5 things about the American church that make me sad!

These are simply impressions based on my own observations and experience, so don't get too outraged if you know of some exceptions to these...

1. The rush of "Christians" to twist the scriptures to make them affirm gay marriage. If someone wants to take the stand that we live in a secular culture and gay marriage is none of the church's business and inevitable, I would disagree, but I would not count it as heresy. However, to be so concerned about pleasing the world that you would actually try to take things that are incredibly clear in scriptures and say they mean something completely different is sad, dangerous, and unloving.

2. Youth group culture. I don't blame the youth, but we adults have used fleshly means to attract and keep youth involved in the church and I see nothing positive that has come from it. Once we set the precedent that exposure to the word of God must be linked with pizza, soda and games, I think we have done harm. I know we may draw a bigger crowd by using worldly means, but I see little evidence of that crowd ever making the transition to wanting the word for the word's sake. I wonder how many of the adults who attend church now, but want to do almost anything more than sit under teaching, were kept well fed and entertained during their early church experiences?

3. Preachers using the crucifixion of Jesus as an example of how to deal with our own trials and suffering. The crucifixion of Jesus was a one time event that we cannot relate to at all! We are sinners who deserve God's wrath, Jesus is the sinless Son of God who took that wrath upon Himself at the cross! The cross is about Jesus showing God's perfect holiness, justice and hatred of sin, and at the same time, displaying His love for His people by paying the price for their redemption. Can we learn about how to face suffering from Jesus, of course, but to discuss the cross without stressing the unique God glorifying redemptive purpose of it, is sadly missing the point, no matter how helpful it might seem. Unfortunately, this is not just an Easter sermon problem, the Bible is about the glory of God in redeeming His people, yet that is often completely ignored as people preach countless messages where the Bible is simply used as a moral guide for living better lives.

4. The health and prosperity gospel. In the Bible, the church is often in a state of financial poverty and faced with severe persecution. Are they told that this will change if they have enough faith? No, they are told:

Phil. 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

5. The lack of discernment in "Christian" publishing houses and bookstores. Today we find the internet and bookstore shelves overflowing with ear tickling books that multiply errors and fail to teach sound doctrine, so that these other very sad things that characterize the American church are encouraged, rather than being seen for what they are.

But, praise be to God! None of this has caught God off guard! We have full eternal hope in Him, and during these seemingly sad times, we are simply to continue doing those things He has called us to do.

2 Tim. 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at^[a] His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."