Where Have All The Churches Gone?
Consider it a lament for churches in my country.
In almost every single Protestant, Evangelical (so they claim) church I have stepped into, not a single instance have I not been greeted by "worship", feel good sermons and yes, tongue- speaking.
Is it just me or have we lost what going to church means?
Considering that almost every single church in my country (Excluding select RC churches) have become Charismatic and pick up every single fad that hits the streets (From the Purpose Driven Life and I anticipate, soon enough, the Emergent style church), I almost fainted with joy when I see a good old Reformed church standing right in front of me. I'm not stating my personal theological bias here. I truly hope and wish that the churches in my country reform. Yes, they need to change- to grow up.
For too long have I heard sermons that make you feel good when you leave the church. For too long have I heard (and seen) worship were the ultimate goal is merely a good time. We have lost the concept of worship, unfortunately. We have lost theology, which is even worst.
To expand on that, I have yet to hear one distinctively theological sermon. (Except maybe in my good-old Reformed church) Not once. "Basic Doctrine" has now become an optional class that is way to basic. Nobody knows or has even heard of apologetics. In fact, some Christians I spoke too oppose it. Pray and let God handle it, they say. Although that's true, I wonder what they would do when someone comes up to them and say, "Prove God even exists."
I wonder.
That is my hope, that Churches in my country would grow some backbone. Wishful thinking (at least it seems to me) when I enter one of these churches. But I do pray and ask of God to truly renew and revive these churches.
In almost every single Protestant, Evangelical (so they claim) church I have stepped into, not a single instance have I not been greeted by "worship", feel good sermons and yes, tongue- speaking.
Is it just me or have we lost what going to church means?
Considering that almost every single church in my country (Excluding select RC churches) have become Charismatic and pick up every single fad that hits the streets (From the Purpose Driven Life and I anticipate, soon enough, the Emergent style church), I almost fainted with joy when I see a good old Reformed church standing right in front of me. I'm not stating my personal theological bias here. I truly hope and wish that the churches in my country reform. Yes, they need to change- to grow up.
For too long have I heard sermons that make you feel good when you leave the church. For too long have I heard (and seen) worship were the ultimate goal is merely a good time. We have lost the concept of worship, unfortunately. We have lost theology, which is even worst.
To expand on that, I have yet to hear one distinctively theological sermon. (Except maybe in my good-old Reformed church) Not once. "Basic Doctrine" has now become an optional class that is way to basic. Nobody knows or has even heard of apologetics. In fact, some Christians I spoke too oppose it. Pray and let God handle it, they say. Although that's true, I wonder what they would do when someone comes up to them and say, "Prove God even exists."
I wonder.
That is my hope, that Churches in my country would grow some backbone. Wishful thinking (at least it seems to me) when I enter one of these churches. But I do pray and ask of God to truly renew and revive these churches.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, June 02, 2005 at 12:09 PM.
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