A Visit to a Modern Church
As I drove up to the church, I noticed hundreds of cars parked in the lot. Walking in, I didn’t receive a greeting and felt somewhat ignored. The first thing that caught my eye inside this magnificent building was a bustling coffee shop offering every type of coffee imaginable, alongside donuts—hardly nutritious fare for God’s temple. Few people carried Bibles, which surprised me. Isn't the Word of God meant to be central in His house?
Navigating my way to the sanctuary, I was struck by the mood lighting and a large screen TV hanging behind the pulpit. To my left, I saw various musical instruments—was this a church or a concert hall? Would we be nourished spiritually or merely entertained in the name of keeping people engaged? Taking a seat, I realized there were no hymn books.
When I asked a nearby person about hymn books, he casually mentioned that the lyrics were displayed on the big screen. As the singing began, I found myself lost in unfamiliar songs that sounded more like rock music than worship.
Eventually, the preacher stood up to speak. Instead of preaching, however, he delivered a talk. He focused on feelings and how giving more money could make one a stronger Christian. Throughout the entire message, Bible verses were scarce, with no mention of sin, repentance, or the need for salvation. It seemed more like a feel-good session than a sermon grounded in biblical truth.
In this modern-day church, the focus seemed to be more on convenience and entertainment than on deep spiritual engagement. Upon arrival, the absence of personal greetings and the bustling coffee shop gave a sense of social activity rather than spiritual preparation. Inside the sanctuary, the emphasis on mood lighting and a large screen TV for lyrics suggested a desire portray itself as a contemporary and engaging modern church, but the lack of hymn books and unfamiliar songs left traditional worshippers feeling disconnected.
During the service, the preacher was telling jokes, and the attendees were laughing, everyone seems to be having a great time. The sermon was more of a motivational talk centered around personal feelings and financial giving, with minimal reference to Scripture, sin, repentance, or salvation. The overall atmosphere felt geared towards making attendees feel good rather than addressing deeper spiritual needs.
This church experience raised questions about the balance between relevance and maintaining the core teachings of the Bible, highlighting the challenge many churches face in adapting to contemporary culture while remaining faithful to biblical principles.
As a church, we have strayed far from what God intended for our gatherings to worship Him. The Bible, once brought to church, is now often left at home, replaced by smartphones. One small compromise after another slowly erodes the church, moving it away from its original purpose.
What if we met in a simple room, singing old Gospel songs from hymn books? What if the preacher stood up and boldly proclaimed the reality of Hell, the necessity of repentance, and humanity’s desperate need for redemption? What if the preacher fed the flock to withstand the attack of the Devil? Shouldn’t our gatherings be about feeding people God’s Word so they leave eager to share His love with others?
As a church, we have strayed far from what God intended for our gatherings to worship Him. The Bible, once brought to church, no is seldom seen. One small compromise after another slowly erodes the church, moving it away from its original purpose. What if we met in a simple room, singing old Gospel songs from hymn books? What if the preacher stood up and boldly proclaimed the reality of Hell, the necessity of repentance, and humanity’s desperate need for redemption? And actually, fed the people the Word of God? Shouldn’t our gatherings be about feeding people God’s Word, so they leave eager to share His love with others?
I left that church, and a feeling of sadness filled my heart. I heard laughter, but I felt no joy. I felt no love, but worst of all, I felt no Spirit of the Lord. As 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, "Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate," says the Lord. "And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
Fifty years ago, I committed my life to serving the Lord. I hold an associate degree in Christian Education and a bachelor’s degree in Christian Counseling. I live by 1 Corinthians 9:16, Ephesians 3:7-8, and Colossians 1:28-29. In my retirement, I focus on studying and teaching God’s Word. Besides writing this Blog I maintain 3 Facebook pages dedicated to spreading the Word of God. Email: hopeinchrist2024@yahoo.com