What happened to the church in America?

What happened to the American church?

To answer this question, we must be honest in our assessment of the American Church. Not to negative and not overly positive. However, it would be senseless not to begin with saying the American church and the church worldwide is as strong as its head, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit whom He sent to indwell the church.

This not just a feel-good statement but a statement in fact, attested to by Jesus when He took ownership, and personal responsibility for the church when He said, I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. My dear reader, if we could grasp the reality of this statement, we would never second guess the greatness of His church, and it ability thrive and it’s building program, even in the face of devils and demons who would stop it in its tracks if it were possible.

To speak of what happened to the church in American does not and is not intended to diminish the strength of the church or take for granted the supreme ability to do what Jesus said he would do, I will build my church.

But I can not write about the shortcomings of the church without starting at the starting point, Jesus is building His church and the gates, the authorities of hell will not, and cannot prevail against His church.

I am talking about two churches. How can there be two churches the question might be raised. And I would agree that two churches seem like a misnomer. But in fact, two churches are in the mind of the average church member and the general population, also.

The average person, the believer and the non-believer when they hear or see the word church they see the church they attend or the church on the corner. On the other hand when I see or hear the word church I see an entirely different church.

Instead of the church on the corner, I see the church, the body of Christ. I don’t just see the local assemble, but the church made up of believers, both present and those who have left this world for a better place.

Both the church on the corner and the church comprised of believers of every color, stripe, ethnic group. There is a church that is flawed because its members are flawed and there is a church that is strong. Not because all of its members is strong but because its head is Jesus the Christ and because it is filled with the Holy Ghost, who directs its activities and carries out its assignment through the churches members in whom he indwells.

I hope to clearly articulate these two churches and make the point the church Jesus came to build, will be built, and the church on the corner is vital to the church Jesus came to build. This does not mean the church on the corner is perfect because it is not. However, its imperfections does not take away or devalue its importance or diminish its place in the greater church and its pivotal role in preparing for that great day, the catching away of His church.