PROBLEMS FACING THE CHURCH

PART 1

While I do believe the church is composed of the best people on earth and there are many positives about the church today, there are also some problems we face. For the next few weeks, I would like to consider what I believe to be the problems that pose the greatest danger to the family of God. If we can deal with these problems, we can be an even greater force for Christ in our world.

The first problem is the unbended knee. “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,” (Luke 18:1). “(P)ray without ceasing,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16). Prayer is one of the greatest privileges we have as children of God, yet it is far too often neglected until there is trouble. God has promised that when we call on Him, He will listen and He will answer. We should pray for government leaders, church leaders, the sick, help with temptation, physical needs of self and others, spiritual needs for self and others, and many other things. We should pray in faith, believing God will answer. We should pray with humility and reverence, remembering we are speaking to the Almighty God. Let us remember the example of Daniel and always be a people of prayer.

The second problem is the unread Bible. The Bible is the only communication we have from God. It tells us what God expects and how we are to live. It tells us of the problem of sin and how sin separates us from God, but it also tells of God’s plan to redeem man. It tells us, not only how to become a child of God, but how to remain faithful. Jesus says in John 12:48 that the Word will judge us. We find time to read the newspaper, watch television, play games, but we claim we do not have the time to study God’s word. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children” (Hosea 4:6). “These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Which passage describes you?