spiritualitytheology.com

As I travel the countries of the world I find one theme outstanding where ever I go. There is a great religious revolution underway. Many of the organized churches are greatly disturbed by it and are doing some serious soul searching. So far no one has really come up with a solution. Church leaders are making all kinds of desperate moves. From what we know several reasons are apparent but the leadership seems unwilling to do anything other than pay lip service to the problem.

From interviews with those seeking religious revolution, three objections to religion stand out:

1.     The great crowds that came in former years are no longer willing to be a part of what they call, “spectator religion.” Frank Viola writes great details of spectator religion in his book, “Pagan Christianity.” He traces the development of the priest-pastor-preacher profession as well as the Basilica building where this profession thrives.  You can order this book on www.Amazon.com and download it to your kindle. The religion doesn’t make any difference, they all are having the same problem. A single man and his assistants preside over the worship that was open meeting in the New Testament. I Cor.14. The reason? No one knows. Perhaps the crowds have outgrown the man made model they were shown when they first became Christians.

2.     From interviews with those who have left in the Great Religious Revolution of the 21^st Century, there are extreme    objections to the entire collection going to Mortgages and salaries. One can explain them away any way they wish but  these are the objections and the church leaders refuse to listen.  The helping of the poor, local and worldwide gets left by the wayside. “Someday we will do that but this is a mission field right here.” Certainly missions are left at the starting gate for parking lot paving and staff needs. Every staff member has his own empire.

3.     Lack of community and fellowship is the greatest objection before joining the Great Religious Revolution of the 21^st Century. Michael Spencer predicted that over the next 10 years the evangelicals would lose 50 % of their members. Ralph Barma says that 1,000,000 people a year are leaving organized religion. The prediction is that two groups will benefit from this exodus: The house churches and the High Churches. The reasoning is that they have the greatest sense of community. People are looking for a more spiritual worship experience. See www.spiritualitytheology.com. Certainly I know some who have lost 30% over the past 10 years. People hardly know each other at the standard Sunday morning worship service.

I would be interested in your reactions to the Great Spiritual Revolution of the 21^st Century. You may respond below.

Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »

CLICK THEME
“>

The last two years I have had a heavy burden on my heart watching the demise of the church. Michael Spenser predicted that in 10 years the Evangelicals would lose 50 % and the ministries would be all but eliminated. The US is in the same place as France 20 years ago when their long slide into secularism began. Like the US Church leaders, the French Christians were in a state of denial. Everyone’s church is growing. Signs out front read, “Don’t just watch us grow, come grow with us! Pragmatism is the doctrine du jour. By the time everyone woke up here it was too late. The young had all left.

One way we have chosen to combat this and turn the trend around is to plant and nurture house churches. What we have found though, is that these kids will never go back to the organized church. They love the relationships they never had and some have found the Lord. The challenge is to so teach that the Holy Spirit indwells them and leadership arises that will look after them even though most of them have never darkened the door of an institutional church.

It is so sad to hear passing through Christians, especially the women, tritely say, “Well, that is somewhere else. You must come and hear our preacher. He is so inspiring, young and handsome. We are growing. We arrree growing. Don’t talk negative.” God help us!

Filed under: Yearning for Spirituality | 1 Comment »