The Church in the 21st Century

21^st Century Concerns of the Church

Those who keep up their awareness of the vast changes in modern society have many reasons for concern. Nearly everything in the way people live their lives differs from twenty years ago. A recent article (Washington Times, 4-11-02 ) says, “…At best, religion is losing its grip on American society; at worst, growing amounts of Americans are finding the institution irrelevant.” The writer goes on to state that, “Sometimes, churches themselves are the problem.” He quotes Philip Yancy in his new book, Soul Survival: How My Faith Survived the Church. Other books echo the same sentiments critical of the church. In fact, the foundation stones of secular society have shifted. Changes of this magnitude demand a right response from the church. If we fail, we draw boundaries around ourselves and relegate our effectiveness and identity to bygone eras.

Matching the Message to the Masses. Since the “Age of Recovery” has dawned on church, the “one-size-fits-all” approach needs serious renovation. Our ministry to the alcoholic and drug addict has hit full stride in many churches, but other hurting groups who require specialized attention inundate society and the church. We reach more and more singles, single parent families, divorced persons, adult children of alcoholics, co-dependents, and people with numerous other dysfunctions. We also must target specific groups whose ethnicity, location or other criteria set them apart as a significant social group. (Acts 1:8) And going a step further, we must accept diversity as more than an outreach target, but as an integral part of the church proper. When people are saved, God places them in the church as our brothers and sisters.

Restraint of Judgment. For the last quarter-century, it has been said that the church no longer ministers to “normal” people. Indeed, streaming through our doors are addicts, felons, abused and abusers, bankrupt, neurotic and stressed-out sinners who only know one thing---they need help. Tattooed, pierced, dyed, spacey and broke, they carry with them the baggage of failed marriages, uncontrollable kids, lost jobs, counseling histories and general confusion. Because they seem so radically different from the mainstream, we tend to discount them as incapable of salvation and discipleship. Yet, the Bible tells us “such were some of you.” The church’s compassion for the lost must supercede fear of contamination from the lost.

Structuring the Church for Effective Ministry. Today’s church needs to seriously consider structural changes to be effective in its ministry. Whether it’s a major overhaul into small groups, leadership teams or different service schedules, or if it is making minor adjustments to operating programs, we must use our people, time, buildings, and resources efficiently and effectively. Let us not opt for enshrining the past to the disregard the challenges of the present and future.

Defending the Faith. Apostolics, brace yourselves for intense pressure and even persecution against us and what we believe. Our refuge lies not in the proverbial “fortress mentality”, but aggressive evangelism by thoroughly taught and trained prayer warriors. Soft, passive, “feel-good” approaches preferred by many nominal churches will set us up for loss, not gain. We have eternal truth worth proclaiming and defending. Let us treat it as such.

Halting the Hemorrhaging. Discipling and keeping the souls we reach continues to be a tough assignment for every church. The reasons are as varied as the people themselves. The solutions may also be many, but ignoring the problem is no solution at all. Ask yourself how you can intervene, how you can salvage a backslider, how you can rekindle the fire in a soul gone cold, and how you can inspire others to do the same. Don’t let your church bleed to death.

Captivating the Youth. Students of “pop culture” claim that today’s teens are bored with life and culture. All the taboos of the past, such as witchcraft, bizarre sexual and immoral acts, ancient pagan rituals and extreme fads fascinate them. Church kids are not ignorant of these trends. In the church, preached at, but not understood, too many of them stand on the sidelines, weighing everything out. Gimmickry won’t work, but a genuine, church-wide move of the Holy Ghost will. We can combat generational atrophy by ratcheting up our focus on teens.

Whole Life or Term: Commitment Levels. Whatever happened to unwavering faithfulness? The most powerful churches got that way by leading people to wholly commit their lives to God. Term contracts with God, or tentative, limited discipleship, weakens the church’s integrity. God’s church of today needs a huge infusion of sold out saints. The first church grew through absolute discipleship. So will today’s church.

The demands of the twenty-first century on the church must not be back-burnered. The need is relevant, urgent and acute. It is time to engage.