The Pike Syndrome: The End of the Church?
What happened to that pike?
The pike quit doing the most basic, most natural thing it was created to do; feed itself.
Is this a picture of the Church?
God's people have quit doing what we are called to do; advance the kingdom.
Why have we given up?
Christians give up because they allow their disappointments to turn into unbelief.
THE CHURCH is like that Pike, we have given up because we feel powerless to be a source of positive change.
Barna reported that 1 in 5 churches will close after the pandemic.
Church attendance since the beginning of Covid has dramatically declined.
The "Organized Church" that meets in buildings across the country every Sunday morning may shut down, but The "Church", The Ekklesia will NEVER DIE!
"The Organized Church" vs "The Ekklesia"
"The Organized Church" was created by man to make a big, powerful money making-machine
Pastors/leaders are chosen like NFL quarterbacks to take the team to a Superbowl.
They are told to preach messages that make people "feel good."
Exciting Sunday morning experiences attract crowds of people like football fans who sit on their backside consuming beer and hot dogs expecting their quarterback to win the game.
The pastor is judged by the elders who serve as Monday-morning commentators who analyze Sunday morning performances.
The bottom line for the pastor is his performance must put more butts in the seats.
It all comes down to power and money. The more butts you have in the seats the more money you have on the offering plate. The more money you have the more power you have.
This is called church growth.
But the reality is that this model burns out pastors, chews up volunteers and distorts the reason for Church.
"The Ekklesia" was launched by Jesus to bring salvation to the world.
It was not a lucrative business model to make Christians fat and happy.
Jesus wanted to duplicate HIMSELF - His nature, His miracles, His deliverance, His freedom, and His salvation.
The Christ-kind-of-multiplication comes through relationships built on making covenants with one another.
Jesus poured himself into his disciples and we are to do likewise.
Covenant creates a foundation for community.
Community is a deep covenant-centered relationship where we walk out our commitment to God and our sacrificial service to one another.
The goal is to create a community where the presence of God reigns and family thrives.
We advance the kingdom by giving away the nature of Christ to others and training them to be representatives of the Lord.
Okay, I realize there are many theories about how we should "DO" church. But "the church" doesn't have a chance until we get real about returning to the origins purposed by Jesus. We are beyond irrelevant because the goal has been about trying to survive a pandemic by hanging onto our numbers to keep the lights on.
NO, NO, NO THE CHURCH IS ESSENTIAL BECAUSE:
We have the source of life; the cross.
We have the source of strength; the truth.
We have the source of power; the Holy Spirit.
We have the source of hope; salvation in Christ.
We have the source of courage; the resurrection.
Satan is not afraid of the organized church that seeks the comfort of the four walls where we hide every Sunday from a world that is dying and going to hell. He fears courageous but unperfect men and women who throw aside their need for soothing Sunday morning services in exchange for swords ready to battle and take territory for Jesus.
Revival and reformation are coming to America through an awakened Church. I know that God can raise up a remnant to bring change. I'm not laying down like a dead fish.
I'm laying down my life, my time, my energy to bring the THIRD GREAT AWAKENING!
JOIN ME. LET'S BRING REVIVAL AND REFORMATION.
SIGN UP FOR THE SCHOOL OF AWAKENING TODAY:
https://www.courageousministries.com/pages/school-of-awakening