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The problem with our churches are twofold in my opinion. First, far too many have allowed themselves to become IRS approved 501c-3 CORPORATIONS and in exchange for all the tax benefits associated with this status the fedgov has literally muzzled the pastors of these coporations with the threat of revoking their status should anyone start to publicly declare the truth about the wide range of self destructive problems we're facing as a nation.

Also, a recent conversation I had with a pastor of a huge congregation in the Dallas area sums up another factor contributing to our demise. I approached him with a basic question as to why his sermons weren't more strident about issues such as homosexuality, abortion, education system, patriotism, etc.....and his ansers was classic: "well, we just don't want to offend anybody, we just want to keep bringing more people into our church family". My retort was: "that's all well and good but if we're hearing week after week the plain vanilla "series of messages" that speak nothing about the real war going on outside of the church as well as the fact that we're not discussing effective means for Christian families to armor themselves in standing up to the evil permeating our society then what reason is there to keep attending this church?". With that he mumbled something and turned away to greet other parishoners.....the next week he announced another big new building project which I refused to give any $$ because he sure OFFENDED me with his attitude.

Sounds like it might be time to find a new church. I know that I am in that dilemma these days. I have only attended church a few times since I've moved to Arkansas. I am an Episcoplaian and have been a member of some wonderfully spiritual, Bible teaching churches. For the past 10 years I have been seeing a decline in the church. I was thankful that ours was a longtime holdout against the pressure to ordain homosexuals. Now that has become common practice. With the installation of a homosexual bishop in (was it Boston?) a couple of weeks ago, I am thoroughly discouraged with the church. I love the liturgy and have a hard time imagining myself in a different kind of church on a regular basis, although I have enjoyed visiting many different churches, but since we have an episcopal form of government, how can any individual body be free of the corruption of its leadership? It is a vexing issue. I know that some parishes have become independent, but I have limited options where I am now.

There have been a number of EXCELLENT posts to this thread; many of which explain the reason for the explosive growth in 'home churches' lately...some Christians are just sick and tired of the watered-down message spewing from the pulpits. I gave up on attending church a few years ago; the pastor was more interested in the on-field performance of the Tennessee Vols than he was in preaching the Word, and uplifting Jesus Christ. Gather together with a few fellow believers, and study the Word of G-d. "Where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am also". (paraphrase) I really don't see the difference between the apostate churches and public schools...neither one has any particular interest in the truth.