The State of the Church: Equipping or Entertaining

My article is a heartfelt concern for the Church, prompted by my study of the Scriptures.

Sometime around 60-62 A.D., the apostle Paul wrote to the churches in Asia Minor. He wrote that our Lord had given gifted men to the Church, “for the equipping of the saints, for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.” The purpose was that “we all attain to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man.” This was necessary so that “we (would) no longer be children, tossed here and there by waves, and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming.” (Ephesians 4:11-15; related: Acts 20:17-32; NASB)

What is interesting to take note of is that some 30 years later, John would admonish the churches in Asia Minor to “stop believing every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God,” the goal being that they might “know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error”  (I John 4:1-6). Somehow, the churches had lapsed into a state that threatened their ability to do this (cf. Heb. 5:12-14). That is evidenced in that then John had to remind the churches that those who are “born of God . . . believe that Jesus is the Christ. (I John 5:1).   

Doesn’t one have to ask, “What happened some 30 years later to the same churches that were to have been “equipped” to “attain to the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God,” yet needed to be reminded that “Jesus was the Christ.” How had they become so vulnerable to the “false prophets” and “the spirit of error?”  

As one searches the Word of God, there appears to have taken place a serious lapse of “the knowledge of the Son of God” in the churches of Asia Minor. It seems that a setback in “the equipping of the saints” had occurred, a setback that needed the apostle John’s counsel to remind the churches just who “Jesus” was. It would appear, at least in my estimation, that one can arrive at the “why” this happened then. The “equipping” had lapsed. This stirs my spirit because I am of the mind that today’s church appears to be susceptible to this same lapse. Why?

I see the Church facing a modern-day situation as I witness what looks to be the pursuit of appeasing one’s senses with entertainment and amusements rather than with the pursuit of biblical “equipping” and biblical discipleship. If my witness is correct, and I believe it is, the ability of the church to continue to be “the pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15) is in jeopardy. 

Brought up with very little exposure to Christianity, but God saved me at the ripe old age of 32. From that initial point I traveled a rocky road of cults, isms, and experience-oriented churches. By the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, leading me to study the Scriptures, I was directed to a straight path. It was during this time that I realized how essential it was for believers to “Know What They Believe.” I committed myself to, as the opportunity allowed, in-depth biblical discipleship. The sober realization was recognizing that a believer can be “deceived.” (I Jn. 2:26)   

I have had the opportunity, by God’s grace, to disciple a great deal of “saints.” I even went as far as to create a discipleship program to ac-complish this. But as time has passed, since I started this endeavor, the number of professing believers willing to commit to a 2-year plan, has dwindled considerably . . . and I emphasize, considerably. 

So when I see the current trends of fellow-believers and their desire to be entertained, be amused, it concerns me greatly. I am of the mind that “equipping” has taken a back seat to movies and “lights and sounds” and TV miniseries that, oddly enough, mix Christian and cult content.  Does anyone realize that “The Chosen,” so popular in evangelical circles, has a strong Mormon input? And regarding amusements, the masses are being enticed to come and attend the church, for we have “carols and cookies, chair volleyball, pumpkin parties, movie nights, community activities, and more.” Dr. Joseph Stowell wrote, “the battle for the mind is the Christian battleground” of our time. If that is true, then it is the church that is to be that entity that “equips the saints” to be “transformed” and “renewed” in their “minds.”  (Rom. 12:1-2) 

In his 2004 book, “Showtime ForThe Sheep?” T.A. McMahon warned that there was an “increasing use of entertainment and amusement to teach the Word of God.” The trappings of this “world” are more pronounced than ever, and that should tell us that “the equipping of the saints,” in these last days, is even more critical than ever.