Spiritual Bankruptcy

As many Americans struggle to pay off loans, and business file for bankruptcy, they find themselves joined by another group, churches.  Some might say American churches need to take a lesson in economics.  However, is misunderstanding how business works the real reason record numbers of churches have foreclosed this year?  No, the root of the issue goes much deeper than that.


Many churches who find themselves in dire economic situations partook in the super church craze.  As congregations grew, churches moved to build larger and more extravagant church buildings.  Many installed cafés, workout rooms, etc.  Now I am definitely for Christians fellowship with eachother, but are plasma screen TVs necessary for that fellowship?  In an effort to make themselves more attractive, churches have turned themselves into beautiful locations of social gathering.  Now banks have grown wary of churches asking for loans.  They have seen those who represent Christ's name behave no differently than the rest of the world.  Churches build extravagant worship centers only to have the congregations disappear (and the money with them).  

Luke 14:   ²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’

Churches ought to attract visitors with their love, honesty, and good will, not large TVs, imported carpeting, and gym memberships.  In this modern culture of materialism, the church has lost sight of what is truly valuable.  Instead they continue marketing themselves as cool, with the times, and entertaining.  They soften the message of Truth and speak only of happiness in order to obtain more members.  Christ addresses these types of churches with some harsh words in Revelation 3:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. ¹⁵ I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spew you out of my mouth. ¹⁷ You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. ¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.

A church is not a building.  Yet, today many congregations wish to define what they believe by the building they have.  Must they be reminded that the early church had no buildings to meet at and drink coffee?  Instead, they secretly worshiped in their houses, hiding in small groups from the Roman guards. Brothers and Sisters, do not define yourselves with things, but rather with the love of Jesus Christ "who made Himself nothing, taking on the very nature of a servant... he humbled Himself."  Forget the cafés, multi-million dollar facilities, the gymnasiums, prosperity doctrine, TVs, and thousands of members.  Jesus had none of that.  His disciples had none of that.  The early church had none of that.  It is a sign of your desire to be of the world, and it has become a distraction from your call to servanthood.


Wall Street Journal:  Article 1   Article 2