In the Book of Ephesians Paul the Apostle writes, “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
Have you ever woken up one morning realizing that for the past so many days, months or even years you have been living your life without focus. You have allowed things to creep into your life that in the grand scheme of things just aren’t all that important while allowing the things that are important to sit by the wayside.
If your answer is yes then you are just like millions of others who have come to the same realization, as I have also on more than one occasion.
Now, what about the Church in America. As I look at the church it seems to me (who am only one man) that the Church in America has sorely lost its focus. It is my opinion that the church age we live in will one day be known by historians as the mega church age.
The age when churches saw tremendous numerical growth, when the Pastor’s of these large churches took the place of Mick Jagger and the Beatles in pop culture. The age when books were churned out by the thousands promising anyone who would read them “Your Best Life Now” or a “Purpose Driven Life.”
But I also think that this age will be know ironically for the decline in cultural relevance (understanding God’s Word is always relevant) and church attendance. For you see the church has become consumer driven more than purpose driven.
With our latte’ laden bible studies, commercialization of “christian” music and watering down of the gospel, corporate church attendance has become more about the “seeker” than the One who has sought after us, God Himself. And any economist worth his salt will tell you that consumers are fickle and need to be constantly stimulated by something new in the marketplace.
So it seems that the entrepreneurial pastors of today have created a viscous cycle of consumerism that will one day find the church so watered down that their will be little difference between the church and the local community center. Many churches like one in my community who gave an ode to Michael Jackson are already treading on thin ice.
But there is still the opportunity to redeem the time in these last days filled with evil. There is still time for Pastors to return to the simple exposition of God’s Word.
There is still time for churches to return to the purpose of the Church which is the reciprocal building up of its members producing mature sheep who beget lambs who then also grow up to be healthy sheep and do the same.
There is still time for the Church to trim the fat of trying to compete with Broadway, Starbucks and the State Fair and get back to Old Fashioned teaching of God’s Word, prayer, breaking of bread and fellowship.
Maranatha!
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