In writing this title, I don’t want to say that the liberal church is completely innocent, because they have their fair share of the blame, as those who have so blatantly and even proudly denied the faith they claim to represent.
But the focus should be put on the conservative church, those churches that at least put on a show of having correct doctrine and beliefs, who at least say they believe in, for example, the divine inspiration of the Bible, the trinity, and salvation by faith in Christ.
These churches should be focused on, because they have no lived up to their beliefs, and this is having an effect not only on the churches, but outside the churches.
In can see four problematic areas in the conservative church.
Greed
Outside of political taxing and spending, nothing is more emblematic of greed than the thing called “Christian television”. Many TV preachers have made themselves filthy rich (emphasis on the literal meaning of “filthy”) by crying and begging and threatening on Christian television for people to send them their money, even their last farthing. But perhaps the most blasphemous example of greed is how the “gospel” far too many churches preach is the “prosperity gospel”, the gospel of having your best life now, the gospel of living the high life, of having all your dreams come true.
Entertainment
Church is no longer church. Church is theater. Perhaps its the old-fashioned hell-fire-and-brimstone preacher who stomps and snorts shouts and bellows all across the church stage. Perhaps it’s the more modern rock band playing praise songs followed by the preacher giving a combination comedy routine and motivational speech. Throw in some props, and a Sunday service may well be the best free show in town.
Power and Abuse
How many denominations or church networks have had sexual scandals in the past decade or so? How many individual ministers have been involved in sexual scandals? How many cover-ups have only made these scandals even worse when they finally came to light?
No Gospel
I’ve mentioned one false gospel, the prosperity gospel, but one of the biggest problems in churches is that the gospel isn’t there, or it’s just barely there. I’ve listened to sermons where the “gospel” is little more than an “ask Jesus into your heart” bit right at the end.
Why Is This Important?
How can the church speak against greed and financial corruption when the church itself is filled with greed and so many ministers are corrupt in their finances and fundraising?
How can the church speak against a culture that is none-too-slowly amusing itself to death when the church itself is filled with pastors whose main concern is turning the church into a place of fun and games?
How can the church speak against a culture that is supporting, embracing, and even celebrating sexual immorality and perversion when the church itself is filled with ministers who are themselves immoral and perverse?
How can the church speak against a culture that wants to hear only pleasant lies when the church itself downplays the truth, the gospel that Christ died for our sins, from its own pulpits?
How can the church claim to love God while it is preening and parading itself before the world’s eyes? How can the church claim to be pleasing God while it flirts with the world that itself is the enemy of God? Does the church really think that it can do the impossible, that it can win the approval of both the world and of God? Can a church that looks so much like the world, that is greedy and shallow and corrupt and abusive, really think that God is impressed with its works?
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