| April 2, 2000 |
Vol. II, No. 49
|
Across generations in the local congregations we would ask, “Has The Church Changed?” I trust that none of these terms need to be defined. The Lord Jesus said He would build His church, Matt. 16:18. That is what will be under consideration in this discussion. The intent in bringing up generations or different age groups is to consider the understanding of the church.
The Youngest Members of the Church. This takes in the Bible camp ages and the young “devo” crowd. If we inquire of these, “Has the church changed?” we would most likely get a response close to “No.” Though some would say the church has not changed enough. These youngest members typically want: excitement, entertainment, “camp songs” (Those that charismatic body movements go along with), drama presentations, things to do, i.e., like rafting, theme parks, and arts and crafts.
It is no wonder that when video games, CDs that can be tuned to specific songs, malls with 100 stores, fast-food, and the movie multiplex, that their minds are accustomed to constant stimuli. Less than constant would be less than desirable. This may encourage a demand for changes in the church. The result has been a job market that is supplied from our Christian colleges, called Youth Ministers (read “entertainment ministers,” actually more of a baby-sitter). This group’s desire has perpetrated much change in the church. But I believe that in many cases this group’s perception is that the church has not changed, when it actually has changed.
The “Seasoned Citizens” of the Church. There are those who have been members of the church for 30 to 40 years or more. When asked, “Has the church changed?” their answer is most likely, “Yes.” They have been witnesses to much change: 1) Hour-long sermons are no longer preached, let alone tolerated. 2) Week-long Gospel Meetings, with great attendance by the congregation and sister congregations, are a thing of history. 3) Sheet-chart sermons, along with chapter and verse preaching are things of the past. 4) Youth Ministers, formerly unknown, are now commonplace. 5) Women, in some instances, leading prayer and serving at the Lord’s table, were once unheard of. 6) “Praise teams” and drama groups had not come on the scene. 7) Doctrinal issues concerning the direct operation of the Holy Spirit, church sponsored entertainment, salvation without baptism and in man-made churches were yet to be to any measurable degree. Now it is different.
The In-Between Group of Members. This would include those of us converted from denominationalism. Maybe those who are only four or five year members.
When asked, “Has the church changed?” we would likely admit that we aren’t really sure, since we have not known the past very well. We have heard of some congregations that have gone over the top. Their own “Community Churches” have been started, where taped instrumental music is used. Women lead in prayer and drama and puppet shows entertain. Social activities are supported and paid for by the church. Denominational influence may not be recognized as such.
These changes remind me of the “How to boil a frog” illustration. You don’t just drop him into boiling water; he’ll jump out. Instead, place him in cool water and then put fire under the water and bring it to a boil gradually. He’ll never know what happened until he is fully cooked. It’s like a person dieting. You don’t see the weight loss like those who don’t see you often. Gradual changes are just naturally hard to detect. That should, in itself, remind us of something: “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). This should also bring to mind the passages that describe the “old adversary” and his ways as “devices” (2 Cor. 2:11) and “wiles” (Eph. 6:11).
Has The Church Changed? Emphatically, NO, that is, with respect to its Divine side. The Lord Himself said, “the gates of hades shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18). Daniel prophesied, “it shall stand forever” (2:44).
There are those who are changing the church on the human side. But those who would perpetrate on the body of Christ various forms of apostasy are “enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil. 3:18). There are those who would and are following denominational thinking, disregarding the authorized work of the church: evangelism, edification and benevolence. God’s law on fellowship is being ignored, as are His law on marriage and divorce and many other things.
The safe principle is best stated by God through His prophet Jeremiah: “...Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls...” (Jer. 6:16). The people refused to abide by God’s instructions, as will all those who disobey God, departing from that precious pattern for God’s church as found in the New Testament. Salvation can only be found in that glorious institution (Eph. 5:23).
--A.J. Zenthoefer, via Banner of Truth
Matthew tells us that after miraculously feeding the five thousand men plus an untold number of women and children, beginning with only five barley loaves and two small fish, “Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. And when evening had come, He was alone there” (Matt. 14:22-23).
We might learn much about prayer by observing what the inspired writers tell us about prayer in the life of Jesus. One thing that is obvious at once is that prayer was important to Jesus. Numerous times, the inspired writers tell us that Jesus went apart from the crowds to pray. See Mark 1:35; Luke 9:28 and a host of other passages. The children of God need to make time and find a place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the crowd and commune with God alone in prayer. Thus Jesus instructed His disciples, “go into your room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly” (Matt. 6:6).
Of course, Jesus did not forbid public prayer, though He strongly cautioned against prayer that was motivated by a desire to be seen praying. He Himself prayed in public as in Mark 8:6; John 11:41, etc.
He always gave thanks for the food before He ate, John 6:11; Luke 22:17, and other passages. Numerous times, He commanded and instructed His disciples to pray, and frequently He made statements which took for granted that they would do so. He often began sentences, “When you pray...” He never said, “if” you pray. See Mark 5:17; Matt. 6:5; Mark 11:24.
Once when He was praying, His disciples came to Him and besought Him, “Lord, teach us to pray.” He then taught the well-known model prayer recorded in Luke 11:2-4. He used the same model in His famous sermon on the mount to teach the multitudes the nature of acceptable prayer, Matt. 6:5-15.
He not only often spoke of prayer, and prayed often, but He frequently spoke very pointedly regarding the effectiveness of prayer. See Matt. 7:7-11; Mark 11:24, and similar passages.
Additional passages such as Matt. 6:5; Luke 18:10-14 and Matt. 23:14, show us that Jesus observed others as they prayed and cited them as examples to be imitated or avoided. On the important occasion when Jesus was about to appoint His 12 apostles, He spent all night in prayer, Luke 6:12.
Truly, it was with the Spirit of Christ that the apostle Paul admonished, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17). Or, in other words, never give up on prayer.
--CRJ
|