The Key
Jesus said,
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing" John15:5.
Here is the key to church growth. Remaining in Jesus. Following the teachings of Christ. Sadly the church here in North America is not doing this and the fact that church growth is generally declining proves this.
Someone once told me the church in America and Canada have a problem... Freedom.
They fail to use that freedom wisely. Instead of preaching in word and in deed the true inspired word of the gospel message they choose to mix it with other things. Love of money, and politics, being principle among them.
The apostle Paul for so this when he wrote,
"But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them." 2 Timothy 3:1-5.
Thus I believe it is time for the church to follow the words of God as recorded in 2 Chronicles. When He said,
"if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles, 7:14.
If we don’t the church will continue to decline here in North America and indeed within the free nations of the world.
Please think about it.
