-
Problems Facing the Church
This Is not a lesson that makes one happy. The very subject is unpleasant We do not consider it in order to express pessimism nor create depression. But we must face certain realities as we serve the Lord. We are going to consider some problems facing God's people in our time, not so much concentrating on specifics as with general problems that give rise to many aggravating situations and circumstances. Specific problems usually come from larger issues that must be recognized and corrected before the specific matters can he rectified.
Who would dare set himself forth as an expert as if he knew all the problems facing the church? Most of us are only aware of things in a relatively small area of the world compared with the church over all the world Furthermore, what Is a problem in some localities ma's not be the case in other places . Each locality may have Its own peculiar set of problems, but often they overlap But we wish to consider some matters that are probably characteristic of brethren in many. of not most, places.
It is nothing new for the church to face problems. It has been that way since Pentecost. This is not said to minimize the seriousness of problems, but only to help us get and keep things in perceptive. We need to he aware of problems. but we should not think that merely being aware of them will correct them or arise them to go away. But if we ate ever going to do something beneficial in correction problems we must first become aware of their existence
The church faces, problems that come from within and from without its ranks. Our lesson will center attention on problems that we relate for ourselves are often from within. Often. these are by far the most difficult ones.
Ignorance
There Is even among brethren a growing ignorance of Bible. This Is not being judgmental sense. It is to observe what is the case. It seems that many in the church. young and old, have lack of knowledge, even of fundamentals. This is serious seeing the emphasis in the Bible on knowing what the will of the Lord is. The Word provides the evidence upon which our faith is founded, Lack of knowledge of the Word can only mean a weak faith.
We are to study the Bible (Second it evident that many members of the church show little interest In Bible, Even though Jesus said, Matthew 4:4, "Mart shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God," so many place such importance on the material side of life to the neglect of the spiritual side that they do not learn His Word. Jesus taught, John 5:39, "Search the scriptures for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." Yet, so many do not search the Scriptures as did the noble Bereans (Acts 17:11). As in the days of ancient Israel, Hosea 4:6, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge."
When members of the church know the Word of God, they will not only remain faithful, cannot be led astray by the whimsical manners of men, but will he aggressively active in doing the will of the Lord.
Without knowledge there will be weak faith, no guidance. disapproval from God, dangers of apostasy, and loss of salvation Christianity is a taught faith (John 6:44.45).
The Way It Was
Churches of Christ were once known as a Biblically informed people. It would not be fair to so characterize the church generally that way now, even though there are many who know the Word. There has been an emphasis on academic degrees alongside a de-emphasis on "thus saith the Lord" in preaching and teaching. Some who preach are trained in religion generally, hut not the faith of Christ. Opinions of religious authors and theologians are more in vogue than the inspired writings of Scripture. Human literature, human wisdom, human reasoning are taught in classes rather than the Word. We have become a people that follow men all too often rather than learning from the Bible the way of God.
This drift has been accomplished under the guise of being more relevant for today, as if God's Word is not a sufficient guide for today. In some churches, if there is any Bible study at all, it is more from what some men have concocted than what the Holy Spirit has revealed. What a contrast to speaking as the oracles of God (I Peter 4:11), and preaching the Word (I Timothy 4:1 4) as Paul instructed Timothy to do.
Confusion
The result of this trend toward ignorance has been more language of Ashdod, Imitation of denominationalism. unsound and uncertain sounds, non Biblical doctrines. division, confusion, apostasy, digression, and a general disrespect for the Word Itself. When you realize that the law of sowing and reaping is still operative. it is frightening to consider what is happening and will happen to the future generations as we see the church becoming less and less like the New Testament church and more and more like the ways of men around us.
A major problem that has arisen is confusion over what is the work and mission of the church. You would think this would never be the case among us. You would think in light of the teaching that Christ came to save the sinner (I Timothy 1:15; Luke 19:10). and the church is His body (Ephesians 1:22-23). that the gospel is God's power unto salvation (Romans 1:16). that it would not he difficult to determine the work of the church as spreading the gospel to the saving of the lost. Especially ought we understand this since the church is the pillar and ground of the truth (I Timothy 3:15).
We also must be reminded that what we do must be authorized by Jesus Christ (Colossians 3:17). The written Word is the source of that authority (II Timothy 3:16,17). So many brethren seem to have ignored the need for authority because they look longingly toward doing what denominations do. We are not left to do just anything and everything somebody wants to do. We have a work that Is to he done, a distinctive work of the church, and we must confine ourselves thereto,
Wrong Goals Create Problems
But some, in order to get numbers and finances. have shifted the drawing power from the gospel to recreation. and social reform without conversion to Christ. Some have gone wholesale into entertaining. providing fun and games for every age. secular education, baby sitting services, political actions, even joining the world in demonstrations for first one cause then another. The work of the church Is the spiritual salvation of mankind through spiritual reconciliation with God.
I once heard a man spend fifty minutes of a so called sermon urging the congregation to put his college in their budget. Since when did it become the work of the church to provide tennis courts, science laboratories, gymnasiums, etc. for schools? Some seem to think that If they throw in some Bible classes alongside side everything else that this justifies the church financing the whole scene! We only ask for Biblical authority for such as that before we accept it.
Individual/Collective
One manner used to confuse the work of the church Is to contend that whatever a member of the church can do the entire church can do collectively. The fallacy of that is that there are duties the individual has that are not always parallel with the duties of the body, the church. Even though the church is made up of individual members, everything the individual does is not a part of the corporate work. It Is perfectly acceptable for the individual to conduct a profitable business, but not the church. The idea that the church can do whatever an Individual can do is false doctrine that has taken millions of dollars from the treasuries of churches that was given for the work of the church but used in areas of activity where the funds should not have gone, and the work of the church is abandoned to that extent. Some have spent huge sums on recreational facilities while missionaries go begging. "My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
Please the World
The church Is being overwhelmed with the emphasis and concern with this world and is falling to "set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth." (Colossians 3:2). While we are in the world, we are not to be of the world. Worldliness has sapped the Influence and power of the church everywhere. We are to save the world, not conform to the world (Romans 12:1,2). Love of the world has generated a lax, worldly minded and permissive people toward immorality, drinking, dancing, gambling, and many other worldly excesses we see about us, and among some so called Christians. Pulpits have become silent as death In condemning the sins of the world among the members. (It might cost the clergy preacher his high paying job and popularity).
It Is evident that many in the church are striving for their pleasure and material gain more than the welfare of their souls and the souls of their children. If you doubt this, just observe closely the tremendous loss from the church of the young among members of the church. Family after family has so stressed this world that their children are not "in the Lord." Jesus taught, Luke 12:15, "Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for man's life consistent not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth." Paul warned, I Timothy 6:7-10, " For we brought nothing into this world arid ii is certain we can carry nothing out. And having load and raiment let us he therewith content. But they that will he itch fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men jet destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Worldly emphasis has helped create the preacher shortage. While there is seemingly no shortage of those clamoring to get on the "staff" and payrolls of churches, there is a shortage of faithful men who will preach the gospel without fear, favor, compromise, or perversion. There are those who readily compromise truth In order to retain their level of income. Covetousness affects the contributions and hinders the work that could otherwise he done. Works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19ff) still prevent entrance into the kingdom of God. We need to ask if we are influencing the world or Is it the other way around. The willingness to discard as useless whatever has gone before and the craze for the new without regard for the true has captivated the ambitions of too many, and the church is reeling beneath the pounding it takes from the worldly minded members. The reproach that is heaped against Christ because of the worldly lives of so called Christians cannot he measured for magnitude of 0 and the damage it causes to His cause for which He died. How people can live for the world and claim to be of Christ is an inconsistency that cannot be explained.
The New Rather Than The True
Change for change's sake is the watchword with some. While we may improve our methods and expedients that are lawfully used, some have changed the message and mission in order to appeal to the world, bringing people into fellowship without converting them to the convictions they must possess to he children of God. Many are being deceived by the lies of false teachers who say they only wish to change in matters of opinion, but upon examination of their message, it is obvious that the message they preach conflicts with the doctrine of Christ. We are naive to think false teachers are sincere. It is increasingly evident that the lives of many members of the church are not lights in the world nor are they the salt of the earth. They hide the light of truth beneath the bushel of hypocrisy and imitation of error. It still rings true, however, that we are not to love the world (I John 2:15-17), and when we are friends with the sinful things of the world we are no longer friends of God, but His enemies (James 4:4).
Liberal and Modernism
Doctrinally, the church is beset with modernism and liberalism. This really has no relationship with being modern or generous either one. Modernism is a system of thought that denies the Bible is the Word of God, denies the miraculous, denies even the existence of God, including the Deity of Christ and the evidences of it. Modernism contends the first eleven chapters of Genesis are myths and only figurative language. Liberalism embraces the doctrines that have divided and torn the church through the years, as men imitate the substitute churches of denominationalism, adopt doctrines of men, slander faithful brethren to gain their own fame and fortune, and generally disrupt the brotherhood in order to create a "do your own thing" approach to religion. Forsaking the need for authority for what is said and done, they go their own way, ridicule the "old paths," and heap unto themselves teachers of error. Many churches, once faithful, are submerged by liberalism.
This attitude toward Scripture has seeped into the church through brotherhood papers. books, Bible departments of schools, modern speech so called versions of the Bible, the "scholars" who have absorbed the modernistic teaching they studied while gaining their religious titles and degrees at the seminaries operated by modernists and denominationalists. It has gained favor through big name brethren who have had influence, but who have digressed from the truth. For years on end these people have been polluting the minds of generation after generation until the church is staggering from the blows of digression and apostasy. The climate that only the "intellectuals" have any right to say or know anything, that others need to keep quiet. has captivated the "thinking" of too many. As in the day of Paul, those who profess themselves wise are fools because they have turned their heads from Biblical teaching and adopted the ways propagated by men in contrast to truth (I Corinthians 1:17-29).
Lethargy/Apathy/Peace at Any Price
But atop all this is the pathetic and tragic lethargy and indifference that holds control of the minds of members and their leaders alongside the disposition to "go along to get along." This is not a problem with all, nor is this something brand new among brethren. Revelation 3:16 and the lukewarm church in Laodicea the turmoil for this kind of religious stupor. So many manifest a "who cares?" attitude. So many are unwilling to take a stand. So many are unwilling to work and bear their part of the load.
You may see a lot of activity here and there, but often It is activity that is not the Father's business, but just busyness. You hear a lot about love, love, love, but it is not the love of which one reads in Scripture but a permissiveness and tolerance of sin, an acceptance of false doctrines and doctors, a pseudo love that appeals to emotions hut fails to manifest itself in genuine deeds that seek the other's highest good as God defines the good. Some who cry for love are among the most vicious people on earth. They have no love for the truth no" those who stand for it and defend it. Their love is for their own bellies, their own way, and whatever means that gains for them their goals and ambitions.
This lethargic indifference Is seen in letting the other fellow do his work and mine, too. It is seen In being against everything and for nothing. It is evident with the lessening interest in evangelism. Many churches are merely "house keeping" for the Lord and not even doing a credible job at that. It is seen in the decline of accepting personal responsibility, the unwillingness to cooperate and work. Interest is centered on self and what one wants, what makes one feel good, rather than what is the revealed will of God. There is compromise of truth, and "dialogue" with those in apostasy under the guise of seeking unity. They seek not unity, but fellowship in spite of division, and in spite of God s prohibition of it. They preach we are have "unity in diversity," which means to agree to disagree, and that doctrinal differences make no difference.
The church is now plagued with the development of the "staff" and clergy of congregations, the soul winning experts without each Christian making his or her effort to even be faithful, let alone be soul winners. It is seen in the attitude that nothing applies to me, but everybody else ought and will do what is necessary. This Is a strength sapping and energy draining disposition against the welfare of the church.
Nonetheless, all is not evil, and the Lord has promised to he with us. With these and other problems, like the lack of discipline, weak leadership, failure of training, absenteeism, the Lord's people face hard times. It is up to the faithful to try to prevent, face, solve, overcome, and endure the problems in the church without developing hatred and bitterness toward those In error, for that would destroy us. Problems mean that we must be sure and more determined to keep step with the Master.
We work for a remnant to keep the flame of truth burning brightly after our term of service ends In physical death. May God help us to be faithful to Him,