Are We Being Led To Change?

Churches have been plagued by denominational traditions, doctrines, pastors are often controlled by the dollar, pastors are muzzled on certain topics, money has in many ways corrupted big denominations and so has modern liberal movements in the church. Church has put so many regulations on the spiritual gifts as in many denominations for example to pastor often takes years of school and extra guidelines by the church.

I believe we are being led to change. Do church differently. But how is the question. How can we mimic the early church in modern times? How can we reach the rising generations as those will be the most fertile ground for God's Word to penetrate. How can we limit the ability of money to corrupt or the dependence on money that sometimes direct the church. How can we return to a to evangelist= to believer= to diciple= to pastor= to evangelist and repeat.

Discipleship being key to raising the infant believer and knowing if a individual is ready for leadership or evangelism. They must be trained in how to harness the gifts they are gifted.

Can we brainstorm and take what works out of what doesn't or what has failed. Is it time for another Reformation? Has the church been too focused inside and neglected the outside? I believe so. Has our missions and missionary efforts neglected the home front? I believe so. Places like NYC, Dallas, D.C., Sacramento, Chicago, Minneapolis, etc.

What would you change? What works good in your church. What doesn't? And what can we do to change it?

I really like this thread idea. Would you go into a bit more detail about what "harnessing the gifts they are gifted" looks like? I think I know what you mean, but would like to hear more about this.

I think one thing that has failed regarding church is that people many times are not really known. There can be people who slip in to church, who worship, give offerings, listen to the message, and are honestly getting something out of the "service", but they then slip out the back. These are the ones who don't attend small groups as well for whatever reason.

Then there are people who do try to share what is going on in their lives either on a Sunday morning after service, or in a small group, but the situations that they are really struggling in are either too 'messy', 'not very Christiany', or they are living in an unbearable situation with chronic illness, abusive marriages, special needs children, extremely difficult jobs, severe financial struggles, depression, deep emotional wounds/anxiety and might share a little of these situations, but don't actually get to a real place of transparency and vulnerability where there can be true growth, discipleship, encouragement, intercession, and just plain walking out life in the trenches with other believers who care and want to wait on Jesus with them to do what only He can do.

What is left are a lot of seats in churches filled with people who 'look good' on the outside but are in a great deal of pain on the inside and no one really knows. There are also people who are struggling with deep heart sin, who don't feel 'safe' to share these struggles with others out of fear of judgment, shame,slander and gossip when what they really need is accountability, grace, truth, deliverance, prayer, wisdom and honesty from others who have struggled in similar ways.

I'm not looking to place blame on anyone, but I think this is not an uncommon thing in the church. Very 'normal' for many people.
What I like about online fellowship is the ability to really listen to what other people are expressing. The ability to ask really great questions, like the ones asked above. The chance to share on a level that is deeper than what might be shared on a Sunday morning or in a small group.
I think that we may be heading in the right direction with online services right now, to a certain extent. Of course this wouldn't be what any of us want long term, but I'm talking silver lining here. Maybe the good is that we can go deeper right now, when our hearts are in a very raw state. I don't think a lot of churches offer dialogue like what we have here in Christian Chat, but what would prevent that? I think it could be quite amazing.

The church i go to is a really good church, probably the best in the world. The church is all over the world literally. I guess its for a good reason, they preach to earn blessings but always focus on people doing Gods will. I cannot think of a way the UCKG help-centre can change. They do everything right, and have a really good system.

I think every church has room for improvement. The worst thing is to think we have the monopoly on truth and that all other denominations or churches are less godly or spiritual or knowledgable. Jesus didnt make denominations. He didnt elevate any preacher or teacher, Paul was AGAINST lifting up one teacher or group over another. Jesus didnt say I will build up various churches. He said He would build His church. One. One body and until we learn to love one another and think more of others than ourselves, to bear with and to build up, to not think more highly of ourselves than we aught, and to realise we NEED EVERY MEMBER OF CHRISTS BODY, we really are falling way short of being a perfect church or even getting close to that. Every member of the body of Christ has the same Holy Spirit doing Gods work in them as we do and thus what they have to say is as important as what we have to say and we should ALWAYS be ready to check what we believe in light of ALL scripture if someone challanges us - regardless of how we feel about them or if it goes against the grain. If we love Christ, we love the body and we will lay down our lives for it. We will be slow to speak and quick to listen to ALL beleivers.

I am only perfect in Christs Perfection, I can earn nothing by my works or efforts, they are as filthy rags. It is all of grace and by His work in us to the Glory of God ALONE so that none may boast in themselves or anything they do by His power and enablement.