Eric Camp

I have been saying for months, even maybe over a year now, that The Church is in major transition. There have been alot of “seasons” and “transitions” through the years, but I believe this particular one is unique in that it is being sifted and shaken more than it is being empowered and established. It is being reshaped and purified.

Take a look around. There is scandal, there is division, there are fights and arguments of global knowledge between church leaders, there are sexual predators in pulpits being exposed, there are major denominations creating their own version of Christianity instead of following Jesus, and the list goes on and on. There was a recent day where our programs, our numbers, and buildings, our budgets and our hype was more important than Biblical and Spiritual purity.

A few weeks ago, 2 prominent pastors were in a feud at a men’s conference in Mark Driscoll and John Lindell. This made world headlines. This week, Robert Morris at Gateway Church has resigned due to sexually abusing a 12 year old 35 years ago! Youth pastors, staff pastors, Sr. Pastors, those in leadership across the full spectrum are being brought to light for life-styles of sin and abuse. Locally, in our churches, people are more immature in their faith than ever because instead of following the direction of Scripture, we think we can do what we want and God will honor it. Doesn’t work that way. However, something is happening larger than the feud with sister bertha on whether we should sing 3 hymns or 5.

The Church I pastor, Collective Church in Pascagoula, MS, was birthed officially in 2009. The original name was Oasis Church. I think we are partly to blame for what is going on. Along with many other churches that were birthed or transitioned to adopt the “attractional” church model of “doing” church. Again, I think it was a season of major growth reaching un-churched and lost souls and alot of good has come out of it, however, we have also created a culture of “come and see” instead of “go and be”. Let me explain.

We did so many things, most unorthodox to say the least, to reach folks who never went to church, used to go to church or we just appealed to the entertainment itch of our current culture in creating services with lights, smoke, effects, etc. It worked. To an extent. We grew to over 2500 in membership and even reached over 1500 in attendance in weekend services. We were drawing crowds, but not making disciples. We were putting on a show, but not challenging people enough to living an obedient life following Jesus and crucifying flesh. We created a lot of attenders, but not many dedicated disciples. This is evident in the current culture of Church World. Folks dont utilize Matthew 18 when they have a problem to discuss, they just cuss you out and leave or post on social passive aggressive graffiti. We think Scriptural instruction is optional and a suggestion instead of mandatory for righteousness. I am guilty of creating some of that. And so are many many more.

We are enamored with the mega-church movement and celebrity preachers that we are missing the Jesus that it is supposed to be all about.

In a nutshell, in this long post, what is the answer and why am I writing this? Well, first of all, we all, if we call ourselves Christian or followers of Jesus, we need to grow up. Grow up in maturity and get over ourselves. Learn some humility, learn how to obey Scripture even if we don’t like it. Love God and love people. Wait.. Jesus said that is really … never mind…. Quit getting offended over every little thing you dont like… ok… enough of that… What else? We, as church leaders, pastors, we need to repent. Repent of doing things our way and building ourselves our own kingdoms. Repent of trying to be popular and liked by people instead of being obedient to calling people to righteousness and maturing as a disciple. I know, that is not as popular. People will leave your church because they don’t like it or you are mean, however, we have to trust The Holy Spirit to do the work in their heart. That is not our job to try to keep pace. Just preach, teach and challenge to become a disciple (disciplined one), that is our job.

For the other things, the church is under a remodel. Things are being exposed and those without repentance are being removed. A purification, if you may, is taking place because Jesus is preparing HIS CHURCH for His soon return. A church WITHOUT spot or wrinkle! A Church that is expectant of His return and a Church sold out to living for His approval and not the approval of social media. It is happening. This will start, for all of us, for praying for churches that are being affected by this exposing and unraveling. Such as Gateway in Texas. Robert Morris. Or the youth pastor down the street. May justice be served, but may “The Church” not throw anymore stones and pray for the innocent that have been affected and pray for the souls of those who do such things.

I read a post this morning that the season of celebrity pastors, seeker sensitive services, trying to be “relevant”, gimmicks, crass humor, entertainment, lite motivational sermons, manipulation and control over people, success metrics of church, all that is over. What is going to happen is we are entering a season of reverence and fear of The Lord, community, Kingdom operation, obedience, anointing, true repentance, Baptism, The Lord’s Supper, disciple-making, Godly leadership and contextual Biblical teaching and preaching is moving in. We are there. Like, today!

Jesus is building HIS CHURCH. He is preparing His Church for persecution, not being liked, tribulations, to be set apart, and to be about His business, not our own agendas.

He wants us radical, devoted, dedicated and bold in our faith in these days. Again, He is coming soon!

In closing this mini-novel of thoughts this morning, I pray you will pray and hear The Holy Spirit. Repent of your sins and lack of obedience to His Word. Align with a Biblically solid, Jesus-centered Church, where you serve and grow more into the likeness of Christ before He comes! He is doing His part. He is exposing and eliminating those things that don’t please Him. Things are interesting… This season will be interesting… Stay faithful and stay humble. I know I am trying to (more on that in another post), Jesus said those who endure to the end will be saved. (Matthew 24:13). Let’s endure Church!