A Church Without God!

What is the point of services of worship, or even of preaching services, if we do not hear God, and meet with Him? What point is there in listening to a man preaching the Word, if God is not present by his Holy Spirit? If preaching is merely an activity in explaining a bible passage, then we do not need to come to church at all to get that; we can consult a decent commentary and get all the explanation we want!

I understand that we come to church to worship primarily to give to God the praise of our hearts. But since the preaching of the Word is the climax of reformed worship, and if we cannot worship an absentee deity, what exactly goes on in church services today? Are we fooling ourselves and our people if we are pretending that God is present with us when He is not?

Does the fact that we have to invent contemporary ways of worshipping God not tell us that we have lost God from our services and churches? Canon Michael Green once famously said that if the Holy Spirit were withdrawn from most of our churches, the work would go on and no one would know the difference. That is sadly true. Our churches have degenerated into institutions that are unwieldy and cumbersome, and are run like machines and businesses, there being no dependence on the activity of the Holy Spirit of God. The fact that we like to be in control leaves out the very possibility that God by His Spirit will interfere! He will not share His glory with another! If men want to organise the church along their lines, then them get on with it. God still gives people up (Rom.1:24, 26, 28) to their own perverted desires and plans. If they want a church without God, He will surely oblige.

The church today must get back to God by seeking Him with seriousness of heart and intent. Whatever rubbish that is polluting the 'wells of water' must be removed. Whatever is blocking the flow of blessing must be sorted. Where God's Spirit is being grieved, then there must be deep heart-repentance. A grieved Spirit will not come to a church in which He has been offended.

So identify the offense, and deal with it immediately, and then seek the Spirit's return to the church. We must mean business with God if there is to be any improvement in church life and fellowship (whatever 'fellowship' is?)! And further, if the life of our nation is to be healed, then the church must return en masse to her God, wailing her unfaithfulness and seeking His forgiveness.

Until this is done, we may but expect more horrendous things to come our way.