The Church in 2008
With so many churches, worldwide, I
think it is safe to say, the church will be what the people, who make up
the church, wish it to be.
I see the church going through some rough
terrain, and I think, largely, the reason is that we don't know "Who We
Are" in Christ. We have little concept of who, we the church, are.
We know who we say we are, but how influential are we, in reaching the un-churched?
Everyday, lately, I see on television, and read in the newspaper, things that
are potentially hurting the church. Why? Because we have decided
that we have a great need to modernize ourselves in order to draw people.
Churches today, don't look at things the way our Forefathers did.
The church would have rather taken a
beating, than have to admit to some of the autrocities that we are seeing and
hearing about today. Jesus said, "Upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of
Hell, shall not prevail it."
Why is the church hiring clergy that are
using the church to satisfy their own physical pleasure? Why is the
church deliberately hiring sinners to fill the pulpit, because we can't
discriminate. And after all, this isn't the dark ages anymore. Folks,
when I look at weekend Christian TV, I am appalled at the presentations that
are no different from what the world portrays in dark places.
The church in 2008, Must Be Taken Back by
God's People, who still believe that the Old Gospel is still important
today. If I thought that in order to worship, I had to compromise what I
know to be right, just to gain a place in society, and its religious
setting, I am afraid I would have to say, "I don't want any
part."
God is soon coming for HIS church. Any
other, He Will Not Know. Wake up church. Stand up and be counted. It's not a
game we should be playing, but getting out the unadulterated truth of the
Gospel. Come on Pastors and Teachers, it's not what we think the word says, and
means, but what we know it to be.
Let the church in 2008 be greater than any
other time in our entire life.
God bless you.
Rev. D.L.Whittaker