The American Church Today
The American Church today seems so strong in the faith, yet so far from the Word of God and its teachings. Why is this and what as individuals can we do to strengthen our walk and be a functioning part of the body of Christ?!
Recently, we have been going through what seems to be one hard issue after another. Issues that Scripture deals with plainly. I have noticed that when it comes to the Word of God, people think one of three things …
- That God’s Word is a lamp unto our feet, for we do not know where to go sometimes and God has given us directions in His Word. And we need to be humble and bendable to accept this truth and the truths He has stated for our good.
- Or, God’s Word is just a suggestion and our circumstances and feelings can change what God is really saying.
- Or, God’s Word is good for the good things (things that benefit us, salvation, to guide us to good works, etc…) but is irrelevant to today and today’s culture.
Why is the Word of God not enough for us anymore?
1. Because we all know people or are the people who have the sins Scripture acknowledges as sin.
When the Word addresses a certain subject, even one that hits close to home, it should remind us that our God holds a high standard. Because we know that God works all things together for our good and wants the very best for us even when we fail, His standard should still stand! It should push others to godliness — not to our lowered, sinful standards.
Just because I once told a lie doesn’t make it O. K. to lie…it is still a sin, plainly stated in God’s Word. Let’s not get offended, but humble ourselves and push on to show the glory of God Who loves us and restores us back to a standard of righteousness! He is Strong enough to do so!
2. Because We do not have ears to hear and eyes to see.
When Jesus had something important to say, over and over He would add “let those that have ears let him hear, those that have eyes let him see” (Matthew 11:15). May we take time to hear God and what He is saying to us. Let us also not just pass off what the Lord is doing but embrace it and acknowledge the working of
the Lord. May we bring Him glory by seeing His hand in our everyday lives. May we also be hungry for the Lords hand to work in our lives, not just pursue things in our own strength.
I don’t know about you, but I WANT TO SEE GOD IN EVERYTHING! I do not want to stand in the way of something the Creator of the world already has in His hands.
3. Because we do not take kindly to “Judging ourselves.”
But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged (1 Corinthians 11:31). We do not take the time to look at our own log and pray that God will show us where He is molding us into His image even more. We would rather do what is easier on the outside (what ends up being the harder road) instead of making hard decisions — decisions that are pleasing to the Lord. Decisions that keep us hiding His Word in our
hearts so that we may not sin against him (Psalm 119:9-16).
“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15).
I believe the “American church” has Americanized Christianity so much that almost every word of Scripture is considered offensive instead of encouraging. Instead of bending and being humbled, we are stubborn and unwilling to see TRUTH — for this truth is not being shown in our lives, and this will be what brings our pain.
The Word of the living God should be what’s encouraging us to live lives pleasing to the Father, whom we love.
Let me leave you with this:
“You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart “(Matthew 12:34).
Fill your heart with His Word — meditate on it so that it will be an overflow of your heart. Let your life be a light in a hurting and dark world. Have eyes to see and ears to hear because you consider so highly the Name you bear that you desire no shame to come upon it because of your choices.
Examine yourself and let your heart be humbled. We all need to see the light in our lives. When we allow ourselves to be offended instead of humbled, we lose sight of the Kingdom of God and our role as the redeemed.
Know His Word is enough…even when your heart is broken and you don’t understand… this reveals a faith that others can’t explain. Point them to the Word. It’s enough because the Gospel contained therein has the
power unto salvation.
Let His Word be a light unto your feet …Don’t just take the preacher’s word for it, but open your Bible and study it! Know the Lord is seeking YOU and wants to know you so that others will know Him.
How can you follow someone you don’t even know? Know and fall in love with Jesus so that you will see the Spirit working. This, my beloved, is what pushes back the darkness — when we, His chosen, SEE His Hand working! Slow down and look!
“Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth” (John 17:17).
