death of the church

there was a famous evangelist who had just finished preaching a revival in a large city.  as he approached the back of the room he was stopped by a young man who shouted, "Christianity and the church have failed - look at all the people who died in the name of Christ!!"  to which the evangelist replied, "son, Christianity has not failed - Christianity has never been tried.  the church on the other hand is a complete failure."

I remember talking with a pastoral friend who told me, "the church will last forever, Christ told us 'the gates of hell will not prevail against it.'"  but is that true?  did Christ make such a statement?  and if he did, did He mean the church?  I don't think Jesus was talking about the church when we made this statement:

"'and how about you?  who do you say I am?'  Simon Peter said, 'you're the Christ, the Son of the living God.'  Jesus replied, 'blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah!  for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.  And I will tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades' will not overcome it.'" (Matthew 16:15-18 NIV)

we all know that the truth that Jesus built his church upon it that He is the Christ - the Son of the Living God.  and it is that truth that the gates of hell have no power against - the fact that Jesus IS THE CHRIST.  the church is fare game - both Scripture and history has proven this to be true.  over the past the church has killed people for the sake of the kingdom; people have been killed because of their beliefs, history, race, ethnic group, and even because of their physical handicaps.  churches have broken apart because of the color of the carpet, or if air-conditioning should be installed - the church is dead.  for all intents and realities, the church is dead - or is it?  and if it is, can it be resurrected?

think of it this way, would you invite a friend to your church, knowing all the garbage that fills the building each and every sunday?  most, as time has proven, will not.  the church has lost over 10% of it's people in the past 10 years; while the population has grow by 15% - in reality the church has lost 25% of it's people over the past 10 years - what are we doing wrong?  I believe it all centers on worship - or the lack there of.

according to Barna, over 40% of evangelical Christians say they do not feel the presence of God in worship - that's just wrong, at all levels.  why?  here's a simple list of basics

• the message is outdated and has no meaning to the needs people have today.
• the music is off base - when I hear organ music I start to crave hotdogs
• the setting is uncomfortable
• the message does not challenge

you can add a million.  ask the people, who stopped coming why they stopped coming - the answer might surprise you. if you truly desire to open the doors to the church and let in the hurting, it will take true movement on your part to get the ball rolling - change is good.  the church is dead, long live the church!!

(by john o'keefe)