There is a great story in 2 Kings chapter 7 that gives us a great example of what we are seeing in the churches today.

2 Kings 7: 1-9

If you go back to 6:24-25 you will see that Samaria was surrounded by the Syrian army and there was a famine in the land at this time. Samaria was the capital at this time of the Jewish people. If we look at the spiritual comparisons we see something very interesting. We see that God's people are on the inside and the enemy as well as the lost souls are on the outside. It is the enemy's goal to keep the churches activities confined to the inside of the building and he has been very effective in doing this. By doing this it creates a famine both on the inside and the outside. The church becomes so consumed with itself and blinded by its activities that it never sees those that are starving outside the doors.

It is interesting to see how busy most are in the churches with the many activities that the church has implemented to keep the congregation busy. Unfortunately by doing so they have neglected things most needed in the body. We have become so busy that we fail to spend time with those outside the doors. We neglect our families, the lost, time with God, time in the Word, all in the name of "religious" activities. We have boards and committees to make all our spiritual decisions instead of following the pattern in the book of Acts. They met together and prayed and let God make the decisions. There is a famine in the majority of churches today and what is worse is that they don't even realize it. It is like the theory of the frog in the pan of water that if heat is applied slowly enough that the frog will boil and never jump out. Not knowing that the heat has overtaken him until it is too late.

The church for too long has sat back in their pews playing the feel-good, look-good religion and is losing touch with all spiritual reality. They don't even realize the famine that has surrounded them and by time they feel the hunger pains it will be too late. The church doesn't realize that the world already sees it for what has happened. Just as in verses 3 and 4 the lepers knew that they could find no help in the city (church) so they gave themselves to the mercy of the world. I fear that the lost are doing the same every day because the church has failed so consistently as soul-winners. It is outside of our comfort zones to get out in the streets and reach the people that need us most. In this era of microwave religion it is not convenient to get out of our routines and witness.

Realistically the real reason is that Christians are not prepared to witness. Through their own negligence in the Word and their own personal study time. The are used to allowing someone else to do their studying and praying for them and are not equipped to do any spiritual warfare. I have heard the excuse so many times by Christians that "it isn't my call" or "I'm not an evangelists" that it makes me sick. That is the biggest cop-out that a Christian can use and it only illustrates their immaturity in the Bible. We are all evangelists and witnesses for Christ and I find NO exceptions in the Bible. We are not all called to the "office" of Evangelists but we are all personal evangelists for Jesus.

Another problem is too many divisions among God’s people. There are so many denominations now that it is hard to count them. There are so many branches and divisions among the church that it is no wonder that the world is confused. There is also the problem of self-mutilation of the Body that is evident to the world.

Galatians 5: 15

It is quite obvious that there is so much turmoil and backbiting and division among people in churches that unity is hard to find. The problem is that in the churches they are no longer using the Bible as the only guide and things get out of spiritual control when the foundation is flawed. Instead of conforming to the Biblical guidelines it is easier for those to start their own branch for following.

Matthew 21: 12-14