” The church has lost her testimony. She has no longer anything to say to the world. The once robust shout of assurance has faded away to an apologetic whisper. She who one time went out to declare now goes out to inquire. Her dogmatic declaration has become a respectful suggestion, a word of religious advice, given with the understanding that it is after all only an opinion and not meant to sound bigoted.
Not only has the church nothing to say to the world but the tables have actually been turned and the ministers of Christ are now going to the world for light. They sit at Adam’s feet for instruction and clear their message with the wise and the prudent before they dare deliver it. But the certainty that comes from seeing and the assurance that springs from hearing—where are they?” –from God Tells the Man Who Cares (p.35-36) by A. W. Tozer.
This quote is probably more relevant now than when it was actually given by Bro. Tozer. The warnings of Paul to Timothy about apostates in the Church and the warnings of Christ to the Church of Laodicea in The Revelation could be placed next to the religion section of any newspaper in America and one can see that the world has truly become an influence on the Church.
If we neglect the Gospel, we don’t have much to offer the world. Christless preaching takes place every Sunday across America. Mega churches pack stadiums with messages of “Be a Better You,” and now small town churches have taken up that mantra as well. Church has become a social network of self-help and recreation, and is no longer equipping believers to carry the gospel to all creation. I like what you’re saying; but there’s not as many of us as they’re used to be.
This seems to be a fairly new site. Stop by my blog at http://clarkbunch.wordpress.com and you might want to read http://internetmonk.com. He’s been online for 6 years, and who I depend on for Christ-centered Biblical teaching.