In the last several months, I’ve spent time on the mission field in different parts of the world. I LOVE the local church (and I hope you know that from my blog posts), but I fear more for the North American church every time I spend time overseas. Here are some of my fears:
- I fear we go through the motions without really experiencing God’s presence. Seldom have I experienced in America what I’ve seen in some places around the world.
- I fear we get way too hung up on things that don’t matter nearly as much as we think. That’s the way I feel about things like service times, worship styles, and building colors.
- I fear we think too lightly about persecution. We think we’re being persecuted when we can’t erect the church sign we want, but believers around the world are facing much more than that.
- I fear we think we’re the most important church people in the world. No question that the American church is influential, but most of the world has never heard of us – including those among us who are the best known.
- I fear we think too little about Bible study and scripture memorization. I wonder how our ministries would change if the only Bible we had was what we’ve already stored in our head and heart. Some believers live under that restriction.
- I fear we have little idea what power there is in prayer. Our “prayer meetings” hardly compare to some of the long, gut-wrenching, heart-rending prayer times I’ve spent with missionaries and nationals.
- I fear we tolerate sin far too much. I’ve been with international believers who go too far the other way into legalism, but at least they’re talking about holiness.
- I fear we’re not providing enough practical training for young ministers and missionaries. We send them out with our blessing, but not with our practical and personal DNA in their blood.
- I fear we sometimes get in the way of missionaries on our short-term trips. That happens when we plan trips without even briefly engaging those who live on the ground and who best understand local needs and culture.
- I fear we don’t pray enough for missionaries. In fact, I’m sure about this one. I know we don’t pray enough for them.
Just my thoughts today. If you agree with any of these, pick one and work on it. Strengthen the American church by beginning with your congregation.
I read your posts nearly everyday and am always blessed by them. All ten of these are absolutely true. Thank you for your ministry and especially these helpful insights.
Thanks, Lanny. Blessings!
I’m close to giving up on the American church (though not Jesus), so your fears are well-founded in my opinion. I surrendered to God’s call to preach several years ago and, despite having earned two degrees from Southern Baptist institutions, most everything I’ve learned has been self-taught. Very few people in the American churches I’ve served in or belonged to have been interested in authentic relationships that provide mutual mentorship and robust discipleship. After twelve years of striving passionately to learn the dynamics of ministry, it is painfully obvious that it can’t be done alone. However, efforts to reach out to churches and associations near me have resulted in no response. My experiences with the church have not been fruitful, though I desperately desire discipleship.
I’m sorry to hear of your experiences. I’m nowhere near giving up on the American church, though I do have concerns as noted above. I do agree with you that all of us need someone to walk with us in ministry, regardless of how old or experienced we are. I will pray that God will bring you that person.
There are a lot of us battle-scarred pastors who have been in ministry for more than 40 years who would love to mentor a younger pastor or two. Many suffer in silence trying to go it alone, and we’re not visible enough to them. Any ideas how to work on this? I was fortunate (and still am) to have men in ministry through the years I could turn to and have meaningful fellowship with. I am blessed today with 44 years of ministry behind me to still have Godly men I can turn to and count on.
Thanks, Walter. My experience is that if you seek out some young guys and ask them if they’d like to walk with you in ministry for awhile, you’ll find some interested parties. Have you already tried this approach?
Great list, Chuck. I share your concerns. You may have written about this before, but I thought I would ask a couple follow up questions: 1) What do you think are the root causes of some of these? 2) What one or two things can the church do to start addressing these concerns?
Good thoughts, Grayson. I’ll consider both of your suggestions. Thanks!
Sobering list. I wonder if #3 might become more real in the years to come.
I concur with you on #3. I believe that the Christian life, when living it on purpose, includes persecution. Matthew Ch 5 is a prescription for living the Christian life on purpose and when speaking of persecution, verses 10 and 11 Jesus tells us that persecution is a blessing (NIV or the MESSAGE). That is KINGDOM living. For Christians to escape fear of persecution, this is what we, the western church needs to know and make part of our Christian life.
Thanks, Jon. Blessings.
Thank you for this challenging reflection Chuck. I have nowhere near the extensive experience that you have with international churches so I am interested to know, based on your experience, whether it may be possible that at least some of your concerns are true as much for the “prosperous” church as for the American church exclusively. Do you note some of these tendencies in prosperous churches outside America? Perhaps prosperity is part of the answer concerning root cause, as mentioned in the question posed by Grayson above.
Mike, I do think prosperity is part of the problem — and I do, indeed, see some of the same issues arising internationally where the prosperity gospel is gaining in strength. I’m not one who argues that prosperity is inherently evil, but we cannot ignore its dangerous pull away from God. Thanks for the question.
May well be, Jonathan.
This is an excellent, true and sad list. If I can add one that I see, have felt and am still fighting: I fear that we allow our fear of others at home and abroad to trump God’s heart for the lost that should be alive in us. I pray for help in seeing not enemies but lost souls in need of salvation in the States and across the globe.
Good thoughts, Louis.
Great list. Thought provoking. I admit, I was stopped in my tracks on #4. We have been in South Asia for two weeks now. Right now, I am praying that I will be very mindful NOT to display this attitude as we seek to live among such culturally distant people than we are accustomed.
Praying for your work, Tracey.
I fear that we have lost confidence in the blood of Jesus and the power of who Jesus is.
True. Thanks!