Sep 2015 - 10 Things That Are Undermining The Church Today

10 THINGS THAT ARE UNDERMINING THE CHURCH TODAY

Many churches today have become lazy and blasé to the power of the Gospel and as a result, have lost their impact in this dark, immoral society. It is time for the Church to rise up, repent and correct these things that have undermined it.

1. PRAYERLESSNESS
Whatever happened to the Prayer Meeting? For centuries the Prayer Meeting was an essential part of church life, an indispensable part of the weekly programme. Yet few churches today have an active, vibrant Prayer Meeting in which most members participate.
"One day Jesus told his disciples a story to illustrate their need for constant prayer and to show them that they must never give up" (Luke 18:1).

2. NEGLECT OF THE WORD OF GOD
We need to know the Word of God and the God of the Word. The Lord guides us first and foremost through His Word. The best way to know the Will of God is to study the Word of God. It is our priority to ensure that we are "…not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2).

3. LACK OF THE FEAR OF GOD
The reverential awe, respect and fear of God must be the funda-mental attitude of our faith. Any view of God which does not lead us to fear Him and obey His Law cannot be a Biblical view. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…" (Psalm 111:10). Only the fear of God can produce lasting justice and righteousness in individuals, families, churches and nations. "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

4. EVOLUTIONISM
Evolutionism and its denial of the Creator, and therefore of accountability to Almighty God on Judgment Day, erodes the very foundations of Christian civilisation. Evolutionism destroys all meaning, purpose and justice in life. "You came from nothing! You are going nowhere! Life is meaningless!"
Evolutionism is an attempt to retroactively abort God. Yet all too many Christians have bought into the lie of Evolutionism that erodes the foundational truths of Genesis.
"For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:20-21).

5. EGALITARIANISM
The rejection of authority and lack of respect for elders produce a self-centred and selfish society. The Ten Commandments effectively forbids egalitarianism. We are not to covet what others have. We are not to steal other people's property, nor are we to dishonour our parents or other superiors. Neither may we lie, gossip or slander others. Instead of an attitude of entitlement, we need to rediscover the lost art of respect.
"Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you" (Hebrews 13:17).
"You shall rise before the grey-headed and honour the presence of an old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:32).
"The eye that mocks his father, and scorns obedience to his mother, the ravens of the valley will pick it out, and the young eagles will eat it" (Proverbs 30:17).

6. ANTINOMIANISM
(The view that Christians are released from the obligation of observing moral laws).
The rejection of God's Moral Law inevitably leads to lawlessness, where everyone does what is right in his own eyes.
"Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, law-lessness (the breaking, violating of God's law by transgression or neglect - being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will)" (1 John 3:4).

7. WORLDLY ENTERTAINMENT
We need to beware of technology encroaching on our lives. Technology is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. Has the TV become your family altar and electronic babysitter? Super-ficial, sensational and immoral material predominates in the modern entertainment industry and it is producing an increasingly superficial, selfish, mindless and immoral society.
"Since they did not think it worth-while to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind…" (Romans 1:28).
"Their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21).
"Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every oppor-tunity, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:15-16).

8. SECULAR HUMANIST EDUCATION
Anyone who believes that education can be neutral, is mis-taken. Ideas have consequences. Actions flow from thought patterns. Secular humanism is a religion which deifies and dethrones God. All education is inherently religious, because it presents a certain perspective and selection of history, values and practices and it prescribes a worldview.
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy which depends upon human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ" (Colossians 2:8).

9. LACK OF MISSIONARY VISION
The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. The Great Commission should be our supreme ambition. The last command of Christ should be our first concern.
The Church is called 'House of Prayer' for all nations. We are called to "go therefore and make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19-20).

10. IGNORANCE OF HISTORY
Real history, told from a Biblical perspective, is an enduring treasure of the Church that can teach us about truth. In the Scriptures, we are commanded to understand the times, so that we may know what we ought to do (1 Chronicles 12:32).
We need to understand the events and issues of the past that correspond with our challenges today. To liberate our thinking from current fashions and to recognise potential potholes and traps, we need to understand the people, events, and issues that shaped our past and affect our present.

History illustrates the consequences of ideas and actions.
"Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after all things, as they also lusted, now all these things happened to them as examples and they are written for our admonition" (1 Corinthians 10:6-11).
[Peter Hammond www.frontline.org.za Joy! August 2015].