Let the Church Be the Church!

Let the Church Be the Church!

I recently viewed a podcast on YouTube hosted by a man who announced he was going to point out and highlight a significant number of the worst pastors and churches in America. I kind of cringed at the prospect of his bold assessment, but curiosity compelled me to view his presentation. I’ll not mention his name or the name of his podcast. I don’t know him, and though I’ve now watched about three of his podcasts, I don’t have enough context to recommend or discourage viewing.

I do know this however; I found myself in agreement with his opinions on the worst pastors/churches in America. He didn’t build his case on his own prejudices and opinions. He simply showed clip after clip of well known pastors in their well known mega churches saying and proposing statements and ideas that were completely contrary to sound biblical exegesis (interpretation).

In other words, he basically let them “hang themselves” by their own words.

Even as I share this I can imagine there may be some who might think I should not bring up this kind of controversy. We all know the saying, “If you can’t say anything good about anybody, don’t say anything at all.” But that’s precisely the point! The church it seems, in many corners, has taken a vow of silence.

Issues, about which scripture is crystal clear, now have pastors and leaders of major denominations walking on egg shells at their national councils and conventions. Discussions and debates ensue regarding what the church’s position should be on any number of dilemmas that are eroding our culture and attacking our doctrinal foundations.

We seem to be living in “upside down world” in case you haven’t noticed. And far too often and in far too great a degree, the church huddles in the perceived safety of its ecclesiastical norms, and sings more loudly, “Victory in Jesus!” while the culture as well as the church suffers significant defeats.

(I use the word church, lower case c, in the general sense, herein referring to the organized, denominationalized entity which may function within the realm of the true Church, or body of Christ, but at times and in ways, often does not.)

It is said that in Nazi Germany, some churches sang more loudly as trains filled with the cries of Jews, passed closely by on their way to the death camps.

Unthinkable? America is guilty of the same. In Eric Metaxas’ book, “Letter to the American Church”, he addresses this very issue.

“Because the German church had for too long adopted a wrong interpretation of Romans 13, i.e. ‘Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities…’ in Germany, the German church largely fell in line, as though standing against the wicked tyranny of Hitler was obviously and unavoidably wrong. When God looked to His church to stand against the great evil that had come upon Germany and that would devastate much of the world and murder millions, they balked, using as their chief excuse an outdated application of Paul’s words from two millennia before. They felt religiously justified in doing nothing, and the unprecedented evil results of their pious inaction would make the world gasp. Indeed, the world gasps to this day, as it struggles to take in how it is possible that a nation ostensibly Christian could have in any way allowed such things to take place. But what about us? Haven’t we in America swallowed these same lies, and haven’t we similarly silenced from speaking and acting boldly against what we see happening in our own time…?” (Eric Metaxas)

In Chapter 11 of his book (Chapter title- “Be Ye Not Political”) Metaxas goes on to explain how our fear of being deemed “political” within the church setting, pressures us into being silent about things that are clearly moral, ethical, and spiritual.

But how can so many of our churches be failing in areas that are so biblically obvious? “Biblically obvious” is the operative term here. I have been asked many many times throughout the years, by many pastors who wanted me to weigh in on the question, “What’s the greatest need in the church today?”

My response was always the same: “The greatest need in the church today is sound biblical preaching and teaching, and dependence on the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.”

You might say, “But you didn’t mention Jesus! ”Proper exposition of God’s Word will always lead you to the foot of the cross and the name of Jesus. The Holy Spirit IS the Spirit of Christ! (Romans 8:9; 1 Peter 1:11)

Proportionate to shallow or errant exposition of God’s Word, and a failure or hesitancy to embrace the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in our churches, is the encroachment of the world into our ecclesiology and the ineffectiveness of our churches in influencing the culture.

Are you part of a sound Bible preaching/teaching, Spirit-led church community? Do you pray for your pastor and church leaders? Do you come prepared to worship on the Lord’s Day? Do you serve your local body in some capacity, if you are able?

All these things and more matter if we hope to make a difference in our culture, and in our time! Remember when we were little kids in church singing, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”

Every Christian and every church should subscribe to this verse: “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

We as Christians (the true Church) are to be living examples of a risen Christ, indwelt by the same power which raised Him from the grave!

Every local church should be a viable representation of the kingdom of God on earth! Let the church be the Church!

In Christ,
Dallas Holm