We've all heard the news: church in America is declining.
We think this is a bad thing. What if it isn't? As a matter of fact, it is a great thing, because the "decline" of the American church is completely orchestrated by God.
What Dave? Are you serious? Doesn't God want all people to be saved? Why would He be behind churches closing their doors, denominational headquarters being sold, etc?
The answer lies in John 15:1-2. Jesus says to His disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
What is happening right now is a ruthless pruning of God's church. Right now, God is pruning off leaders that have not remained faithful to Scripture, moving them out of ministry, declining their influence, closing their denominations. God has put up with church leaders who deny the Resurrection but trumpet political causes, but now He has moved to the judgment phase and is "cutting off the branches that bear no fruit."
If you look closely at the "decline" of the American church, it isn't Bible-believing and theologically orthodox churches that are declining. Quite the opposite. Churches who hold fast to Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, who boldly state that salvation is found in Him and Him alone, who look to the Bible as the Word of God not to be compromised or forgotten, are actually doing quite well. Very well, in fact.
It is the churches that can't decide if their Christianity includes Christ that are dying.
Yes.
For example, the Episcopal Church in America is collapsing. Several years ago, some clergy put forth a resolution to declare Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and it was soundly rejected by the governing body. The only resolution that was overwhelmingly agreed to was to affirm the humanity of gay and transgender people.
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
When a church can't decide if their Christianity includes Christ, it is no longer a church, no matter whose humanity they affirm.
I pastor a non-denominational church that is theologically orthodox and holds the Bible to be the true Word of God. We believe that salvation is in Christ alone. I was talking with a friend of mine who is an atheist, and he asked me, "Does your church do gay weddings?"
I said, "No, we don't. We welcome homosexual people to come and worship God with us, and they will be loved like everyone else, but we will not bless same-sex marriage because it just doesn't happen in Scripture."
He said, "That's what I thought. That's why I don't go to church- you all exclude people."
I said, "Let me ask you a question- if all of a sudden we changed our beliefs and started doing gay weddings, would you all of a sudden become a committed church member, being baptized into Christ and repenting of your sins, turning your life over to the Lordship of Christ and living as God intends you to live?"
He said, "No."
I said, "So, it's not that we are 'excluding people.' It's just that you don't want to be a Christian."
See, church leaders, here is the practical example: it is unpopular in America to hold to an orthodox view of Christianity. Orthodox churches endure ridicule and withering criticism from the mass media, the militant homosexual movement, atheists, academia, etc. It is very tempting to change our beliefs so that we will be more "accepted" in society. I think that many church leaders change their beliefs in order to attract nonbelievers to their churches.
However, the people criticizing your church for its lack of "inclusiveness" don't join your church when you all of a sudden become "inclusive." All you've done is compromise who you are. So, it's a dumb policy regardless.
Right now, we are in a season of God's ruthless pruning of His church. You might say He is preparing empty church buildings for more mission-minded, Bible-believing, Jesus-following congregations. The face of Christianity is going to change dramatically in the next ten years. Many of the mainline denominations, who years ago abandoned Christ for more liberal, secular causes, will cease to exist. Their buildings- huge, grandiose buildings once holding vast congregations of worshipers- now a quarter or a tenth full, will be closed and then re-opened by an evangelical, mission-minded new congregation that believes in Christ alone as Savior.
Take note, church leaders and church people- the only churches in America that will be left after God's great pruning will be churches that take His Great Commission seriously. God has washed His hands of churches that resemble social clubs more than missional communities. God has washed His hands of materialistic, worldly churches more interested in comfort than truth. God has washed His hands of churches that are more influenced by the world than by God's Word.
So, all of you church leaders who remain true to the Gospel, all of you Christians who remain true to God's Holy Word, be encouraged. God is ruthlessly pruning off churches that teach a false spirituality so that your churches can be more productive. It is His will that you are even more fruitful. It is His will that your church thrive even more. That is why He is pruning back the church in America right now.
The "decline" of the church is nothing of the sort. Like a farmer who prunes off dead branches, bitter fruit, and weeds, God is clearing the way so that churches who stay faithful to Christ will have more and more influence. God is placing more and more resources into churches that stay true to His word, and His blessings will be concentrated in churches who truly worship Christ.
Be ready for His blessings as you stay true to His Word.
We think this is a bad thing. What if it isn't? As a matter of fact, it is a great thing, because the "decline" of the American church is completely orchestrated by God.
What Dave? Are you serious? Doesn't God want all people to be saved? Why would He be behind churches closing their doors, denominational headquarters being sold, etc?
The answer lies in John 15:1-2. Jesus says to His disciples, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
What is happening right now is a ruthless pruning of God's church. Right now, God is pruning off leaders that have not remained faithful to Scripture, moving them out of ministry, declining their influence, closing their denominations. God has put up with church leaders who deny the Resurrection but trumpet political causes, but now He has moved to the judgment phase and is "cutting off the branches that bear no fruit."
If you look closely at the "decline" of the American church, it isn't Bible-believing and theologically orthodox churches that are declining. Quite the opposite. Churches who hold fast to Jesus as the only begotten Son of God, who boldly state that salvation is found in Him and Him alone, who look to the Bible as the Word of God not to be compromised or forgotten, are actually doing quite well. Very well, in fact.
It is the churches that can't decide if their Christianity includes Christ that are dying.
Yes.
For example, the Episcopal Church in America is collapsing. Several years ago, some clergy put forth a resolution to declare Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and it was soundly rejected by the governing body. The only resolution that was overwhelmingly agreed to was to affirm the humanity of gay and transgender people.
"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."
When a church can't decide if their Christianity includes Christ, it is no longer a church, no matter whose humanity they affirm.
I pastor a non-denominational church that is theologically orthodox and holds the Bible to be the true Word of God. We believe that salvation is in Christ alone. I was talking with a friend of mine who is an atheist, and he asked me, "Does your church do gay weddings?"
I said, "No, we don't. We welcome homosexual people to come and worship God with us, and they will be loved like everyone else, but we will not bless same-sex marriage because it just doesn't happen in Scripture."
He said, "That's what I thought. That's why I don't go to church- you all exclude people."
I said, "Let me ask you a question- if all of a sudden we changed our beliefs and started doing gay weddings, would you all of a sudden become a committed church member, being baptized into Christ and repenting of your sins, turning your life over to the Lordship of Christ and living as God intends you to live?"
He said, "No."
I said, "So, it's not that we are 'excluding people.' It's just that you don't want to be a Christian."
See, church leaders, here is the practical example: it is unpopular in America to hold to an orthodox view of Christianity. Orthodox churches endure ridicule and withering criticism from the mass media, the militant homosexual movement, atheists, academia, etc. It is very tempting to change our beliefs so that we will be more "accepted" in society. I think that many church leaders change their beliefs in order to attract nonbelievers to their churches.
However, the people criticizing your church for its lack of "inclusiveness" don't join your church when you all of a sudden become "inclusive." All you've done is compromise who you are. So, it's a dumb policy regardless.
Right now, we are in a season of God's ruthless pruning of His church. You might say He is preparing empty church buildings for more mission-minded, Bible-believing, Jesus-following congregations. The face of Christianity is going to change dramatically in the next ten years. Many of the mainline denominations, who years ago abandoned Christ for more liberal, secular causes, will cease to exist. Their buildings- huge, grandiose buildings once holding vast congregations of worshipers- now a quarter or a tenth full, will be closed and then re-opened by an evangelical, mission-minded new congregation that believes in Christ alone as Savior.
Take note, church leaders and church people- the only churches in America that will be left after God's great pruning will be churches that take His Great Commission seriously. God has washed His hands of churches that resemble social clubs more than missional communities. God has washed His hands of materialistic, worldly churches more interested in comfort than truth. God has washed His hands of churches that are more influenced by the world than by God's Word.
So, all of you church leaders who remain true to the Gospel, all of you Christians who remain true to God's Holy Word, be encouraged. God is ruthlessly pruning off churches that teach a false spirituality so that your churches can be more productive. It is His will that you are even more fruitful. It is His will that your church thrive even more. That is why He is pruning back the church in America right now.
The "decline" of the church is nothing of the sort. Like a farmer who prunes off dead branches, bitter fruit, and weeds, God is clearing the way so that churches who stay faithful to Christ will have more and more influence. God is placing more and more resources into churches that stay true to His word, and His blessings will be concentrated in churches who truly worship Christ.
Be ready for His blessings as you stay true to His Word.
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