It has been a problem for years but seems to be more lately. We have to be honest with ourselvs and with God. I had a friend actually tell me that he could not have a relationship with God like I had because his ministry demanded too much of his time. Can you believe that??? It is so sad.

Acts 17:24-28…tells us that the first and formost reason we ar here, is to have a relationship with the God of the universe. And a true relationship means honesty, and truth..and some churches don’t even allow others to be honest because they will be chastised. People really need to spend time reading the bible, all of it to see the beauty of who God really is.

No matter how many people are involved or what type of gathering we partake of (worship, bible study, prayer meeting, communion etc.) the purpose (if it’s truly in Jesus’ name) is to get to the truth (which is Jesus and only Jesus, what He says, does, doesn’t say, or doesn’t do) and only the Holy Spirit can do this 100% of the time.

If a church does not strive to do this it is not edifying (does not builb you up in Christ) no matter how large it is or what kind of works they’re into or how much power they may have in this world. I would say that most Christians do not do this. Hence the church IS unhealthy. People SHOULD be leaving. They should not give up on faith however but they should ask Jesus to send the Holy Ghost to lead them to a place where their faith can grow and to fellowship that will help this growth. Then they must believe that He will do it (even if its with only 2 or 3 people of like faith).

There is one prereq to this type of faith. It must take priority over everything else. This includes my job, my education, my family and even my identity. Christ must have the preeminence in my life. Admittedly most of us do not come to Him with this set of the heart so we must allow Him (through his agent the Holy Ghost) to make this a reality for us. AND HE WILL.

If we want to partake of a healthy church we must strive for perfection in our own walk. Then we can gather with others of like faith and actually have something to share with them. And if the Holy Spirit is really in control of your gathering you will have many oppertunities to give and recieve in your meetings and you and your christian brethren will be edified and grow.

A reading of the first 3 chapters of Revelation can be very helpful in finding out how Jesus feels about his church. It is surprising to discover that he is displeased with a good percentage of them. Some He threatens with separation from Himself. It behooves every christian to look into those things that displease our Lord and to renounce them in ourselves and to strive to get a hold of those things that He is pleased with and to allow the Holy Ghost to make those a part of who and what we are. No man has these things by nature and you can’t get them through knowledge or exercise but you must be converted to them.

I will end my comment with a quote from these verses in Revelation which I believe reveals the truth about the condition of the church at large today.

And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. Rev. 3:14-22

The first is that we tend to see “church” as the building in which we worship and not as the whole body of Christ. Because of this people tend to have an attitude of piety based on what makes them different/better from other “churches.”

Second, in the congregation there has developed cliques, not based on commonality towards the goal of being Christlike but on social beliefs.

Third is what I see as the old guard and the inquisitive. Those that have been around the longest tend to view newcomers as novelty items and are quick to over welcome and actually seem a bit smarmy.

Hearing the Call can be a bit overwhelming and somewhat scary at first since it is leading to an entire life change. We need to realize that people are looking for answers to what is happening to them and when they are confronted with doctrines and theologies right of the bat… well, that could leave a bad taste for them.

Our focus should be to listen, learn, and offer direction by the Word; welcoming all, loving all, and living in Christ.

its our own free will to submit ourselves to God
,or there is someone who invited us and its more interesting to hear that, and they may realized that everybody give us a chance for a change
encourage them again to go back or go around with some members to spread the word of God, and God may bless your way.

and other may see this things, and they do the same share the word of God as we obey His laws to love our neighbors as we love ourselves and see the next things…………God will give us strenght and power of words once we say His words it touch in their hearts

that brings them new hope to begin new lives with God a better steps to remember that there is someone like you; to do the will of God.

And God may bless all your days of your life; as like it said what you do to my child you do it for me as it said John 13:35 by this all men know that you are truly my disciples if you do to love one another.

If you have any musical talent, you could start by using it there with worship songs or even a Sunday Bible study and prayer. There are a lot of needs there. They love when people come to spend time with them and you will leave feeling blessed. Who knows what God will do through you.

We need to let God be in control of the church and allow the Holy Spirit to move freely in the services, from the worship to the preaching. We need churches that are real. We tend to close God outside the building and then wonder why people don’t want to come in.

We also need to be in a daily relationship with the Lord that is so close that we can hear him speaking to us and are willing to obey and meet the needs of the people around us. We are the body of Christ, we are the church, it’s not the building that’s the church but our bodies are the living temple of God. If we remember this, we can impact those around us wether they’re church goers or not.
I

The beauty of the Church, in my opinion, is that regardless of its deficiencies, God still uses it. We might not like every aspect of it all the time, but it can transform lives when it’s working.