When you tell someone about your church, do you think about how that sounds? Some people do not think that saying the word "my," "your," or "our" in front of church could suggest that people run the church, not God. So, does God run the church you go to, or do you run the church you are in?
When people in the church get upset because there aren't new members joining, they do not realize there is a reason for it. People do not join a church that does not have a passion for worship, especially the younger generation. Traditional churches sing hymns and play the piano and/or the organ because they are trying to reach the Baby Boomer generation. Yet, there is a bigger generation: the Millennials. This generation is the biggest generation in the world. They love to hear contemporary songs because there is a passion behind them. There is a purpose behind how the singer sings the songs, and it shows. This is not the case for some churches who sing traditional songs only.
People also do not understand that there is another reason the younger generation does not want anything to do with traditional churches. It is because they feel they cannot fully follow God in one. There are people in the church that believe the church should stay the same as it was when they were born. So the question is, who is really in control: God or man?
If God is in control of the church then there would be so much growth and flexibility on everyone's part. There would be worship and there would be people walking away feeling blessed, encouraged, filled and loved. People would be able to see the hand of God over the church and the congregation. There would be excitement to go to church and disappointment when church was over. People would be willing to follow the pastor and see the vision God gave him come to light. People would not push the pastor every step of the way.
If man is in control, the church is going to be in chaos. There would be a fight between the pastor and the members who do not want change. The church would be divided between the pastor and the members. It would be hard for things to get done in the church, and visitors would not want to come back after the first visit. Some churches even have conflict between the pastor and the leadership. Some people see these conflicts and some people don't. The ones that do are most likely friends with the people part of the conflict. The ones who don't are the ones who are being left in the dark.
So the question you as a church member have to ask yourself is this: Do I attend a God-led church or a man-led church? I advise you to pray about it and look at the signs. Pray about how you can change a man-led church to a God-led church. Pray about how you can make a difference in worship, how you can draw the younger generations in. I will also pray for your church and for you that these churches can look to God and see Him and accept His leadership so that they can be filled in a way only He can. I hope you see that God is there waiting to be called upon so He can help His wayward sheep. He loves every one of His children and He wants to help, but there has to be acceptance of His help.
I pray that you can be filled with His spirit and that you become so in love with Him that you never want to leave His worship.
