Why do churches die? (part 1)

What is causing so many churches to die?

In a word - irrelevance. (there are two types of irrelevance which are 'church killers' - this post addresses the first):

The prophet Amos speaks about one type of irrelevance (the disconnect between our 'religion' and our daily living)... in the first 4 1/2 chapters of his book of prophecy, he outlines the problem: it seems that the 'people of God' are treating their fellow man (especially the disadvantaged in their community) very poorly... speaking of the Israelites (God's people!), Amos says:

"They sell the righteous for silver,

and the needy for a pair of sandals;
They trample on the heads of the poor

as upon the dust of the ground
and deny justice to the oppressed.
Father and son use the same girl

and so profane my holy name."

God (through Amos) continues to convict them and warn them of the punishment that's coming:

"You trample on the poor

and force him to give you grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,
you will not live in them;

though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.

For I know how many are your offenses

and how great your sins.
You oppress the righteous and take bribes
and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts."

His sarcasm is thick as he continues to convict them of their hypocrisy:

"Go to Bethel and sin;
go to Gilgal and sin yet more.
Bring your sacrifices every morning,
your tithes every three years.
Burn leavened bread as a thank offering
and brag about your freewill offerings—
boast about them, you Israelites,
for this is what you love to do,"
declares the Sovereign LORD.

Then, after detailing exactly what is about to happen to His people in alarming detail, he continues his judgement, speaking to them about the hypocrisy of their worship:

"I hate, I despise your religious feasts;
I cannot stand your assemblies.

Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.

Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.

But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!"

Why are some churches dying? Could it be that God is withholding His blessing? Is it possible He has decided to 'remove the candlestick' of some 'churches'? Perhaps God is tired of their irrelevance! Maybe He is sickened by the disconnect between what they do at 'synagogue' and what they do the other 6 days of the week... maybe He has stopped listening to or accepting their "Sunday Worship"...

Perhaps it's because He can't hear their 'worship songs' over the cries of the people they are mistreating (or ignoring). Maybe He sees the glaring similarities between modern-day Pharisees and those His son railed against 2,000 years ago!

The God we serve is the same God who directed the prophet Amos (and countless other prophets throughout the ages) to write and warn and pronounce and plead to His people... our God is the same God who punished and pruned and coaxed His people to repentance.

How arrogant we are to believe in a God who ignores the way we treat others while basking in our artificial praise!

'I tell you the truth, whatever you did

for one of the least of these brothers of mine,

you did for me.'

May God Bless us as we remember that He wants His people to imitate His Son... every day.

...next up: the 2nd type of irrelevance...