CHRISTIANITY TODAY: Has Christianity Failed?
In the recent past, I browsed the web and stumbled upon Shannon McMillin’s article titled “Has Christianity Failed?” The author seems to have answered the question with the affirmative stance that based on the chaos in our so-called Christian society, continual corruption and utter confusion on various doctrines have arisen within self-proclaimed Christian Churches. He notes that even though we live in a nation that inscribes, “In God we trust” in her currency, the majority of her population has turned her back on God; a people that rationalized our beliefs on God. Even though the USA proclaims to be a Christian nation, it seems it has not only allowed, but actually encouraged other religions and ideologies to find a place in our society; ideologies and beliefs that seem to corrupt the nation’s true beliefs, values and culture. The extent to which other religions influence the public life and moral decisions in this so-called Christian nation is unbelievably ridiculous. It has come to the point where we are telling God “We do not want You in our schools, in any public institution, or in our work places.” Christianity no longer exerts her influence on our society. What a shame!
Permit me to differ in opinion that Christianity has failed. Agreeing with that concept would connote that the Christian God has failed. It also suggests we should try other gods. God forbids! I consider this illusion as a falsehood from the pit of hell. Our God is faithful and dependable; able to deliver and save us. He is able to keep us from stumbling or slipping or falling; able to present us unblemished (blameless and faultless) before the present of His glory in triumphant joy and exultation (Jude 24). God commands us, “I am the Lord your God, the One who brought you out of Egypt where you were slaves. Do not make or worship any other God except Me …..Do not bow down and worship idols. I, your Lord is a jealous God and demand all your love…”(Exodus 20:2-5; Isaiah 42: 8; 45: 18, 22). “Christianity fails, if it is not applicable to life on this earth” – Josh McDowell
God is alive in every place at every time, and therefore, so is Jesus, the Savior of the world. The Holy Spirit is also alive and He is at work in every believer’s life. This great and Almighty God has told us and reaffirms in His word and at every opportunity that He is God and there is no other like Him or to be compared with Him. He has from the same stance warned us from worshipping or serving any other gods, apart from Him. He created the good and the bad and everything works for His glory. He allows bad things to happen to achieve His plans and purposes. It could be the occurrence of the bad that will drive mankind back to Him. God has a set time for everything.
What has failed is not Christianity, but the practice of it. Her followers have failed to take their faith seriously; to emulate their Master and Lord. Some are practicing the faith in their own terms, not in Jesus’ term and way. Leadership is no longer a result of a calling, but often because of someone putting their selfish interests above that of the kingdom. Proliferation of Churches is purely for gain and ego and they do whatever it takes to build and sustain their financial empires. Even though the liturgy or forms of worship vary strikingly between the different denominations, their belief system is one. Jesus Christ is the incarnate Son of God, the Messiah and the Head of the Church (1 John 5:12,13). Little wonders why the hymn writers wrote: “The Church’s one foundation, is Jesus Christ her Lord……”(Samuel J. Stone) and “Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ the head and corner-stone, Chosen of the Lord and precious, binding all the Church in one……” (John M. Neale). We may differ on the practice and workings of the Holy Spirit, but we are all in agreement that Jesus fulfills the New Covenant between God and humanity and on the doctrine of Trinity – God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit (1 John 5:7).
Christianity rests on the belief of Jesus’ virgin birth, His sinless life and suffering; death through crucifixion, the source of human salvation and redemption of sins, as well as in His resurrection from death, symbolizing the hope for eternal life, expressed in the doctrine of atonement. Christians believe that faith alone in Jesus Christ and His grace, not on laws or works, brings our salvation. True Christians believe that the Bible is the Holy Book, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the tradition of communal worship, doctrine of divine love as the heart of God’s relationship with mankind. The Cross is still central to Christian belief and a symbol of our redemption. Christian Churches may also vary in the importance attached to the sacraments, but the vast majority agrees on and accepts Baptism and Eucharist (Lord’s Supper).
Believers have failed in lack of depth, knowledge, and understanding of the God they worship, and many are shallow in faith (in belief). Some believers read less of the scripture and do not believe in the core message of Jesus: Love God with the whole of your being and love your neighbor (parents, children, friends, unfriendly friends (or enemies), as you love yourself (Mark 12:29-31). We rationalized what to believe in; emphasize what we like and skip what we don’t. The era of new-age-shop Churches and prosperity preaching have shifted the focus from the gospel, to entertainment; half-baked, money driven messages; and undeserved miracles seeking. There is also discipleship deficit in today’s Church.
Most Christians play “churchanity” and do not care about lost souls. The love inside no longer attracts those outside anymore because all they see from the world’s point of view are cold wars, infighting, hate, greed, grudges, cheating and carnality. To propel their self-satisfying, they manipulate messages of health, wealth, prosperity, and perfection. To spread their deceitful word, new Church era prophets arise. Some of these new age prophets (religious merchants) preach from their cultural prejudice, denomination doctrine, traditional point of view, and the public’s popular opinion; their prayer points are very ritualistic (such that one coming from a third world country can pray that NEPA should not take light in America). There is also the race factor and evangelical bias which seem to weaken the oneness in Christ. These flaws sponsor the emergence of shop-line (self-owned) Churches and the rise of another gospel. The result is false ‘Churchanity.’ Despite all her flaws, the foundation of God stands sure and the core message of the gospel of Jesus remains alive. The reason for Jesus’ death on the cross can never be reversed. It is settled in heaven forever!!!!
Christianity cannot fail because Christ never fails. God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the law requirements. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. This is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are (Romans 3:21-22). We have sure victory. Being a Christian is a privilege. God has taken away more of our sins than we can realize, more sin than we deserve to have been forgiven for. That’s why the message of the Christian faith is alive and very relevant. Even in today’s chaotic world, it’s still touching; it’s still changing lives. “I think the reason we sometimes have the false sense that God is so far away is because that is where we have put him. We have kept him at a distance, and then when we are in need and call on him in prayer, we wonder where he is. He is exactly where we left him.” – Ravi Zacharias, Has Christianity Failed you?
Reach: Evangelist/Elder Ogbonnaya, Godswill at email: weefreeministries@yahoo.com or P. O. Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272; Web: www.weefreeministries.org; Call: 8328813929 (Cell).