Church Exodus: Uninspired Sermons’ Impact
As a regular blogger, I've been pondering on a pressing issue that's been bothering me and many others - the increasing number of people leaving the church. This concern has led me to reflect on the role of pastors who, week after week, are expected to deliver sermons, regardless of whether they've received divine inspiration or not. This often results in uninspired sermons, a symptom of a larger problem within the contemporary church.My blog reaches readers worldwide, including regions where Christians face persecution and even death for their faith. These brave individuals, who proclaim Christ despite the risk, have my utmost respect. Their stories, which I occasionally share on Twitter, serve as a humbling reminder of the real essence of Christianity.
The crux of the matter is that many churches today are not fulfilling their intended purpose. They are not adhering to the teachings of the Bible. How often have you read the Bible and thought, "That's not what my church practices," or "My pastor wouldn't approve of that"? If you've had these thoughts, you're not alone.
Consider the tradition of dressing up for Sunday service, which contradicts the teachings of James 2:2 and 1 Peter 3:3,4. Or the fact that meetings are held only on Sundays, when the Acts tell us that early Christians met daily (Acts 6:1; Act 16:5; Acts 19:9).
Did you know that the pulpit and pews didn't exist during the time of the Acts? The Christian pulpit didn't appear until AD 250. The term 'pastor' is mentioned only once in the New Testament (Eph 4:11), yet it's one of the most emphasized roles in modern churches.
The church building, as we know it, was introduced by Constantine in 327 AD. Today, we see raised platforms where worship bands perform, much like at a rock concert. However, there's no scriptural support for this setup.
I can't help but feel that I'm being fed self-help rhetoric instead of the path to salvation. I feel entertained rather than spiritually engaged. And when it comes to spiritual experiences, many mainstream churches dismiss them as eccentric. Yet, Jesus himself said that we MUST worship in Spirit and in Truth (John 4:24)!
The pew, a product of early England, has transformed church services into a one-sided affair where one person speaks and the rest listen. This setup discourages questions and active participation.
Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, encouraged each member to contribute a psalm, hymn, or prophecy (1 Cor 14). The early church didn't celebrate pagan festivals like Easter or the winter solstice, now known as Christmas.
The church, as it stands today, needs to repent. If it even deserves to be called a "church" is another question.
I recommend the book "Pagan Christianity" by Frank Viola and George Barna. It's an enlightening read that sheds light on many of the issues I've discussed here.
Warning: If you're comfortable with pagan traditions in the church, this book might not be for you. The authors highlight the stark deviations from scripture in contemporary churches and the strong influence of paganism.
In conclusion, it's time for a reformation. It's time for the church to return to its scriptural roots and truly embody the teachings of Christ.
I love your blog! You are so right on with this!! Keep up the fight and preach what is on your heart.
ReplyDeleteHey Stephen! Thanks for the comment!
ReplyDeleteI really was apprehensive about posting this. However, i believe I was only saying what people were thinking anyways.
God Bless!
Gonna share this on Facebook!
ReplyDeletePenelope
You definitely hit on something close to home for me. I'm a worship leader at a very old fashioned church. We've introduced modern worship, but it's not a message that's really getting across. I actually am getting ready to leave my church and start my own effort.
ReplyDeleteBut I don't think this problem is limited to the modern church or the old-fashioned church. I think it's all about this idea Christians have put in their heads about how you "do church." Often the church service and the building gets placed over the message of Christ.
WE are the church. Jesus met in homes, on hillsides, in boats... it's not about how you "do church" it's about why. To me, the way to tell if you're "doing church" right is to look inside yourself. Are you growing in Christ? Are you helping others find their faith in God? Are you over-flowing with the love of Our Father?
There is no one right way to "do church." I also don't think their is one way that will work for everyone. It's a personal journey that I think needs to be made more personal. Christians have been charged with reaching out to their communities to meet its needs. The community has not been charged with reaching into meet the church's needs. I think too many churches misunderstand this message. It's not an exclusive grace club, it's a community of ministers charged with spreading the gospel.
After become a leader in the church, the problems have become even more relevant to me. I could write a book on all this, but I'll spare you. I wholeheartedly agree with this post.
I posted a crazy long comment to this, but somehow it did not get on here. Here's the jist:
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on this one! I'm a worship leader who is actually leaving the church to start my own effort with a small group of hungry Christians.
A lot of Christians have these ideas about how to "do church." That's the problem. WE are the church. Christ taught in homes, on hillsides, in boats... We need to make the journey personal again. The church has been charged with reaching out to their community to meet its needs. Not the other way around. Christ came for the sinners, the ones who needed him most. It's not the communities job to bend to the church.
This article may be a year old but the truth contained within it is to this very day totally accurate.
ReplyDeleteI have often confronted Ministers about this issue and in every instance ridiculed and mocked. I usually just leave them with this Love test.
Act 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
I know from the experience of my own walk and the walk of multitudes of Ministers I have been close to for decades that one of the greatest reasons for the continued fall down this slippery slope is the fact that the path that many began on was the wrong path to begin with.
Man attempts to correct his steps while traveling down this path but finds himself further and further down this slippery slope.
Many become so tired of fighting the same old demons that they finally just give up and let the path take them wherever it chooses. The path of least resistance has less friction for a time.
No man can change when he is walking down the wrong path, we must by the Spirit be removed from the old path and be placed on the one God has chosen for us.
I have watched over the decades as this new movement came and left only to be followed by a new one. They all promised to be the answer for what was missing in the Church.
Every single one of these movements did nothing more than leave another bag of garbage behind the pulpits of America.
If the real truth be said, their was a time in the distant path when the Churches were warned by real Prophets of God to repent or face the consequences, they simply rejected the Prophets and chose the consequences, now behold the judgement of God.
God does not change, what he said in answer to the prayer of Solomon is the very thing he is saying to his people today:
2Ch 7:12 And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
2Ch 7:13 If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
If there was ever a time for personal and national repentance in America it is at this very moment. Though many may walk in error, though God has warned of this evil day, there always remains room for repentance.
May the God of mercy deliver us from ourselves, our self-centeredness, our pride, our love of other gods and hatred.
Bob
***Sigh*** This is the cry of my heart and the realization that pains me when I look upon the state of the church today. It is God's cry, his pain....
ReplyDeleteThe reason why so many people leave the church and why so much goes on withing and among churches is simply Love....
The church has strayed from the first and uptmost commandament, to Love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, and soul. Secondly, we have failed to Love our brethren likewise as we have been commanded by Jesus Christ!
In it's place, we have allowed Self to come in and do what it plans. We have given our love to Self (self-love/ self-pleasers), and not those who are pleasing of the Lord. Our services are tailored to accomplish what we want and think we should give and not what the spirit of God impresses to take place. We have pastors who give Word, not spiritually guided and even if so, fail to follow through with lives that match their teaching. We have members that swear to the Christian faith but have not the love of God in their hearts.
All of this lack of Love leads to the ability for Satan to come in and use it to his advantage, planting seeds of wickedness and causing mayhem in the church, divisions, and the repelling of others from coming to Christ. Apostast predisposes on the absence of Christs Love...
In Jeremiah 31:3, it says :
"The LORD has appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn you."
***Sigh*** This is the cry of my heart and the realization that pains me when I look upon the state of the church today. It is God's cry, his pain....
ReplyDeleteThe reason why so many people leave the church and why so much goes on within and among churches is simply Love....
The church has strayed from the first and utmost commandment, to Love the Lord God with all of our heart, mind, and soul. Secondly, we have failed to Love our brethren likewise as we have been commanded by Jesus Christ!
In it's place, we have allowed Self to come in and do what it pleases. We have given our love to Self (self-love/ self-pleasers), instead of being those who are pleasing of the Lord. Our services are tailored to accomplish what we want and think we should give and not what the spirit of God impresses to take place. We have pastors who give Word, not spiritually guided and even if so, fail to follow through with lives that match their teaching. We have members that swear to the Christian faith but have not the love of God in their hearts.
All of this lack of Love inables Satan to come in and use it to his advantage, planting seeds of wickedness and causing mayhem in the church, divisions, and the repelling of others from coming to Christ. Apostasty predisposes on the absence of Christ’s Love...
In Jeremiah 31:3, it says :
"The LORD has appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you."
@Bonotor .-GOD wants your hearts,only this.PROV.23.V.26.-
ReplyDeletegive me,my son you heart,And let thine eyes observe my ways...