Spain Day Three

It is now day three. Even since yesterday, my relationship with some of these men has grown past "hi". What I am learning is that the pastors of the churches in Eastern and Western Europe are a microcosm of what the American church will be in 25-50 years. They are struggling with the same issues that pastors in America struggle with. How do we stay relevant without dumbing down the Gospel? Why are there less people in the American churches? One quote from a Scottish preacher was that only 5% of Scots are in a church. One pastor has a large Scottish church of 300 people (tiny by American standards)! The churches are in a truly secular world that is bogged down in rationalism and nominalism. And yet these men press on.

What grieves my spirit is that I see all of the same signs in America. I see the lights in the American church going dark. They are going dark because many large churches do not preach the Gospel. Sure, they have some numbers but they are not faithful to God's Word. What good can come of this?

As I sit here right now and hear the preacher expound on Elijah on Mount Carmel (I Kings 17) I am encouraged because I remember once again that God can and will have victory in his church. He can do it in an instant or he can do it over much time. We can never stop preaching the Word. Even if the prophets of Oprah are in the hundreds and thousands and the disciples of Osteen/T.D. Jakes and other health, wealth and prosperity heretics continue to lead people astray, we cannot ever compromise. We must stand here on Mount Carmel and KNOW that God will reveal himself to even the most pagan of people. God is not a domesticated God. He will not be held in a false prophet's box.

No. Our God scoffs at the wickedness of men (Psalm 2). He is Holy, holy, holy who instills fear in the godliest of prophet's. He causes men to fall down as though dead. He cleans house when his house has been corrupted. I do not fear for the invisible church of God. I fear for those who are outside of it.