The Addictions of the American Church

I love the Church. Perhaps the greatest reason I can say that is because it was a local church that God used to reach me and bring me to a saving and transformational knowledge of Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. I love the Church because Jesus loves His Church and stated unequivocally in Matthew 16:18, that He was building it to prevail against the very gates of Hell itself. Jesus will get what He wants. You can count on it.

That being said, the Church in America may not be doing as well as we might hope and Jesus might desire. The statistics are constantly being published and shared concerning the normal metrics of how we analyze Church success. A simple Google search will provide ample statistics to verify that assertion. I’ll be the first to say that the normal analysis swirling around attendance, budgets, and programs have some inherent problems with regards to Church success. These metrics have a place in any analysis concerning the Church’s effectiveness, however, these metrics may not be the best for evaluating the Church’s general spiritual health. I liken it to the young couple which starts out their married life in a small apartment with menial jobs. As life progresses children arrive expanding the family and both dad and mom excel in their careers which provides more income, larger homes, nicer automobiles and expanded influence. None of these things are evil in and of themselves; however, we all know of a family which checks the boxes of every metric we use to define the apprehension of the American Dream, yet their relationship and “house” is not healthy. In fact, with a Mercedes and Lexus in the driveway, matching jet ski’s in the garage, a pool in the backyard, and 3500 square feet of living space in a gated community, they find themselves spiraling downward and on the brink of collapse. The material metrics are proudly proclaiming their success, but internally in the home, it teeters on the cliff.

This is the picture of the Church in the West. And when adversity comes (and it surely will), it’s internal strength will be revealed for all to see. And as optimistic as I want to be, my discernment and instincts are telling me that in our current state, we are unsustainable.

Now I realize that sweeping generalizations are an irritation to those pastors and churches who are doing there best to do church biblically. I commend you for your faithfulness and more than that, Jesus commends you. However, my concern is that you are the exception rather than the rule. And my guess is that as you endeavor to pastor biblically and lead credibly, that people are not tripping over themselves to take the journey with you. You may be looking at empty seats, despite praying, preaching, and preparing for the harvest that you believe is coming. Like the next door neighbor who gives cursory lip service to God and seemingly prospers while you order your household biblically and drive used or broken-down cars, you scratch your head over the disparity. All I can tell you is, there is an adversity on the horizon that is going to test and reveal the spiritual health of every person, family, and local church in this nation. I wish it were not so, but my spiritual sensors are flashing a bright yellow light. The Lord is going to winnow his Church.

Why?

Because His Church is addicted and refuses to repent and go to rehab (The Cross). All that is left is collapse and pain. When one refuses the gracious and multitudinous invitations of the Lord to repent and return, but rather chooses to ignore those offers, then all that remains is pain. I cannot change the Scriptural precept that, “the way of the transgressor is hard” (Proverbs 13:15).

What is the addiction?

We are addicted to entertainment and excitement.
We are addicted to celebrity and notoriety.
We are addicted to cheap grace and antinomian lifestyles.
We are addicted to our preferences and taste.
We are addicted to easy believe-ism and entitlement.
We are addicted to our pride and arrogance.
We are addicted to our comfort and convenience.
We are addicted to our opinions and private interpretations.
We are addicted to the sins that so easily beset.

We are full-blown junkies in our addiction to ourselves.

And like the family member who has an addiction they refuse to own and proudly proclaims they can “handle” all that is pressuring their health, the Church in the west needs an intervention…and soon.

Currently, my wife and I are enjoying the opportunity of being able to attend a church that our two boys have the privilege of ministering and working. It is a classically defined mega-church, but at present is in the midst of what might be called a revival. If not a revival, then certainly a depth of renewal which I believe is noteworthy. I have watched and listened as this pastor has humbled himself before God and his people in recognizing and repenting from some of the “addictions” listed above. This season was precipitated by a personal epiphany he received last year on Good Friday. There is little question it has transformed him and is changing this church. We have the honor of landing here in these early days and watching this season unfold. It gives me hope that the addiction can be broken and God is starting to do that in those who are available and willing to listen. And far from alienating people from the old, rugged cross, I am hearing the Gospel clearly and powerfully presented and watching people genuinely and sincerely responding. My prayer is that this might be a first-fruit of a movement of God’s Spirit. We shall see.

In the book of the Revelation, the Lord directly addresses 7 churches concerning their spiritual health (Revelation 2 & 3). Only 2 out of the 7 are considered by the Lord to be in a healthy spiritual condition. There have been numerous interpretations drawn out of the Revelation (depending on your eschatology) and especially with regards to these churches. As I consider the placement of this rebuke/affirmation of the Lord to these churches directly before what many consider to be the “catching away” of the saints (Revelation 4), my mind contemplated this thought…

Two out of seven churches are approximately 30% (28.5% actually). I wonder if this might be the threshold of toleration and patience the Lord might have towards His Church that activates His return? (I know my preterist and postmillennial friends are rolling their eyes.) I too have an optimistic hermeneutic that the Lord will send His Spirit across the earth to awaken people with another outpouring, but even that, does not necessitate a widespread revival in America. We have ample evidence through several Great Awakenings that we are all too ready to default back to business as usual. I simply want to be a part of the intervention. The sad part is when people live in their dysfunction for enough years they slowly begin to see it as “normal”. My concern is that the American Church has normalized her addictions.

Is there any “good news”?

Yes…

There are those who have not soiled their garments.
There are those who are praying and crying out to God.
There are those who are faithful in their adversity.
There are those who have kept His Word.
There are those whose loyalty to Him is unquestioned.
There are those who have persevered in hardship.
There are those who have held fast to the true and living Faith.

Let us agree together, that every addiction in the churches of this nation will be broken and that by God’s grace true and transformational revival breaks forth. If not…pain is on the way.