SEISMIC SHIFTS COMING TO YOUR LOCAL CHURCH

I see three things that the local church either faces now or will ultimately confront in the immediate future:

   (1)  People are becoming less likely to be drawn to our buildings for Sunday mornings.
   (2)  Radical Islam may bring massive disruption.
   (3)  There is immense need to frame our faith in Jesus; not our man-biased doctrines.

First, it seems that the idea that community will be drawn to us for Sunday School and Church is waning.  Not all, but many congregations are withering.  Of course reasons vary.  Yet, there is a clear trend that this younger generation is looking for experiences to serve others and not simply a gathering time for observation from the pew.

Second, America has been hit as in 9/11.  This week it was Paris.  The threat of Radical Islam is fierce as well as intentional.  While we must not be led to panic, we must lift our heads from the sleepy sands of indifference.

Third, Jesus must become a greater reality in our personal lives; while simultaneously, we adapt to becoming lesser.  Faith's stage is not that we be front and center; but it is for Him.  We must decrease that He might increase.

So what shall we do?

   (1)  We must humble ourselves.  We have such inclination to believe what we want to believe.  Not so oddly, this posture is both self-serving and handy.  We must care for the needs of others over our own preferences.  It seems each generation, as it ages, takes strong stands to preserve church they way we like it.

Only humility will allow us to remain open to the Spirit's leading of any age.  God has been creative from the get-go and it is often the churches that do not like it when it comes to the way they go about ministries.

   (2)  Should there be massive attack upon any soil where Christians are serving, we should be prepared to receive injury and be ready to minister.  This will include much spiritual determination for the flesh will want to hide in self-preservation.

What is one to do if all communication systems are rocketed?  From Christian perspective, any massive disruption should already be programmed into our belief system that we are immediately called to engage in outreach to help the surrounding community.

   (3)  Just as our nation is getting by (financially) on borrowed time, so is the church. We have all but demolished the good name of Jesus with our competitive doctrinal debates.  It is a stark wonder that we have not been called into account.  Wonderful people have gone deaf to the strong call of God due to our clamoring voices of religious division.

We are the problem; not those who dismiss us.  Jesus is the Savior of this limping, dimming world.  All churches will do well to know more and more and more of Him so that communities may note we ourselves are transformed before we ask them to be.