The hard truth...and hope.

Many people of faith (I've taken my shots) are piling on progressives, academics, feminists, LGBTQ and just about anyone who might be percieved as the enemy in the culture war.

But, let's face the the hard truth: these groups share only part of the responsibilty for the troubled state of our Nation. The failure of the Church to be the Church has accelerated our decline. The light from "The City set on a hill" cannot penetrate the darkness because The City too often has become an anemic, self-indulgent, impotent place--flirting with priorities, forms and dogma that have no genesis in God's Word.

The Church has embraced popular culture and been absorbed by a pursuit of a reworked (secularized), dumbed-down (sequestered) version of the "abundant" life; by a quest for "relevance" in the name of Christ. She has a vital role in culture: to be the watcher on the wall, the harbinger of Good News, a conduit for God's love given without regard for conditions or behavioral change. Instead, she slumbers, points her finger at others and cries "foul." The Church need not quest for relevance; when she behaves as The Church, she is relevant. Instead...

Apathy, division and moral compromise have ravaged the fruit of the Spirit.

Reaching out with the Good News has become an unfunded mandate.

Codependence has swallowed up courageous leadership. 

Sound teaching has been replaced by pop pyschology.

Relevance has pushed reality to the back of the bus. 

Sacrifice is considered a synonym for weakness.

Integrity is open to interpretation.

Godliness just isn't hip.

This isn't the first time the people of God have lost their moral and spiritual compass...
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land."  2 Chronicles 7.14

It ended badly for Israel. But, it need not end badly for this nation; there is hope.

Hope springs from humility.
Humility leads to repentance.
Repentance produces healing.  

Humility, repentance, healing; change we can believe in.
Empowered by the Spirit, it all begins IN His church.



Liveitwell!