A Facebook friend, real life acquaintance and Brother in Christ of mine, Larry West, posted recently on his page about seeing a church sign that said “closed for all gatherings” on his travels. He wondered if they had reached everyone in their area that they could reach, were they truly passionate about the Gospel, and had they truly done all they could (His conclusion, and I’d say I agree, is “of course they didn’t!). I read this while traveling home from Fort Smith on Sunday at a pit stop and, after reading his post, I almost immediately saw a small town church building with big bright yellow for sale sign out front. At a conference recently, I saw something alarming: from 1980 to present, approximately 1/3 of churches have closed their doors forever, at least in the Christian Churches and Churches of Christ (though it’s likely an all around statistic, I read another paper that said about 120 churches close their doors every week, more or less, and that IS across the board, and there are not enough church plants to keep up). I’ve had conversations with frustrated friends about the state of the congregation they serve.
So, I wonder. Is your church about to close its doors soon? Is mine? Right now there is life and growth within our congregation, and it’s because we’re sharing the Gospel. Yet I know there are many local area churches suffering and losing members, and not seeing enough growth to be viable. Don’t mistake me, it’s not about numbers, or members, or even a bank book. God will not call something His Church that does not function as He calls. This is not a denominational call: there will be no denominations in Heaven, but One People united in Christ. This is a warning to all who call themselves by Christ, and yet do not do what He says.
Jesus isn’t interested in our good works, our tithing, the work we do, or our denominational backgrounds or congregational doctrines. Eventually, even those who are false teachers leading large, seemingly thriving congregations will be revealed as failing Him. Jesus calls us to Follow Him, and we do so by listening to what He says, doing what He did, and seeking the glory of the Father in all we do. When we were baptized in to Christ (we’re not baptized in to church), we were baptized in to His Life, Death, Burial and Resurrection. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the Scriptures say. And the Scriptures also tell us He will not put His name on anything or anyone that acts contradictory to Him. This is why so many local congregations are closing or closed. Get back in to Christ and His word, be led by the Holy Spirit, spread the Gospel, be the Body of Christ and seek God’s glory in all you do.
Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Revelation 3
To the Church in Sardis
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars.
“‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 5The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
To the Church in Philadelphia
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
To the Church in Laodicea
“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”

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