After leaving a church service in one of our provincial towns quite recently, we were trying ti analyse what had taken place. We agreed that the Word was explained quite well, and that was good. The worship was becoming the House of God, and we appreciated that, too.
But we could not discern that something was wrong - we knew that something was missing, but we could put our finger on it. Then it struck me - there was no power in the service. That is what was missing! There was no power, nothing to indicate that God was present - if indeed He was present.
Out that in the light of Rom.1:16 where Paul tells us that the Gospel is "the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." So, if the Gospel is truly preached, then "the power of God" will be felt, experienced. Those present at such a service will know they are in God's House, and He Himself is there, too.
But if there is no power, where, then, is God? The church is kidding itself that God is present automatically "where two or three are gathered together in [His] name." This is the ploy that is resorted to in many evangelical churches to convince themselves that God really is with them. But if there is no power, then God is not there!
How is it possible that God could be present in a service and no one feel His touch on their lives? Can He be in a service and nobody hear Him when He speaks to them? Can such a holy Person be there and no one feel their uncleanness? Who are ministers fooling when they tell their people that God is with them when He might not be! God is not deceived by such evidence-less talk.
Oh, there is an obvious absence of power in the church today, despite some branches of it claiming that they have so many evangelicals who preach the gospel in their ministry. If this is as they claim, why then is there no spiritual improvement in these churches? Why is there so much deadness when church members meet to worship the living and true God? Despite, or perhaps, because of, the 'contemporary worship' that many churches use today, that deadness is chilling. You can almost feel it in your bones. You very soul detects that all is not well in the house of the Lord.
But if there are growing numbers of evangelicals offering themselves for the Christian ministry, why is the churches condition not improving steadily? What is the answer? Perhaps someone reading this post will suggest an answer. Do you know or have that answer? What has gone wrong in the church? Does anyone care enough to ask this disturbing question? It seems, not. If you have a suggestion why spiritually the church today in the West is totally discredited, and has lost all credibility in the eyes of the public, as well as in the eyes of many within the church, then I'd be delighted to read your comments.
That something serious is wrong is evident to all; that something radical needs to be done is admitted by some; but that there are few lining up to do it is all too obvious. Are you?
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