exist. The men also seem sincere and devoted to the ministry and service of the Lord. Once again stated, small in number; yet devoted to the worship of the Lord. The Pastor works as well as most of the members to make ends meet and they have been gracious host and hostess to me, yes I agree, I’ve only been here a few services; yet I worshiped here last year, and the same welcoming spirit I received then is present and presented once again; as a matter of fact this was a point of reference of the Pastor’s message on this past Wednesday service; to ensure he show all the children of the creator the utmost respect and be genuine, in loving care with air of gladness to be in our presents as we could be the Angelique host of the most high. Yet his encouragement was not singular as to a select group yet; all inclusive as members of the body of Christ. He explained this is the expectations of the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit of the living God. With all this said; being that this membership is small and the same number remains, and similar songs song, with few youth in attendance, how dose this message encourage this group of worshipers as well as their Pastor?
I am glad that you see a different side of the argument. Not only are you correct in what you stated, you pointed out the obvious difference in the type of church that I mentioned and the place in which you fellowship. A small church is not a bad thing’ especially when the people are growing in the grace of God. But, when anything grows, that growth can be measured or realized.
There are many churched that are small and full of the traditions that will chock out any growth or move of the Spirit of God.
Anytime our young boys and men can attend church and get an eyeful of cleavage, flattering hips and thighs from the young girls and older women, something is wrong.
What is in the heart of man and women, eventually shows up on the outside. Our young girls and women have a trying and tempting time with the young boys and men who seem to lack self control and respect towards women… in the church.
The problem is when those in the church, simply look the other way an say nothing. Everyone just keeps on praying, but no one will say a word. May God continue to bless and keep those pastors of small and large congregations who, preach and teach The Word Of God, so these same pastors can be that positive influence over the wayward church leader who simply looks the other way.