The church in America is in a mess. I don’t mean to judge. I am not qualified. But I know I am not the only one that feels this way. It’s very frustrating. Honestly, I feel like a victim. However, having been positioned by God to lead (some), I have stronger feelings about my responsibility to be His instrument for transformation.
Admittedly, the church in America is doing a lot of good things: Establishing houses of prayer; addressing slave trafficking; writing great books; creating wonderful videos; running effective ministries and churches; etc. It is easy to hold these things up as evidence of health and growth. For those walking in God’s good works, I am sure joyful, Spirit-filled ministry is a regular experience.
So why am I, and many I know, frustrated and concerned about the health of the church in America? The Scriptures are clear that few will find the narrow way, and few of those will enter in. Few of the few; how many is that? How many in my spheres of influence will endure to the end? How many will fall away? What am I to do for those whom I have been given some responsibility; that they would strive to enter through the narrow gate (Luke 13:24)?
Maybe I have too much time on my hands. Maybe I just need to get busy like so many others. Ignorance is bliss, right? Perhaps I just need to join a cause and get my mind off the mess I am experiencing.
But, I can’t. There is a relentless desire in my heart for the Bride of my Lord to make Herself ready – to be ready – when He returns. Furthermore, I am convinced that the days of peace for the church in America are quickly coming to an end. Some of you have read my view on The Harbinger (a book by Jonathan Cahn). Click here if you are interested.
We (the church in America) are not ready for the consequences of God’s judgment. We are not even ready to consider the consequences. We are all guilty, at some level or another, of ignoring those things that make us uncomfortable. We hope it will go away if we don’t acknowledge it.
When does this ploy ever work? Seriously, messes do not clean themselves up; and enemies do not stop stealing, killing and destroying when we turn our back to them. Passivism is not a fruit of the Spirit. We are to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10).
I believe God has a plan for the preparation of His Son’s Bride. He has not turned His back on the church in America. He has raised up Christian Leaders for this critical and perilous season. He is the Great Orchestrator; and He will not be denied His purposes.
I do not believe He has given His plan to one person or group. We must work together – joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causing growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Ephesians 4:16). Each one must do their part.
So, what am I to do? Let me be careful here and confess to you: Not what am I going to think about doing, nor what I am going to talk about doing. No, God help me, what am I going to do?
Here are some things I know God wants me to do (I will have to answer to Him for them soon):
- Pray more; pray more fervently; and pray with more people (starting with my wife).
- Visit the persecuted church.
- Lose my life (psychē, meaning “soul”), as in Matthew 10, and particularly verse 39.
- Make disciples as the Holy Spirit leads.
Wow! I wasn’t intending to go here (I think it is part of God’s process with me). What has become a confession was intended to be an introduction to a new series of articles; so let me just mentioned that in closing.
The Lord has encouraged me to write a series of brief articles on what we will call “The Foundations”. The Foundations are a dozen or so truths that seem to have been lost by most of the church in America. I admit these are limited by the perspective the Lord has allowed for me. If you know of other lost foundational truths, I encourage you to share them.
I am not a theologian; nor am I an expert on church history. Therefore, I am confident that the Lord’s intention is to use me to simply introduce the truths; so that others can search them out, for themselves and those in their spheres of influence. I will keep my commentary to a minimum; and I will not debate the truths presented. I humbly submit that our time is better spent sharing what we believe with others, and trusting the word of God to defend itself.
To be clear, I look forward to comments, questions and conversations about these truths; I just don’t have time for debates. Keep in mind: These truths may not mean what I say they mean, but they must mean something. You find the meaning in them. Seek the LORD with your whole heart and you will find Him.
In regards to this endeavor, and the other things I must do, I humbly request your prayers for courage and wisdom. My prayer for you is the same; that many would become doers of the word of God.
Share the truth; it will make someone free.
Humbly yours and forever His,
