Does the Church Have Answers?
Does the church have answers for the world’s questions? Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:13-14)
Those verses reveal the tragedy of the church’s present condition. The world is asking questions, but we have no answers. The epidemic of broken marriages, vile song lyrics, pornography, vulgar television, and easy access to drugs produced an explosion of youth crime in the cities of America and around the world. Everything our government attempts to do is of little or no effect. The problem grows worse each day. The leaders of the world are asking, “Does anyone have any answers?” It’s time for the church to step forward and boldly give God’s answers. And it’s time for the church to demonstrate the answers in our own lives and families. The world is not impressed with the Christian young people we are producing. There is a great contempt for the “hypocrites in the church.” We have become a source of humor in much of television and radio programming. Do you know why? Christians don’t practice what they preach. We proclaim a lifestyle radically different than the world, while we live just like the world. Thus, we rightfully receive the label of “hypocrite.” The world demands a higher standard of the church. And if they don’t see it, we are rejected and despised. How can we gain the world’s ears? The prophet Isaiah spoke the words nearly three thousand years ago: “When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” (Isaiah 59:19b) As believers commit to living in obedience to God’s ways as revealed in His Word, the world will see the difference and will be receptive to what we have to say.
Sin cera, Erik
Erik O. Garthe is Associate Pastor at Canton Baptist Church in Baltimore, Maryland.
