THE REASON AND THE REMEDY AS TO WHY CHURCHES OF CHRIST HAVE GROWN STAGNANT

There is some good news and some bad news.  The good news is the bad news can be corrected by the good news.

Churches of Christ do not carry a general consensus in several communities of being lighthouses.  The reason is many congregations long lost their calling.  Rather than becoming seriously engaged in community needs, there has been a steady theme of preservation; holding on to the old ways (not truths; but style).  

This obsession has choked what should have been the radiance of Jesus.  One does not have to look far to find Churches of Christ are stuck while, simultaneously, being quite arrogant and proud to carry a torch saying we are the only ones saved.  This is worse than bad; it is sinful.

The good news is we are learning; some at a faster pace than others.  Personally, I would regard myself as an individual who is so far behind I will never catch up.  This is not discouraging for I would rather be in Kindergarten learning His ways anew than to be a Senior carrying a whistle and a badge trying to keep everyone preserved.

Many congregations are vibrant; very alive!  We are learning to worship, to pray, to engage with, in, and for community. The important shift from DER (Doing Everything Right) is fortunately being transferred to the righteousness of Jesus instead of self.  

Life is happening!

We are gaining momentum because we are shelving our own momentum for His.

Our self-righteousness has served as a wet blanket tossed upon the embers of Holy Spirit fire.  Accordingly, we suffer stagnancy with the eventual loss of our children.  

This must stop.  In many places is has.

Brandon Hatmaker directs us to watch for the blessing of crisis.  Our problem is most exposed when we do not see the need.

But there is crisis in America.  There's a void of Spirit.  There's a lack of powerful transformation. And studies show that people are leaving the church.  Scripture says that we're to be a city on a hill that cannot be hidden.  Like it or not, that's not the reputation of the Western church.  Not only are we hidden in our culture as something that is supposed to be good news, we are losing ground.

The solution to losing ground is to be steadily reminded and refreshed to look for the crises where Jesus would walk.  Preserving our past is not a calling of God.  Noticing the need of today is.  

We live in comfort. We are in desperate need of desperation.  Persecution always drives the church to her knees seeking the anointing of the Holy Spirit for, in such time, we are in hunger and thirst need. The fog of arrogance lifts and God becomes centered once again.

We are very stuck in too many places.  The good news is there is a remedy.  We are called to be a light to the world.  Crisis welcomes light.  Complacency complains about it.  The cure for sluggish formation in mere religion is to note and engage in the desperate needs of community everywhere we live; everywhere we turn.