I believe the Christian church may well be viewed by some as “rapidly crumbling” before their very eyes, as suggested by SBC president Johnny Hunt. As a Christian, I prefer the more promising comment by Jesus in Matthew 16:12: “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Hunt’s examples of some causes of the perceived crumbling are reasons for concern. Our Southern Baptist churches, along with the other Christian denominations, seem to have gotten caught up with being “busy doing church.” I do not believe we have lost our connection to the power of Almighty God; we just refuse to flip the “on” switch.
The world’s attitude of political correctness has infiltrated our churches, resulting in our Christians hiding behind the walls of our church buildings, mission boards, task forces, GPSes, search committees, deacon meetings, WMUs, and multitudes of other good causes. Is it any wonder families are falling apart, divorce rates are up, and baptisms are down? The Christian church today opens its doors more for business than it does for service.
I have witnessed families separating and church members totally unaware there was even a problem in that family. How can we be witnesses to a lost world when we don’t even know what is going on in our own church family?
Yes, President Hunt, let us have a day of prayer Sunday, Jan. 31. Jesus said, “Fear not, for I have overcome the world.”
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