WCBC Blog

The big issue for the public was “change” even though it was never clearly defined by most candidates what that “change” meant specifically. But let’s stay on that subject and see what “change” we have experienced in churches over the last several decades.

How about the “change” away from biblical preaching?

Many churches have followed the Christian pop-culture mantra of de-emphasizing preaching and providing instead ear-tickling “how to” messages. Many have eliminated both Sunday and Wednesday night services and even the Sunday school hour.

The new way we are told to reach our culture is not with biblical preaching but with cute stories with a Bible principal mixed in every now and then.

The Bible states that it is preaching — not plays, stories or praise bands — that changes man’s heart (1 Cor. 1:18; 1 Cor 1:21.)

How about the “change” in the concept of truth?

The “Emerging Church” movement (now favored in most mainline and evangelical churches) states that truth is never really known and each culture has the right to define truth as they see it. They try to Christianize this by using selected Bible principles but, this philosophy is nothing more than postmodernism with a never-ending search for truth.

The Bible gives us truth as it is the very word of God. II Tim 3:16 tells us it is inspired by God and is “profitable for doctrine,” i.e. truth, and totally sufficient to guide our every decision.

How about the change of worship?

This change has moved the church service from a God-focused, upward looking emphasis to an entertainment-based, man-pleasing emphasis. Many churches now have entire teams of worship leaders and choreographers whose mission is to make the service enjoyable.

If we look at worship in the Bible it always meant falling humbly and prostrate before the Lord. The humble reverence of the holiness of God in the worship service in today’s modern church had definitely “changed!”

What are the results of the changes list above? According to the Barna Research Institute many so called Christians’ “world view” is no different from that of non-Christians.

We no longer live in a Christian nation, guided by moral absolutes and religious liberty. At every turn Christianity is mocked, and I believe much of the blame for this lies at our own feet.

Rather than transforming the world through the love and grace of Christ, we have allowed the world to infiltrate our churches and water down our message.

The only change we can truly believe in comes from knowing the Lord. When we acknowledge our sin, repent, and ask Christ to save us we are changed forevermore.

This change will transform our homes, work places and churches and is the only change that will stand the test of time.