Churches cannot be “fixed”. They have generally become places where men promote themselves, their ministries, and taking money from God’s people.
Nothing new here. In Acts 20, Paul warned the elders of the church in Ephesus that this would happen. Only thing now is that it’s almost universal.
“28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.29 I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; 30 and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. 31 Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel. 34 You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. 35 In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Find me a man in church leadership today who demonstrates this life.....
But saints are not without guilt - for they want men to follow, to tell them what to do, to exalt - because so few know how to walk with God themselves and how to live daily with Him alone as their Lord and Master.
The spiritual condition of churches today is tragic, and the world rejects it because behold! It looks at the church and sees nothing different from itself - and says, “No thank you.”
I love when I see a pastor with 3-4 vehicles, a house I could have only afforded to buy, and the $10,000 per month pension plan. Nothing is too good for our pastors. If you are ever in a Korean church, the aforementioned benefits plus paid Christian schooling for their kids, 2-4 trips for the family to Korea every year, 2-3 mission trips that include the pastors family.... That vow of poverty or simply to have enough to live and serve God.
I’m actually thinking about coming out of retirement to preach - can make more in a year preaching than I made working for the Department of State at the end of a 33-year career with government.
Amen. Insofar as you define church as a government ordained institution that is privy to exist if it meets certain parameters.
But, if you define the church as individuals who have come to the realization that they are not filthy sinners who, yes, occasionally make poor decisions and that their Heavenly Father loves them regardless and Jesus became One of them so He could have fellowship with them and experience a life filled with joy instead of enduring a guilt-tripped life trying to undo Adam and Eve's poor decision when Jesus already did that, then it can be fixed. But it's up to you and me. Are you up for it?
I think that's the biggest drawback to church attendance right there. So much of the focus is on guilt-tripping people and convincing them they are worthless scum. People should leave church filled with joy. Instead they leave thinking they are lower than worm spit. "But the good news is we have an 8 step program to lift you above worm spit! And if you sign up early it's only $99!"
Uhh, no. The Good News is Jesus died for my poor decisions so I don't have to feel lower than worm spit and He did it for free! So I'm going to go with that plan.