The church has failed

Greetings dear reader, its been a minute. Life generally gets busy and when I have time to spare I try to keep in touch the best way I can. The blog is over a year old and it is pleasing to know that it has impacted many readers. Many have shared the blog via their google cirlcles, some continue to spread the love by “+” on google and sharing it on their timelines on Facebook. The exciting thing about this is, the blog doesn’t only inspire you but it keeps me on my toes continuously and whenever I share an interest on a matter I always ache and urge to blurt it out on this space. To the subject of the day… Very recently I was home to visit. And as the Sunday norm  and lifestyle, I went to church. Our pastor was speaking under the theme; “Why we have church”… I generally know the reason, so I didn’t expect to be wowed but during the sermon I found myself being drawn into the subject. As someone who literally grew up in the church, I realized that this topic was one that was close to my heart. It also dawned on me on how the church today has missed the plot. Completely. Now, I must make it known that I am not referring to a particular church. If any of you feel that I am, maybe its your own conviction and nothing more. This is an opinion. An opinion that is on border line facts, as I have observed my findings and seen them to be true.

So why do we have church? Matthew 16:18 tells us that the church belongs to God. 2 Corinthians 7:23 tells us that we are Gods church. Essentially that means that church is not constraint to a mere church building but it is bigger than that. We, followers of Christ resemble or should resemble the church. The mission has a church (John 20:21). The church is sent by God, making us ambassadors on earth . We can draw the following:

1.       Christ lives in us

2.       We are to display God (we are the church)

3.       We exist for Gods glory

4.       We exist to proclaim the gospel of Christ

5.       We are to make disciples

6.       Our duty is to advance Gods kingdom (tricky one, we will engage)

All the above six points are FACT. It doesn’t need your vote. It’s what is. The Bible tells us this. However, somewhere along the line the enemy came with a mandate to kill, destroy and steal what God had intended for the church. Church has now become a weekly “Durban July” or “J&B met”. It has become a fashion circus. And hear me, there is NOTHING wrong with looking good. Nothing at all. Infact, it is good that we take time out to look good to go to the house of God; HOWEVER, when the only core reason of you going is based on what you wear and whether or not sister so and so and brother so and so noticed your new blazer it becomes a problem. “#Church Selfie” is one of the most trending hash tags on social media. Instagram has become the new way to show off our Sunday best. It has become meaningful to go to church just to post that Sunday selfie. Then we caption it with a deep scripture that carries no backing to the ACTUAL reason you’re posting it. This is sad. Disgusting to say the least. What about the broken souls? What about the lost? What about salvation? We have missed it. The church has become an anything goes when scripture tells us to not conform to the things of this world. So, we alter and tweek the word of God so that we don’t lose members. The church has compromised the word of God so that it can gain members. It conforms to the world so that it doesn’t lose tithe money. It compromises the principles of God so that it doesn’t offend people. So the church comes with commercial terms like “Godly dating” or even better “Courtship”. This one gets tricky… Because everyone wants a Bae right? Because we all want to get married in the end? My problem is not that the church allows this but rather my problem lies in how its Godlysized… It’s made pure when sexual immorality takes place. I have  a problem with how “courtship” is tackled. If it were two stable individuals who had a job and source of income with a good head on their shoulders, “courtship” would be negotiable, I’d perhaps buy into it. But when the church allows teenagers who still rely on their parents for money it becomes problematic. Moreover allowing varsity students whose only income is NSFAS grocery vouchers who do not even have a R50 they’ve worked for ,it becomes tricky. And hear this, the church claims that they will monitor this union… reality is, the church isn’t there when the two are alone in a res room or one of the partners back room flat at 11pm in the evening…. The church will do very little in mending the broken heart of that naïve little girl who thought she’d found the one at age 18 nogal and the church cheered the little naïve buggers on, only to find at age 24 that they’re not compatible. It was just a phase and she would have given him her virginity because the church has holified their union. Their dating isn’t a mere form of dating. Its “Godly”. In the words of Pastor N. Mahlaba; “iCourtship, sisjolo sabazalwane nge style”. Courtship is just an excuse for people to play. It has no concrete significance anymore like it should’ve.

The church pulpit has become a bragging centre. This is where the pastor brags about his marriage of 30 years and how beautiful his marriage is. What about the widow? What about the broken divorcee? The church is so quick to organize marriage seminars but what about an event that invites the broken widow whose just lost her husband tragically, what about that divorcee who really tried to make it work but his/her spouse ran off with someone else. What about the broken?. And hear me, marriage is a beautiful thing, it was a union created by God. It is how God wanted his kingdom agenda to influence the earth but let us not give focus into your “perfect” marriage only, let us focus on your other members who unfortunately do not live in paradise like you do. Has the church considered the fatherless/motherless?, does it consider the single parent enough?. I often see how insensitive they are to these very important ministries. Just as important as marriage is, so is a widow to Gods heart and so is the orphan or the bastard child. The blood of Jesus that was given unto us has been diminished to the level of cheap testimonies. Material things like cars and mansions.  What about healing? Restoration?. Oh! Don’t get me started on how prayer meetings have become a gossip session. The concept of ‘Holy Gossip’ lingers in the church… “Lets pray for brother so and so.. we suspect he is in fornication” that’s a subtle way to bring across gossip you already know. And while salvation has now become a trend… It is no longer a precious, esteemed thing to possess but rather it has become trendy to say “I am saved”. When actions sadly contradict. This is no judgement but the truth. Visitors in the church have been made to feel like used paper cups and plastic utensils. We only greet you if you’re a regular in the church. We have no business with you if you’re a stranger. The church has generated cliques, the footballers wives, the housewives, the doctors wives, the golfing buddies, the fashionisters, all those with MacBooks and iPhones linger together. WE HAVE LOST IT. COMPLETELY.  Church has become about dancing and only and not worship. We are concerned about the keyboard and not the word. Toys are what these instruments are. Utter toys. Salvation is deeper. And the sad reality is, we expect to receive hurt and rejection from the world and never from the church, little do we know that, that is where you often find it. The fear of God is gone. People can lead worship while the previous night they were leading something else (details for another day). And if this offends anyone, then maybe you’re in the wrong kingdom. The kingdom of God ascribes by what is right and what is true. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:23). Be blessed.