Does the Church have a future?

This was the question under discussion on a television programme aired on Ulster Television last night at 11pm, needless to say this blogger recorded it and watched it this evening, 11pm is far too late for a 'school night'.

I was looking forward to watching the programme as I was informed that an Evangelical Preacher of my acquaintance was to take part as a member of the audience. Sadly my friend did not make it onto the programme, whether he did not get an opportunity to speak or whether he was edited out I don't know as yet but I shall find out.

That aside the programme made interesting viewing although I am not sure how representative the panel was of the Church. There was of course the representatives or Rome, with a Bishop and Roman Catholic lay person. It is not my place to judge but I would not be confident that either of them are part of the Body of Christ given that they are depending on the Church of Rome dispensing grace for their salvation rather than on the finished work of Christ at Calvary. There was a Bishop from the Anglican Communion and a (female) Presbyterian Minister representing the Established churches and a Baptist Pastor representing the Evangelicals.

With regard to the established Churches it is clear that there is a mixed multitude of the converted and unconverted, the Presbyterian lady even acknowledged this in her opening remarks. She was asked what was for her a tricky question about her moderator shaking hands with the pope. In trying to squirm through an answer she admitted that her church was very broad and had a lot of views. On that score she is right, there are certainly good men in her denomination who would appear to be soundly saved and therefore part of the visible church but there are also many liberals who deny the very doctrines of the gospel and it would be doubtful if they are saved and therefore members of Christ's church. The same can be said for all of the established churches.

I have said all of this to give weight to my view that I am not sure how representative this panel was or indeed how qualified they are to debate the future of the Church. They may all be qualified to talk about their churches/denominations but are they qualified to debate the future of Christ's Church.

Even thought the panel grappled with the issues of falling attendances and increased secularisation in society all of them seemed to be confident that the Church had a strong and vibrant future. Sad to say their optimism in the main was in themselves, for they kept talking about how they would listen more and reach out to the felt needs of their congregations and even those outside of their current sphere of influence.

I share their optimism for the future of the Church, not the church as they see but the true Church as Christ sees it. However, my optimism is not based on anything that the church is going to do, my optimism is based on what Christ has always done and will continue and as was pointed out by the lone voice of an evangelical in the audience of that programme:-

'I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.' Matthew 16 v 18

The Church does not need to listen to the felt needs of people in order to reach them, the Church knows what people need. They need a Saviour! That might not be what they feel they need but that is what the Bible says they need. In order to reach them with the Saviour then we must do what the Scriptures command us.

'Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.' 2 Timothy 4 v 2

'For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.' 1 Corinthians 1 v18

Away with all the fluffy nonsense, Preach the Word!