Concern for the 21st Century Church (Separate Blog)

Concerns for the 21st century church

I am a believer in Jesus Christ and the Grace that He has given me due to the action of my faith! I am nobody in and of myself, but I am somebody in Christ. I am not writing to impress anyone. My husband and I have attended many Southern Baptist Churches in the South, the Southern Midwest, and the Western portion of the US. We are finding that tradition has become a way of life in several churches. The elderly are attending but young families are disappearing. I am saddened by the way people are controlling the church and not allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to be in control. In the South the churches are “family” owned. In the West it is the “elderly” who own the church. Their traditions are preventing the power of God’s Spirit to flow. Pastors who have dedicated their lives to serving a Holy God are being fired by these “owners”, and others are resigning and not returning to ministry because of the worldly ways of the church. Jesus said that there would be a time that the church would kill the under-shepherds, thinking it was God’s will.

John 16:2-4 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. NIV

My husband is one of those powerful Spirit filled Southern Baptist Pastors who is no longer willing to pastor a church. We now serve the Lord in the mission field outside the church now as Campground hosts. People are hurting and seeking answers. In the casual atmosphere of the campground we have been able to minister more effectively than in the church. Jesus is still the answer and the Wisdom of God is found in reading the Bible. Jesus warns against having the heart of a Pharisee! We all must be careful! (Holding to a form of Godliness but denying the power)

Henry Blackaby, a noted pastor and author of many 21st century works, I believe, Holy Spirit inspired writings said – “…the reason people do not come to God/the church, is because they do not see God at work in the world today!” Jesus said “If I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.” But unfortunately in a majority of our churches today, God is not being lifted up. He is being soaked up by stagnant sponges soaking up preaching and teaching, but not pouring it out to an unbelieving world. There is a prevailing attitude of “what can I get out of this for me?” In essence they are withholding the Gospel from younger families because of their judgmentalism. They have an attitude of “It’s my way or the Highway”.

2 Tim 3:1-6 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them. NIV

In one of the churches where we served the “owners” became very upset because as pastor, my husband gave permission for a church member to have a baby shower in the church building for her daughter. Her daughter was a non-believer and she was having a baby without being married to the father. The “owners” unspoken and belligerent stand was that her sin would corrupt the Sanctity of God’s house. The truth is we are all sinners and Christians are still sinners “saved by grace.” None of the church members came to the baby shower except the family of the mother, my husband and I, however, the youngest son of the mother of the unbelieving daughter made a profession of faith that day. The precious soul of one lost person was won to the Lord, and the “owners” missed witnessing the activity of God’s Spirit due to their absence. God sees the Heart of the true believers and lifts up those who are willing to depend on the strength of Jesus Christ who gave us His Holy Spirit to guide us in our thinking.

Speaking from a background as a Southern Baptist, we as Southern Baptists need a truly humble Spiritual Awakening! We need to pray the “ownership” mentality from the church and demonstrate the activity of God in the church.