The Challenge From the Local Church

​Within the southern portion of the United States, there are many churches.  Having many churches in one region would seem to be a blessing, given the availability of the Word of God going forth from so many pulpits.  This is not the blessing one may think, but creates an issue of having so many different options of a lukewarm culture-driven assembly that caters to the customer rather than challenging Christians to remain strong in their faith or challenge those who are not believers to become Christians (Revelation 3:15-16).  The Bible describes today’s time as the last days, which warns of people no longer listening to sound teaching from the Word of God but people following their desires, looking for teachers who will teach them whatever the listener wants to hear (2 Timothy 4:3).  In doing this, the listener will now reject the truth and chase after myths or feel-good stories (2 Timothy 4:4; Jeremiah 7:28;  Amos 8:11-12).  Seeing the growing rate of other assemblies, many local pastors will change how they speak the Word of God, change their church services, or bring in so many ideas of culture to be relevant that the church or its services are no longer pleasing to God.  When the local church does not challenge people to mature in a relationship with God, that church in particular has lost its heavenly vision, if it was established by God and not an insecure person looking for attention and personal gain.  The challenge from the local church is not to fit in or conform to any clothing style, monetary means, social club, or other unimportant fixation but to be challenged to have a personal relationship with God through Bible study, a daily prayer life, being in the house of God to serve the body of Christ, and fulfill the Great Commission outside the church walls (Acts 2:42-44; Acts 2:46-47).  Without this challenge, many people, especially Christians, get lazy, selfish, unbiblical, and turn to things that entice them away from their relationship with God (James 1:13-15).  Just as in a marriage no longer containing each spouse expressing love and devotion through a heart of love, it becomes passionless, dry, and dissolves, whether divorce takes place or not.  This should not be the testimony of Christians, especially those who attend a local church.  The local church is designed biblically to push people out of their comfort zone to maintain a biblical relationship with God.  God’s people will resort back to their fleshly tendencies when not challenged to run their race with a pace man known as the Fivefold Minister given by Jesus Christ (Ephesians 4:11).  This says a lot about those who lead a church but do not fulfill the role Jesus has called them to uphold.  Allowing people’s desires to run a church, make changes to the operations of a church, or steer what sermons are discussed does not challenge but caters to the flesh of people.  The body of Christ needs more leaders ordained by God and fewer followers of the masses.  Insecure men, like King Saul, listen to the mass of people and follow their desires rather than lead the people to victory like King David (1 Samuel 13; 1 Samuel 15; 1 Chronicles 10:13; 1 Samuel 17; 1 Samuel 18).  The challenge every person should find in the local church is to put on the armor of God, how to do the work of God, how to be built up in the things of God, and how to have a true relationship with God (Ephesians 4:11-13).  For more information about Abundant Grace Church, visit agcsparta.org.