When we look at the trends in the spiritual life of people we notice a growing trend among elders, preachers, and members of the church of
Christ which is to turn Christianity and worship into things that are casual
in nature.
People are given the freedom to look at their faith like they want to have it. they also may come to worship God whenever they like “as they are” and “dressed as they are.” Some preachers do not find it necessary to prepare their sermon because it has to be casual and straight from the heart. In some churches people have become totally against prepared or printed prayers , saying they would not come from the heart. Everything in service should be improvised and or casual.
73% of born again Christians may say that it is important to share their faith with others, but when we walk around is our environment we do not hear many talking about the Word of God or about the hope we can have in the Gospel. The Good News is not heard much, though many may know it is something we should share with others.
Only half (52%) of born again Christians say they actually did share the
Gospel at least once this past year to someone with different beliefs,
in the hope that they might accept Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
This sharing of the Good News demands also knowing it and acting accordingly it. But we can notice not many youngsters today really can or want to find time to read the Bible. They think it is not so necessary and for the few times they can make it to church they will hear enough of the Scriptures (they think), but in many churches there is less and less being read from the Scriptures and often just being shouted a few verses, but that's it.
Some preachers do find it more important to get others to know those dogmatic teachings and want to get as many as possible their own church rules, often by breaking off other churches and trying to get the followers of the other church to their church, claiming they are the better church. the set of beliefs — a collection of ideas seems all to what it turns about, instead of preaching the love of Christ.
For most people it is easiest to blindly keep accepting what the preachers tells them on the pulpit. those who dare to question certain things are looked at, because they could be a danger for their own believes or making them to doubt about certain matters, which they now can accept, because the follow the preacher and count him responsible in case it would not be true.
They are not interested in to look at the meaning of one verse with looking at the context in which it
was written or to compare it with other verses in other chapters of the Holy Scriptures. Why should they bother who wrote it in which circumstances, what led into it, what did it lead into, etc.
Today it may look surprising to find it interesting that the age group that is least likely to be
regular church goers are most likely to verbally evangelize. In ordinary life, at work, we can find some people (a few) who simply share what they have seen and heard and know to be true and place it in Biblical perspective. Luckily we can find people committed to a Christ-centered, faith-based relationship
with God through Jesus Christ, who are not actively connected with and
participating in a church. They define themselves as Christians, but
they are not active in pursuing spiritual formation in the context of a
congregational expression. Some might consider them as beings who could be called "Christian “nones”" in
that they have no formal affiliation at this time.
Most Evangelicals, especially leaders feel it important to affirm their doctrine and call out many verses (even when it may be out of context) to affirm their doctrinal believes and to frighten their members so they would be afraid to leave any idea of their community.
Jesus is the true example of right understanding of the Word of his Father, the Only One True God. He is the mediator between God and man, who showed us the way to a holy
living, and unconditional mercy and love for the lost. It's a message
that many Christians dismiss today – just as it was 2000 years ago.
Some may think what the world needs is the revelation of the Grace of God through the
complete work of the cross. They might say listening to the likes of Joseph Prince,
Creflo Dollar & Rob Rufus , getting this fresh revelation and
drinking of the new wine of Holy Spirit is what keeps us fresh in our
faith. God never promised us a bed of roses and the road is long and
tough at times, but if Christ is our anchor and our focus, how can we
neglect so great a salvation?
Lots of people become more concerned how big a church is, how people are dressed, how pleasant the services are, which 'good music" is played, how entertaining the worship can be, etc..
Exterior elements seem to have become more important than the state of the heart, the inner feelings.
In 2001 Barna warned already most self-professed Christians are only dabblers in the Faith lacking any desire for holiness; begging the question of how serious
these people are about their faith, and how real their relationship with
Christ is. {
George Barna,
Growing True Disciples (Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2001), 17.}
Those who call themselves Christian, should give much more attention to the person they are claiming to follow. They should listen more to the words of the one they would call their master. Christ Jesus should be their guide, more than any particular preacher or church. Jesus should be the one they should follow.
Christianity is not a set of doctrines in the sense that a mechanic
operates with a set of tools. Instead, Christianity is a comprehensive
worldview and way of life that grows out of Christian reflection on the
Bible and the unfolding plan of God revealed in the unity of the
Scriptures.
As such we also should need to develop more concern for our attitude, attendance, and
attire. In a time when many want to practice casual Christianity, we
need to practice true Christianity. We need to practice serious
Christianity, devoted Christianity, and respectful Christianity.
The Bible tells us about the foggy times when religions will get against religions. The time of its prophesies has come
Men and Women of God must rise up, the Watchmen must
cry out; for if the Spirit of the Living God is not poured out on us
then all will be lost.
