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Chapter 1 - Page 1 -
Why Is The Church on Life Support ?
By Adam Bartlett
- If we look at the church today what do we see?
- If we look at the only biblical model of the church, which is the book of Acts, is there a resemblance?
- Are we too afraid to admit that man made traditions have infiltrated our congregations?
- If we were to take a pulse in the congregations of today would there be life?
- Would those that spilled their life's blood for the faith in the first church be happy with the way our assemblies operate?
- Would they feel comfortable in a service in any of the churches today?
- What would they say?
These are just some of the many questions that have consumed my mind for the past ten years. I will not attempt to give what I propose to be the answer of those of the first church. I will only give what I believe and feel in my heart. I believe with all my heart that the church has, and continues to miss the mark of its calling. I would also like to state that I know and realize that the things written in this work do not apply to all congregations or individuals. I believe that there may be parts that apply to some and more to others.
This work is designed to address the church as a whole even though some mentions are made of individual beliefs. I mention certain beliefs and movements to illustrate certain points. I ask you to please not take this as a personal attack on any particular congregation or denomination. My only purpose and goal is to cause us as Christians today to examine the functions of the Body of Christ and see if we can, or need to improve in any area. I do not think I have all the answers, neither do I expect the following to be accepted by all. I am completely convinced in my heart however that the church needs desperately to examine its current condition. I believe that anyone with an honest heart and seeking to keep Jesus at the center of everything in their life will acknowledge that there is a problem in the church today. I believe that anyone that has dove into the Bible with great fervor and desire to hear from the Lord will agree that what is transpiring in the churches today is not a mirror image of the book of Acts.
I speak very directly and do not attempt to sugar coat my statements so I ask that you enter this work with that in mind. I also know that not everyone is able to accept this type of approach enthusiastically so that is to be considered also. When I speak of the "church" I am referring to the churches in the United States in general. I sincerely believe that this epidemic exists in the churches in our country. I cannot speak for the churches in other countries other than what I have heard or seen reports on. I do however know that the condition of the churches in this country is extremely accurate. With all the things that I write, this is not to be a "judgment" but rather to be used as something to cause one to think or examine this situation.
I do not propose that I have all the answers to this situation, but I do believe that 2 Chronicles 7:14 does most aptly apply to this country's "church." The biggest problem is getting people today to acknowledge that the message in 2 Chronicles 7:14 applies to the church of our time. God is not speaking to the lost in this message but says, "If MY people who are called by MY name…" The majority of Christians see their routines as exactly what it should be and find no problem in their spiritual walk. They are completely satisfied with what they have and do not realize the lack thereof. They are filling up on "junk food" and haven't had good 100% beef for so long that their taste buds do not know the difference between bologna and steak. We relate our spiritual beings to physical elements like being fed, appetite, and being filled. If we relate that to the physical aspect of eating then this is what we are doing to our spiritual bodies.
Continued on... Page 2
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