Quote 7 from Your Church is Too Small
This week (March 14-20, 2010), I’m taking part in a blog tour of John H. Armstrong’s new book Your Church is Too Small. Armstrong begins each chapter with quotes from various writers throughout church history. Each day this week, I’m going to highlight one of those quotes.
One reason the church is failing today is that it has so many members who are not kingdom-of-God men and women! They may be active in the church program – regular at worship, involved in the administration of the religious establishment – but they lack kingdom-of-God qualities. -Richard Halverson
Alan,
So sad, but so true!
I truly believe this… This premise has become a definite burden to me. The people I run into are so deep into church activities, that I know speaking to them of this would be in one ear and out the other.
The following is something I read recently:
‘The apostolic burden [of those in the 1st century] was not to bring the church into a certain form, but to see Jesus formed within His people. There is a difference. One is Christ-centered; the other is man-centered. Building the church is essential, but nothing should ever eclipse our devotion to proclaiming Christ and His kingdom. This is not meant to in any way detract from the glory of the church. She is called to be the Bride of the Lamb. Her true destiny is glorious, beyond of present comprehension. However, we will never become who we are called to be by looking at ourselves. We will only be changed into who we are called to be as behold His glory (see II Corinthians 3:18).’
What did he mean by “the church is failing today”?
The most important qualities of the kingdom will be love, service and humility. He is saying then that too many church members lack these qualities. (?)
If the church is failing today, I think it is because they are not filled with the Holy Spirit and do not teach about spiritual warfare or even acknowledge it. Those qualities can only be acquired and nurtured through the work of the spirit. The power seems to be missing.