Despite the thousands in our megachurches today, soaking up the warm entertainment offered to them every week, I want to put it to you that we have lost Christianity. Despite the Christian books now found in every Walmart, and the “crossover” of Christian artists into the mainstream, and our Christian mega-stores and CD’s and DVD’s and Study-Bibles, I want to put it to you that we have lost Christianity. Despite our lavish Cathedrals in the suburbs (‘Charismatic or not) with their pastel hues and comfortable pews, their projector screens and $30,000 sound systems, I want to put it to you that we have utterly lost Christianity.
We left it behind somewhere when we shifted our churches from the inner city into the “comfortable” suburbs. We left it behind when we stopped welcoming the bums off the street into our meetings and started welcoming only the “respectable” people. We left it behind when we stopped preaching, “take up your cross” and turned the gospel into a success formula – ‘Seven Steps to your Best Life Now.’
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Of course, I have written on this theme before. (My first book was “The Coming Great Reformation”). But recently I have sensed God reminding me again that unless there is massive “shaking” and change in the church – then any ‘move’ that comes will not achieve what He desires. Some people simply want a return to repentance preaching and holiness in the churches. They just want an old- fashioned ‘Revival’. That is a laudable aim – and one that I personally love – but it is not enough. In fact, it is nowhere near enough.
The fact is, Reformations are far messier, more contentious and immensely more “shaking” than Revivals. They tend to target pet doctrines, ingrained cultures and structures that the church has been clinging to for years. They bring massive disruption and division. They force people to “choose sides”. Those of us who have studied history think that simple “Revivals” are bad enough. Well, Reformations are ten times worse! And yet, without this level of “shaking”, God simply cannot achieve what He wants to achieve.
Read the rest of this entry »
Of course, I have written on this theme before. (My first book was “The Coming Great Reformation”). But recently I have sensed God reminding me again that unless there is massive “shaking” and change in the church – then any ‘move’ that comes will not achieve what He desires. Some people simply want a return to repentance preaching and holiness in the churches. They just want an old- fashioned ‘Revival’. That is a laudable aim – and one that I personally love – but it is not enough. In fact, it is nowhere near enough.
