How Bad is the Church Today?
There is plenty of bad news about the church in the media. Unlike some people, I don’t see this as a “war on the church” but rather an increased transparency and a wider sharing of the failings that do exist.
But is it all bad news?
I have been a pastor for about twenty-five years and have served in numerous churches. There is plenty that I could complain about but that would not be the full story.
The truth is that there are plenty of godly and loving pastors and congregations out there. There are people who are making a difference in their communities. There are people sharing Jesus in respectful and appropriate ways.
The typical Christian or congregation is far too boring for the media to report on. We will not hear about the person who takes somebody for coffee or who brings a trunk full of food to the food bank But these things happen far more than the bad stories.
I serve in a small congregation that will never make the news. But there are some great people in this church. They love God and love people and they are making a difference in their own way.
I know that I can be drawn into the negative and focus on what is wrong. I still believe there is a place for that. We need to call out the things that are wrong so we can make things right.
But we also need to take a step back and be thankful for all the regular followers of Jesus who are doing their best to be faithful.
