In Short Supply!

Insults and attacks upon Christianity have been around for many years. Throughout the centuries, the Christian faith has been under fire by those seeking to test or even discredit its truth claims. Today, there appears to exist another growing force that is at work undermining the Christian faith. The grandeur and majesty that so naturally emanates from Christianity appears to be in short supply. This absence of the transcendence and gravity of God felt within Christian circles has seemed to stimulate a lack of interest, a shortage of confidence in, and even a skepticism of the Christianity we see portrayed on tv, heard on the radio, discovered on the internet, and even experienced in our churches.                                                                                              

Is this trend an influence coming from external sources or is it something going on inside our churches? Rather than speculate on a variety of theories and thought, I will cut right to the chase. I have seen over the past several years significant changes in the way we do church today. As well, we can all testify as to how our culture has been undergoing rapid changes. Fads and trends come and go at breakneck speeds and new ideologies, belief systems, and worldviews are popping up on every street corner. So, what does this have to do with it? Well, today churches are faced with the ever-growing challenges of how to bring these folks from out there and into their congregations. As well, they are faced with the task of keeping those already there on board. 

In light of these external impulses going on in society, many churches are reacting to what they see going on in popular culture. There seems to be in large part a shift away from doing church in a traditional manner to a new seeker-sensitive model. This is not a critique of a contemporary style of worship, although this is where most of the change seems to be taking place. It is a difficult time right now as many churches face the dilemma of what of popular culture they are willing to allow into their services and what of their own heritage they are willing to let go of. 

One observation I have made, is that many have fallen victim to the temptation to satisfy and accommodate the wants and desires of popular culture. They have given into the idea of reformatting and refashioning themselves into a likeness and image of what is going on outside their church walls. They have stripped away anything that might look religious: crosses, candles, pews, an altar, stained glass windows, hymnals, a crucifix, a Bible on display, an organ, bells, a fount, a communion table, vestments and much more. 

Their architecture now lacks any resemblance of a place where God and His Word are present. They have exchanged a rich liturgy for a free-flowing style of service. A “come as you are” attitude of shorts, flip plops, food and coffee, and internet devices has replaced a respectful code of conduct fitting for such a reverent and holy place. They have exchanged the safehouse of God, where one can come and temporarily escape the trappings of the outside world, for a venue designed for creature comfort. A Church building should scream out to us that this place is unique and something special is going on here. A house where Christians gather in worship,surrounded in rich symbolism that remind us that Christ is present here as we come to receive from Him. 

            This is what seems to play the most significant role and share in this prominent shift within many churches today. But, there’s one more detail that is most disturbing to me. With the exodus of all the externals, that which we see with the eye, there has also been a divergence from that which we hear with the ear, sound teaching. “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” 2 Timothy 4:3 NIV.

There seems to be a failure to properly share the Word of God by specifically preaching and teaching the Law and the Gospel. For the most part, the Law is shared with us as something that we are to do. Pastors will often fashion it into lists of new tips and principles for us to try out in our lives for the upcoming week. Thematic studies on topics designed to grab the attention of the listeners seems to dominate the preaching. As well, sermons laden with concepts and principles associated with life coaching, moral and virtuous living, purposeful living, prosperous living, and self-help and self-enlightenment among others are evident everywhere. Christianity by many is being refashioned into a religion of moralism, self-fulfillment, and self-improvement. Unlike, the one of grace and faith that clearly distinguishes it from all other religion found out there. 

As well, many different gospels are being preached today, unlike the Gospel that proclaims Christ’s death on the cross, His burial, and His rising three days later to save man from his sin. Unfortunately, a gospel much like the Law is often preached that calls us to do something. To accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, so that we may become better people before God, come to know God’s wonderful plan for our lives, and be kinder to those around us. Paul warns us of this. “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” Galatians 1:6-7 NIV.

All the while, both the Law and the Gospel are mingled and mangled, and the hearer is left confused and unable to distinguish between the two. The Bible clearly teaches that the Law’s primary function is to expose and amplify man’s sin. It accuses us and declares us as guilty before God for breaking it. The Law announces a death sentence upon all because all have sinned. On the other hand, the Gospel demands nothing from us and freely offers the forgiveness of sins. It frees us from our guilt and shame and declares us as innocent in God’s sight. The Gospel removes our death sentence and gives us life eternal and salvation. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NIV. Both the Law and the Gospel are working as opposites, yet simultaneously to bring about our salvation and preserve us in the faith.

When we look at man’s greatest need in life, it is imperative to identify his main problem. Then, we look for the solution to which Christianity no doubt does provide the answer. Man’s greatest problem in life is sin. The Law correctly applied exposes sin in the sinner, accuses him before God, and ultimately pronounces a death sentence upon him. A Physical death yes, but even more so a second death or spiritual death resulting in separation from God and eternal damnation. Sin is born into every person and it must be dealt with in order to put him in a right standing with God. “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Romans 3:20 NIV.

The Law taught primarily as something that we are to do and keep for moral improvement can do nothing to help save one from this life-threatening condition. The proper work or function of the Law is to make a person aware of his sin, his rebellion against God, and his inability to do what God requires of him. It thrusts him to despair of himself and forces him to dash all hope of saving himself by his own good deeds, works, or self-improvement. When one comes to the realization that he is in big trouble and in need of a great rescue, God is working repentance in him. He now says, “I can’t keep this Law.”, “I can’t do this very thing that God requires of me.”, “God, have mercy on me a poor and miserable sinner!” “Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24 NASB.

Here is the moment for the contrite sinner to hear the comforting message of Good News, the Gospel. Your sins are forgiven in Christ! That everything necessary for salvation has already been done in Christ’s sinless life, death, and rising on our behalf. This is the crux of the Christian faith and should be the central theme in every congregation. It should be heard from the mouth of every pastor every Sunday simply because we have such a hard time believing it!                                                                                                                           

            The Gospel is Good News simply because it gives free gifts and asks for nothing in return. It demands nothing from us, the recipients. God gives to us by His grace: new birth, the gift of the Holy Spirit, adoption into His family, peace with Him, the forgiveness of sins, and eternal life and salvation. The Gospel provides for us a righteousness that is not our own. A righteousness that was won by Christ in His death on the cross and subsequent rising from the dead on the third day. This righteousness is now placed over us like a well-worn garment for all who believe. All of this is given to us freely. It is credited to our account and is received by faith. A faith, as well, that is the gift of God. Faith takes hold of what God promises us in Christ with confidence and assurance, that what He says is true for us personally. He makes this salvation our very own. “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:4-5 NIV.

            Yes, in American culture our beliefs, ideologies, and practices are rapidly changing in many ways, and we must be careful in what we allow to creep into our churches lest we be overtaken by it. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” Galatians 5:9 NIV. The church is facing many issues on its own namely in its failure to properly present God’s Word, specifically Law and Gospel. It seems to me that the one has led to the other. By turning our churches into more friendly and appealing places for outside culture to come in and reside, we have softened our language. Without all the religious vernacular, we have sought to be less of a turn-off and more palatable for these folks. 

I am deeply troubled by the absence of all these elements that draw us into the presence of the divine weather by sight, sound, taste or smell: The taste of the wafer of bread and cup of wine - The sound of the organ pipes, choir and song, Gospel readings, words of confession and absolution, bells ringing, and people communing and receiving from God - The smells of incense and candles burning - The sight of an alter with an open Bible, a cross or crucifix, stained glass windows, vestments adorned with color, a pulpit in the periphery, a fount, a communion table, and pews stuffed with Bibles and hymnals. There is nothing of a turn-off or unappealing about any of this this. We should not be pressured by the dictates of culture to determine how we conduct our worship services. It is here where we are drawn into the divine service through our senses and are reminded of the price paid for our salvation and who paid it.  

Equally troubling to me is the lack of the presence of the sacraments in the service. In Baptism, people of all ages are delivered into the faith by the forgiveness of their sins and are made Christian. In the Lord’s Supper and Absolution, Christians are assured of their salvation as they continue to receive the forgiveness of their sins. Once again, through the use of the ordinary elements of water, bread and wine, and connected to the spoken Word of the Gospel, God is at work saving us, preserving, and defending us in the faith. As we gather together around His Word and Sacrament, we receive from God. We are not there to offer up any form of sacrifice simply because we have nothing to give. All we have is our sin to lay at the alter, and even so He gladly forgives it on account of His son Jesus the crucified and risen one. 

In spite of all the assaults on the Christian Faith and inconsistencies within, Christianity has stood the test of time and it always will. The Kingdom of God will continue to advance, and Christianity will continue to thrive transforming the lives of millions in the mist of all forms of adversity. May we caution ourselves in our efforts to be relevant to popular culture, that we don’t soon become irrelevant. Let’s face it. What they are doing outside the church is impossible for us to match, and the more we try to look like that, the more we compromise the faith. 

As well, may we be true to the preaching of both the Law and the Gospel. The Law is to be preached in its full rigor and strength that people would come to know the seriousness and severity of their sin. And in the same breath, the Gospel is to proclaim and announce to broken and contrite sinners the forgiveness of their sins in Christ. We must be freed from the burden of the Law and the guilt of our sin. Free to live in the grace of God, in Christ by faith and in our neighbor by love with a glad and cheerful heart. 

 Believe it!