The weakness of the American church is manifold:
1) uncoverted pastors leading unconverted people
2) the biblical illiteracy of Christians
3) the idolatry of children (loving and worshiping our children more than we love Christ).
4) the worship of material things and as always seeing "prosperity" as blessing
5) the worship of health and comfort
6) fear of death
7) lukewarmness to the things of God
8) belief in our own abilities to deal with life's problems
9) desire to be liked by people (fear of man)
10) faithfulness to a church based on anything other than its faithfulness to the Gospel (and a willingness to abandon a church based on anything other than its unfaithfulness to the Word of God or geographical relocation)
11) a denial of the authority of all of Scripture
12) a desire not to offend or to appear judgmental
13) a belief that all churches are good churches
14) "racial" barriers (we are all to be one in Christ, the world is currently promoting the idea that only those in power can be "racist". This is a demonic lie.
15) pastors who will not call out sin among their own congregations especially when those in sin wield official or unofficial power (1Peter 5)
16) pastors who are afraid to present biblical truth for fear that their congregations "are not ready for it" (Eph 4:11-16)
17) people who have been ordained as pastors who are biblically disqualified (1Timothy 3; Titus 1). Since the world does not want to follow these biblical commandments, it calls the writings of Paul unauthoritative (especially in respect to the ordination of women, which is forbidden in Scripture, and because of which many call Paul misogynistic, to their shame.)
18) Pastors who fear losing their income if they offend too many in their church
19) Christians who trust in government (chariots and horses)
20) Christians whose fear of man rather than the fearing of God fail to speak out on culturally immoral issues (the top of this list being abortion, and the LGBTQ+ issue)
21) LACK OF PRAYER
22) LACK OF PRAYER
23) LACK OF PRAYER (since this is so important it needs to be reiterated)
24) self-righteousness
25) lack of daily repentance
The list is very long, I'm sure. I am not unaware that my own sin and short-comings could fill a book (to my shame) and that I am unaware of many of them. (Psalm 139)
And yet I have hope! For I have seen the goodness of God in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13). I am still amazed by the powerful Christians I come across. I am humbled by their faith as evidenced in their words and works (James 2:14-26). Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few (1Sam 14:6).
Repent. Read and memorize Scripture. Search your heart to see if you truly love the Lord. Preach the Gospel to yourself every day. Find your spiritual gift(s) by serving others in and through the Church. Start speaking the truth in love at all times. Seek to serve and to save others. Think of others as more important than yourself.
Our lives are but a vapor.
James 4:14-17 "yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."
This is a little long because I wanted to get this out now. (and at this my eyes begin to water tears of sorrow and grief) because I know that in a few days (or even hours) "the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things will enter in and choke the word" (Mark 4:19). My desire is to feel and to think and to speak like this all of the time. Pray for that kind of boldness and love for me and I will pray for it for you.
Give no place to the Devil (Eph 4:27)
