The Dying Church

Posted on All Other Ground is Sinking Sand on 11/2010


Why is the church dying in America? What is the cyanide that poisons, the chloroform that puts to sleep the once vibrant communities of believers, rendering them senile in a harsh, cold world.

This has been on my mind recently. As my relationship with God ashamedly ebbs and flows, one week closer to Christ, another further, and the next on my knees confessing and repenting sins, I cannot but help return to Him again.

I am not wishing to point fingers, assign blame, or judge my brothers and sisters. Simply to try and arrive at some specific points to address in prayer and whenever I get a chance to teach that we might strive away from these things and towards Christ.

To pick on a specific thing, I'd say that in America materialism has a far greater chokehold on the church than we care to admit. Just because we can label our country as materialistic doesn't mean we have escaped from it. In the same way that just as I can label this as an ever growing problem in the church doesn't mean I have escaped from it.

How is it that materialism killing the church?

First of all, materialism it creeps in on us. No believer wakes up and decides, "screw this church nonsense, give me things not Jesus". Living in a materialistic society, we are constantly bombarded by this mindset. You can hardly do a single thing in life without being attacked by it. Want to watch TV? tons of commercials. Ok, turn on the radio instead. Still commercials. Go for a drive? Billboards everywhere. Go for a walk? Usually the same thing--billboards, bus stops, window displays all telling you why you need to have more stuff.

This leads to a second point.

Materialism is socially acceptable. Think about it. Someone buys a new TV, car, iphone-- you name it--the first reaction we have is "sweet! that's awesome". Now, I'm not condemning the purchasing of sweet and awesome technology, only noting that it is acceptable and encouraged. Church is the same way. We can see evidence of this in the way the church spends its money. Big flashy screens that project digitalized shapes and colors during a worship service, colored lights swivel and dance from the stage to the audience. Bigger, better, bigger better. The youth room has it's own dance floor, the women's group has their own building, the nursery is in the old sanctuary and the congregations worships in something equivalent to a Vegas performance stage.

Now, I'm being painfully fesecious when I say this and I'm aware that the distance to crossing the sacrilegious line has narrowed, but it must be said. And the scary thing is that these decisions reflect the hearts of the members. Arguable? Possibly. But very likely.

The only slightly redeeming factor in all of this materialism is when I look in the Old Testament as see how much gold and silver and worth was put into the temple that Solomon built for God. But I think that this is different--today we are trying to be flashy, hip, and (dare I say it!) seeker friendly with making church a cool and attractive place to be. I don't think that Solomon built the temple so lavishly for the enjoyment of those attending. Quality?, yes. Showy? mmm, not so much.

The danger, friends, is that materialism creeps into our hearts and slowly pushes Jesus aside. You cannot serve two masters--God and money (Mat 6:4). Think of the rich man who could not leave his possesions to obey Christ. Can you relate to that? I can. With possesions, with pride in who I am. Whenever I hear Jesus asking me to do something and I have an answer different from "Yes sir" there is a big problem.

Because materialism creeps every so slowly, and the crowd encourages this mentality, it takes actively fighting it off to maintain perspective. How? Prayer, discipline, discernment, generosity. These are characteristics of someone who is walking with God. Prayer for help from God. He gives us strength and the other three qualities. Discipline to live off of what we need and not spend heedlessly. Discernment to decide what we need and what luxeries are reasonable. Generosity, the opposite of greed, a detachment from the 'stuff' and with the first three qualities how we manage all that we are entrusted with--not own, are entrusted with.

I implore you-- Store up your treasure in heaven where moss and rust don't destroy and thieve don't steal. Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Where is your heart?

Mortification of Sin

Romans 8

12 So then, brothers,5 we are debtors, cnot to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you dput to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 


Romans 8 brings into light the Spirit's power in sanctifying the believer. There are two kinds of people. Those who are in the flesh and are bound for destruction (8:5-8) and those who are in the Spirit and belong to Christ (8:5-6,9). Which kind are you? There is no condemnation if you are in Christ (8:1). But yet we are still faced with the responsibility of making daily choices in regards to sin and temptation. I like verse 13's call to put to death the deeds of the body (or sinful flesh). It offers a sense of certainty, of affirmative action: put to death. This ties back to the condemnation of sin brought about by Christ in 8:3. John Owen, who's book The Mortifaction of Sin in Believers has been recently abridged and republished, says well when he says

“Be killing sin or it will be killing you. Let not that man think he makes any progress in holiness who walks not over the bellies of his lusts. He who doth not kill sin in his way takes no steps towards his journey’s end. He who finds not opposition from it, and who sets not himself in every particular to its mortification, is at peace with it, not dying to it.”

-John Owen, Mortification of Sin in Believers

I still have not read his book, but I fully intend to read the unabridged version which can be acquired via free download here. I am struggling deep within myself, wrestling with my selfish tendencies at the core of my being. My exhortation to you, reader, comes in question form. Are you putting to death your sinful flesh? 

Ramblings on Politics and Religion

        I find that there are three camps people can fall into: Those who are consumed with politics (but never admit it), those who couldn't care less if the country were to collapse (as long as no one says anything), and those who have their quiet opinions (but don't care enough to say anything). 

       Some claim that politics should be private to the individual--but that's not conducive to government for the people by the people. If you think they're private, perhaps you should consider moving to a country like North Korea, where nobody cares what you think. 

      Some claim that if you don't watch the news and C-span every day then you are irresponsible. If this you, then perhaps you should consider moving to a country like Andorra, where you can actually keep tabs on everything that goes on in the country.

      Politics is messy, because differing opinions cause arguments, *ahem* discussions, which can offend people. And heaven help us if someone else offended by your point of view. Enter political correctness.

But I digress

Everyone--including the Christian-- is a part of one of three camps. Don't fight it and look for a middle ground, just accept it and move on. What I want to address is the role--or roles, since we are a multi-faceted body--of the church in the political scene, specifically where the church in the United States finds itself today, in 2011.

First of all, government is set up AND taken down by God. 

Romans 13:1 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God.

Daniel 2:21a  He changes times and seasons; he deposes kings and raises up others. 

Knowing that we are to live under government seems to be the extent of the biblical opinion regarding politics. This isn't to say that the believer cannot be a part of the government, or take part in change of the government. For after all, this is what politics is all about--influencing the government to swing one way or another. Taxes, national debt, war, laws, health care, way of life, religious freedom, economy, abortion, homosexuality, etc. Any of these things relevant to the Christian in their own situation.

How much should believers enter into debates regarding matters of state? Shouldn't they be concerned with presenting the gospel rather than marching against abortion? Or shouldn't they care about saving innocent baby's and hit the streets rather than write blogs about politics and the church?

Typically Christianity is associated with words like "tea party" and "republican". I actually think there is something to be said about this. While I hesitate to associate myself with nominal, cultural Christianity (for that also comes with the package), moral lines have already been drawn between the two parties. True Christians associate themselves with moral decisions, even if the parties were to switch sides. Granted, the question of immigration is out there--but that is another debate for another post. Generally speaking, the Republican party embraces values that are more in line with the Bible then does the Democratic party. Why are we so afraid to be labeled? Probably because with labels comes extremism and other stereotypes, which I most definitively do not endorse.

Let me ask you, as a believer what is the main goal in your life? This is something that I struggle keeping in focus, and I have seen many others struggle as well. It is very convicting. What consumes you? How much time do you spend watching TV shows, or listening to music, or playing video games, or collecting various items, or making money? Too much? Don't judge those who spend the same time on politics until you have your priorities sorted out. 

What is the main goal in your life as a believer? This is where I think the discussion needs to be brought back to.

The church functions in any political situation. Paul didn't come to revolutionize the government to provide religious freedom. It wasn't on his agenda. Instead, it was preach the gospel! I've been reading through Pihlippians a lot, and this is relevant: 

Philippians 1:12-18:   ¹² Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,^[b] that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. ¹³ As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^[c]and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴ And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

 ¹⁵ It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶ The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷ The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸ But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Paul's main focus is the advancement of the Gospel. This should be ours too. Remember that "what has happened to me" refers to Paul's arrest. He's not trying to contact influential people for his release. He's waiting on God. Religious freedom also isn't a priority for anyone in the New Testament. Why are we so up tight about it? Persecution would grow and strengthen the weak church that exists in the US.

But don't be passive: we do have the ability to know what goes on in the world, and there is a responsibility entrusted to us to vote responsibly, and pray knowledgeably. Why not write your congressman when you're concerned about something. Do that rather than complain and do nothing because you don't like politics.

Conclusion to my mad ramblings? Be aware; act on your convictions; don't be afraid to disagree ;and above all, advance the gospel.

Do We Need to Always Share the Gospel?

I was talking to a good friend the other day and she was telling me about a situation she had where a couple of Russian exchange students approached her as she sat by the beach. They had a decent conversation, talking about America, her life, what they were doing here. The Gospel itself never came up. Jesus was mentioned as she talked about who she was. The fact that He is the only way to heaven was not brought up though.

We joked a little that I couldn't believe a Bible college student didn't bring up the Gospel in that situation. We were on the same page, however, when thinking about evangelism as part of discipleship, as part of a relationship, pointing the other person closer to the Cross of Christ in that relational context. The question was raised then, should it be different when speaking to someone that you know you'll never see again?

What about the times when a relationship really can't be built? Do we go back to our "confrontational" methods of evangelism or do we mention Jesus in passing and pray that they run into someone they can build a relationship with that will point them to the Cross of Christ? Or is it something else entirely?

I have some answers but I thought this would be a good subject to raise to both anyone who would like to comment or any of the other "bloggers" connected The Couch who would want to post their responses. Kind of an interaction collaboration. :)

So, here's the question more clearly: When we don't have time to build a relationship with someone, do we need to feel compelled to always share the Gospel with those who do not know Christ?

Living with Technology

So this blog post has roots from awhile ago but just never happened. Today is one of those days where I could be doing something else but that something else isn't working out so I have the free time/motivation to finally write this one out.

I love technology. I really do. And not just in the creepy Kip Dynamite sort of way. I remember thinking when I was younger "Unless they invent flying cars, I'm pretty sure there isn't anything left to invent." I mean when you've got AOL 3.0, what else do you need? Over the past few years we've had so many advances it's crazy. And I don't even own an iPhone! And the iPod Shuffle I do own is MIA! (That didn't have anything to do with the rest of this, just an empty attempt to gain pity.)

As awesome as the era of the smart phone, Twitter, Facebook, blogs, hotel internet, HDTV, DVR, ESPN is... it comes with some downsides that I think we overlook too often. That's the point of this. I'm not here to bag on technology (see the part where I said I love it) but rather to point out some of the lurking dangers that can exist if we let it. So without further ado, here are a few areas that could be a blog post on their own but who really wants to read that?

A text without a context....
Somewhere along the line, texting became the main mode of communication for a lot of people. More than phone calls, more than emails, even more than Facebook. It's really convenient... you don't have to talk to people longer the size of your text. When you're done talking to them you can just stop texting back and they'll assume you're busy with something else or that you got into a wreck. (Don't text and drive.)

In the midst of all of this, we've lost the idea of context. You know, the things that a real conversation has. Body language, tone of voice, sentences that last longer than 160 characters at a time...

The obvious problem with this is that the receiver has to fill in the blanks. Was the comment just made sincere or sarcastic? From someone like me that enjoys a fair amount of sarcasm, it's hard to tell sometimes. Even if you are able to communicate something as heartfelt, you really don't control the message. The receiver is able to interpret it anyway they want. This is why I often make jokes and if they aren't immediately responded to positively I start to send additional texts to try and soften any blow that may have come across. (So what, call me insecure!)

I think we would be wise to consider how we use mediums of communication that don't provide this context to say things that are important to us. If it really is that important to us, it's probably worth a real conversation or at least a phone call.

The danger of speaking in 140 characters....
The original impetus for writing this was a Tweet a few months ago by Rick Warren. He tweeted something that sounded a lot like he had been blinded by a toxic poison. My thoughts immediately went to Two-Face from Batman. Rick is a nice guy but when you add toxic poison there's just no guarantee that someone isn't going to go crazy and try and try and take over a city. It turned out that he had been gardening and got some plant stuff in his eyes. Serious enough for the hospital but not quite Two-Face serious.

The truth is that I've made similar mistakes myself. In this era of Twittering, I've said things that I didn't think through the wording of before I tweeted it. Twitter is great... but I've seen more instances of miscommunication over it than anywhere else. Matt Hasselbeck making other NFL players angry because he made a joke about the collective bargaining agreement. John Piper making people upset over his "Farewell Rob Bell" tweet.  Similar to the same idea of speaking without context, we weren't designed to say important things as soon as they pop into our heads and only in 140 characters.

Expectations of the immediate response...
I fall into this so often. I text someone. I write on their Facebook wall. I tweet them. And wait... an.. entire... 5.... minutes. Why wouldn't they reply earlier than this? What have they been doing that it took them 5 minutes to write "lolz"?

Somehow we've forgotten that people used to send letters....

And they wouldn't hear back in weeks....

Maybe months!

The real danger of the expectation of the immediate response is that it takes us out of the now. It takes us out of the relationships and the conversations and the work that we're dealing with right now. In regards to work, people probably use this as an escape. With regards to conversations in real life... we need to realize that it's not wrong to prioritize conversations. The ones that we're having with people right in front of us > the one on our phone. Sure, that might make the person (even me) angry when you don't immediately go see the cat video they found on Youtube... but that's ok. We're harming our relationships by watering them down to serve everyone at the same time.


Thinking that you should matter...
Now, before you read this incorrectly and get angry, hear me out. I'm not saying the danger is thinking that you matter. You do matter. To those close to you. To your family. To God. Maybe me. (I can't guarantee anything) The danger of the era we live in is that we broadcast everything we think and do and then expect the world to respond.



It's not a problem to enjoy those things. The problem exists when you start to expect it. When you start to think that you deserve the response. When the fact that you made French Toast should move your 2000 Facebook friends to tears. It really wasn't that long ago that they only people that would know that you made French Toast would be anyone you happened to tell when you saw them that day.

I'm getting off track talking about French Toast, the bottom line is that it's not really a problem to talk about the events going on in your life...

It's when a response from others to those statuses and those tweets becomes an expectation rather than a blessing.

The 20 year plan

So Kelli and I were sitting around on Sunday night relaxing. She was on Facebook and I was either reading or watching TV (you know, married life stuff). Kelli turned to me from the computer and informed me that one of her friends who goes to a Non-Denominational church, posted on their Facebook that their church just released a 20 year plan. That’s right, a 20 year plan! Not a 1 year plan or a 5 year plan or even a 10 year plan, but a 20 year plan. This naturally led to some conversation and thoughts on ministry.

One of my next responses was to say half jokingly “I bet his degree is in business”. I was actually a little surprised myself that I was right. After a little research I found that he has his BA in Management and Organizational Development and had 14 years of experience in the business world before becoming the pastor.

I believe that there is a place for some strategic planning in ministry, but we have to remember that the church is not a business. We have to leave room for the Holy Spirit to move. In ministry it is essential to not allow our plans to interfere with God’s plan. Here are a few verses that shed some light on our plan verses God’s plan.

Isaiah 30:1

¹ “Woe to the obstinate children,”
declares the LORD,
“to those who carry out plans that are not mine,
forming an alliance, but not by my Spirit,
heaping sin upon sin;

James 4:13-14

¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

Proverbs 19:21

²¹ Many are the plans in a person’s heart,
but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

My intention isn’t to pick on this church. I just think we need to be careful in how we plan in our ministries and how far we plan. To be honest I don’t know exactly what their 20 year plan is. It is possible that it could be “to follow God with all our hearts”, but I doubt it is that general. This whole thing just has made me think a lot about the ministry God has me in and the direction he is leading. My challenge to myself is to be in tune with the Lord’s spirit and to cast a vision only when I am certain it is God’s will.

Without Justice There Is No Mercy

I tuned into my favorite talk radio station (yeah, I'm that guy) this afternoon on my way home from work to hear what everyone is talking about: The death of Osama Bin Laden. I really didn't think too much of it. I was glad, that this man had been brought to justice. But when I opened my facebook page about a half an hour ago I was bombarded by statuses and blog posts condemning those who would rejoice at another man's death. This made me think. Granted, I had not seen the "rejoicing" that was apparently causing this widespread response. But a pendulum swing in whatever direction tends to be hazardous in its own way. 


I hear people asking 'what about Bin Laden's family? Shouldn't we be sensitive to them?' or, 'couldn't we just lock him up so he wouldn't commit anymore crimes?' Some point out that his death is not an end, but just another death in a string of deaths, only to be followed by more. All of these have their grain of truth to them. 


I also do not mean to condone delighting in the death of a wicked man, or reveling in the feeling of revenge. I do not know which one offends me more. 


Hear me when I say I'm trying to stay away from the pendulum. 


To those that are mourning Osama Bin Laden's death: Do not devalue the loss of the hundreds of thousands of family members who lost innocent, albeit sinful, relatives by trying to be sensitive to Bin Laden's family. Do not condemn those who would rejoice in the justice of a mass murderer. God's stance on murder and justice is very clear throughout the Pentateuch and the rest of Scripture. God is Love, but God is also Just. Beware to emphasize love to the point that it overshadows justice! For without justice there is no mercy!


To those Christians who would gleefully, excitedly, and rashly proclaim this man's death: remember God's mercy on you. Get down on your knees and thank Yahweh the Just that he has kept you from such evils and judgment, and has even seen fit to see Christ in your stead. For without justice there is no mercy!
Romans 9:
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?


Rejoice that God does not tolerate injustice. Rejoice that in the death of this man God's glory is revealed. And tremble in your shoes, that God saved you from such a life and from slavery to sin. Vessels of Mercy, Praise your God.




Tidbits on justice:
Deut 16:18-20: “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the LORD your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.


Habbakuk 1, Habbakuk cries out to God concerning the injustice in his day. Hab 1:4: "the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted." God's response? He's going to raise up the Babylonians to execute judgment.

Psalm 99, one of my favorites, says in vs 4, "The King in his might loves justice.You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob."


Psalm 89 is another favorite. Read the whole thing, but especially vs 14: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You.


Amos 5:15: "Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph." And later God says that He despises the peoples religious feasts. He says, "Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!"