I know that by titling a blog post “The Problem with the Church” I run the risk of causing many to assume that this is another holier-than-thou-church-bashing. It is not. In fact, I need to begin by acknowledging that I have been a big part of the church’s problem for much of my 30 years that I have known Jesus. Before moving to Guatemala I spent 20 years as a youth pastor/church planter/pastor and I was very much a part of the problem. So, at the heart of all of this is a public confession and a pleading for others not to make the same mistake.
We talked about it, preached about it, prayed for it and predicted it, but it never came. I heard pastors speak with great conviction about the Great Awakenings that swept across America and saw the fire in their eyes as they shared that we were due for another one. But it never came. Sure, there were times when whatever church I was a part of would grow and we would see some people saved, but nothing happened that ever really impacted our neighborhood, much less our city, state or nation. And usually within a year or two the gains we would see would be lost due to division or simple boredom after the excitement wore off. These times would become short-lived spikes on the church’s growth graph.
Of course, you could always point to those churches where good things seemed to be happening. The congregations would grow, buildings would be built, cool VBS programs would be hosted, and people would flock to them. Occassionally I was a part of one of those congregations. But were these really revival? No, because their impact usually ended with those that went into their buildings. The community that surrounded them continued as normal.
I have sat in and even chaired church board meetings where we have talked about and prayed for revival. I have sat in denominational and district conferences where it has been preached and restructured for. But it has not come. And the question is, why not?
Maybe the answer to that question lies in our vision of what revival would look like. For just a moment, think about it. What would revival be like if it fell on your church? Usually the description is something like this:
Oh, it would be wonderful! People would come to know Jesus and be passionate for obedience. Our church would be packed to overflowing and our offering plates would be full. Our services would be exciting, the preaching amazing and the community would be flocking to us.
Okay, fair enough. Let that be the description of revival. Then what? What would your church do with all of those eager and willing people and those overflowing offering plates? (I didn’t ask what they SHOULD do, I asked what they WOULD do. Big difference.) And the answer is the same thing it was doing before, only more of it. If it was building buildings before it would build bigger buildings. If it had lots of programs for the church families it would have more and bigger programs. If it focused on hiring professional ministers before it would hire more ministers.
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'” – Matthew 25:23
He knows that what we do with the little is what we will do with a lot. As a result, He blesses us or withholds blessings accordingly.
You see, the recipe for revival has been there all along. It is written in black and white repeatedly in Scripture. If we want the power and blessing of God our our lives, our families and our churches we need to surrender ourselves to God and start doing the things that are important to Him. Period. If we do, He will bless us with everything we need and more to do it bigger and better. God does not bless us so that we can be blessed, He blesses us so that we can bless the world in His name.
Don’t believe me? Read Isaiah 58. It is the formula for revival in black and white. It explains what true fasting really is:
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”
Isaiah 58:6-7
And what will the results be? Easy answer because the same chapter lays it out for us:
“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”
Isaiah 58:8-9a
This is just a snapshot of Isaiah 58 and I encourage you to read the entire chapter. It makes it very clear that if we want the blessings of God we had better start doing the things that matter to Him.
Another vivid picture of this concept is Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 when he gives us a view of the final judgment:
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you? "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'”
Matthew 25:34-40
In every one of the churches in which I grew up and served the Word of God was preached. We were taught that the Bible was true and that we should live it out as believers. If it says it, we believe it, and that settles it! Yet I can seldom remember being challenged to feed the poor, clothe the naked or give water to the thirsty. And, if I recall correctly, little or no money was budgeted for those tasks. But, more importantly, the same was true for the church that I pastored. In that situation, there was no one to blame but me. As a result, I am deeply ashamed of my leadership and grateful for God’s mercy and forgiveness. I am also grateful to have another chance.
The roadmap to revival is clearly laid out. Love the Lord and love others. But loving both requires more than just words. It requires action. As we begin to love in ways that matter, God will provide more than enough power and resources through His Spirit. Until then…we will be the church in word alone.
Three years ago I had a conversation with the President of a denomination that was promoting a new emphasis for renewing their churches. They had a neat, concise 5-point plan and they were encouraging their districts to get on board. Yet in that 5-point plan there was not one word mentioned about caring for the least of these. They were seeking God’s blessing and renewal without effectively using the little they already had. And, unfortunately, all of the restructuring and planning will be in vain.
There is a world dying around us, both physically and spiritually. In our congregations are the resources to change that. And if we would just begin small God would give us what we need to do it in enormous ways. But if we don’t we should not sit around asking God for revival and blessing. It will not come. He will not bless us if we are simply going to hoard that blessing.
But imagine what would happen if the church really cared, really loved, really met needs and really saved lives. Do you think our Father would withhold what we need to do more of it? Of course not. We would have trouble keeping up with His Spirit’s power and provision…and we would know revival first-hand.
Take it from someone who knows…a recovering part of the problem.
Daryl
