(Charisma News) “If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point that the world and the devil are at the moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages is where the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides, is merely flight and disgrace if he flinches at this point.” —Martin Luther “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” —Martin Luther King Jr. “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act, is to act.” —Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Recently a thought-provoking article appeared on the internet titled, “The Christian Church in America Has Lost Its Focus and Purpose.” While remaining Gospel-centered, have we drifted off-course?
An Absentee Church? A pastor confessed to me a struggle that resonates with scores of pastors: “How do we hang on to Millennials? They’re leaving in droves.” The reality is many don’t see any real-world-relevance in the church. Issues of today aren’t being addressed (while they sure are by an activist secular media). Because they observe an absentee church, they’re increasingly absentee attendees. New Testament writers didn’t just preach in an expository way but targeted issues Christians faced. The Scriptures were applied in a contemporary, meaningful way. READ MORE
