The American Evangelical Church is in Trouble

The American evangelical church is in trouble and there is only one way out!

God is still faithful and there is much that the church is doing right, so let’s look at that first.

To clarify, I am writing about the evangelical church. We live in a culture that welcomes many Christian traditions. Each has its distinct emphases and approaches to Christian ministry. Some have compromised with culture and are in danger of losing their unique calling from God to proclaim the good news and make disciples.

Victories

The evangelical church has resisted this call to a sort of secular religion that embraces alternative lifestyles and abandoned the scriptural basis for holy relationships that are blessed by God. When we abandon God’s clear commands to accommodate a changing culture, we are not being faithful to a God that calls for holy living.

The evangelical church has loudly and strongly supported a biblical morality for intimate relationships, marriage and protection for the unborn. But there is more to the church than this!

It is helpful at this point to look at a letter to the church in Ephesus:

 “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: ‘The words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands.

“ ‘I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. 3 I know you are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name’s sake, and you have not grown weary.

Revelation 2:1–3 (ESV)

The evangelical church has rejected false prophets that proclaim that all expressions of “true love” are acceptable to God. So, this is good!

However, not all is well.

One big fail

John reminds us of a problem that is current in the American evangelical church today, as he continues his letter to Ephesus:
But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

Revelation 2:4–5 (ESV)

In our zeal to reject immorality, we have forgotten that the call of God on his church is to make disciples. The early church was born in a world of immorality, corruption and idolatry. Yet never was it called upon to work to change that culture. Through the power of the Spirit, the culture would be changed by the lives that were transformed.

This scripture calls upon the church to repent – to change our thinking. We are to return to our first love – worship, prayer, the ministry of the word, compassion – serving God in full obedience and love. When we allow him to empower us by his Spirit, we discover that as we do the things he has called us to do, he does the things that only he can do.

Returning to our first love means we rededicate ourselves to using the spiritual gifts he has given us. It means we return to prayer and to God’s Word as our guide for every aspect of our lives. Returning to our first love means we renew our commitment to following Jesus, no matter where he leads and what he asks us to do.

This really works

I am continually encouraged by the testimonies I hear from praying, faithful evangelical churches of spiritual victories that have resulted in people being freed from the bondage of immorality, addictions and sin. Prayer and the faithful ministry of the word proved more powerful than voices of protest against these lifestyles.

It is time that the American evangelical church learns to return to prayer and the word of God and discovers once again that the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power (1 Corinthians 4:20).

It starts with you, as you read this. I would love for you to join in me in prayer for the church, that we would be all that God wants us to be, that we would rediscover the power of the Spirit as we abide in the word and presence of God.