Cultural Architect: Why Churches are Declining in America

pastorcraig »

Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:43 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

Zealousness - an admirable quality if it is zealous for what is right and true and pure, but when it condemns the innocent and fights over non-issues it is not zealousness, but contentiousness. Standing for the Word of God is right, but not all that we seem to fight over is truly based on His Word. So what if churches have a cafe or serve coffee? Is it sin? Show me. Why fight over musical notes or style, or the building, or who is leading worship or teaching the truth if indeed he is? Yes, methods have gone through changes in the 38 years that I have known the Lord and been in churches, and yes, some of those methods seem to cater to a 'self-indulgence.' Would that we were perfect. The real test is not that we enjoy 'chuch' or not, whether we like styles or not, but are we truly desirous of making disciples who know the Lord and will do the same? I used to judge the "modern methodologies" and the "church growth" movement, but the bottom line is not the methods or numbers it is the fruit - have people truly been told the gospel? Do we really want people to hear? Let's stop worrying about coffee and popularity, as though something popular is wrong or coffee in church is 'sinful.' Why judge or condemn those who are doing something? Before the Master they stand or fall. Instead, let's quit that fight and fight to have the truth made known.