Why Churches Decline
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Thu, October 11, 2007
- Viewed 156
- (16) comments so far
OK… here we go. Here’s the article...
Reason #1: Churches decline when Christ’s ministry as prophet priest and king is negated. This never takes place suddenly. It is a gradual process.
Lots of fancy KJVish words here, but that’s ok. I’d put it like this: Churches decline when they take their eyes of Jesus. Same thing. And I would agree.
Reason #2: Christ’s kingly ministry is negated when discipline ceases in a local church.
Actually, this is #5 on their list, but I’ll move it up to #2 for my purposes. I don’t know that I would say that this is a main reason why churches are declining; but I think it could be a contributing factor in some cases. I think churches don’t use biblical discipline many times today. Others are legalistic in their church discipline (which also, I might add, causes church decline). Balance is needed here.
OK… now for the more silly ones:
Reason #3: Churches decline when the sermon is removed from the services to be replaced by simple visual teaching methods.
Huh? They write: “The removal of the pulpit ministry and the sermon is to negate Christ’s ministry as prophet.” If by sermon or ‘pulpit’ ministry, they mean the declaration of truth or God’s word, then I would agree. But to say that has to happen through a sermon or from behind a pulpit is extra-biblical.
Reason #4: Christ’s priestly ministry is negated when churches abandon the weekly prayer meeting.
Ahhh… the weekly prayer meeting. I believe that’s mandated somewhere in Galatians? Prayer is an important part of church life, but I know many vibrant, growing churches that do not have a prayer meeting. They must be exceptions to the rule.
Reason #5: Churches also decline when the evening service is removed which reduces by half the prophetic ministry of our Lord on his day.
This is my favorite one. They write: “We rejoice to keep the Lord’s Day - not to keep just the Lord’s Day morning. In some churches evening congregations have increased because the faithful from other churches attend since they have no evening service of their own.” I guess my question would be, ‘what about the Lord’s afternoon?’ To mandate a Sunday evening service is, again, at best, extra-biblical.
I have my own reasons that churches decline. I hope to share a list here shortly. Would you like to get us started? Why do YOU think many churches are in decline? And what do you think of the five reasons given in this article?
I'm so glad I found this article. It details exactly how churches decline. This Banner of Truth article gives five ways that churches decline. Two of which I'll buy... three are just not biblical. See what you think...
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CHAE S. SONE on Thu, October 01, 2009
orean council of churches Revised 10/1/2009
RE: IN-HOUSE CLEANING
ESTABLISHED CHURCHES 교회의개혁
It is very disheartening often to hear the unwelcome news on the struggles for money and power among the clergies which raise questions on their quality of faith in Christ.
In Korea, the two candidates for the president of the Methodist Church bishops ended at an unusually close election results. Unexpectedly the dispute gone to wild factional fist fights, even reaching to the church meetings in California crossover the Pacific.
Our common Jesus sense seems to suggest that the candidates faced such dilemma in a church related election, either one of them could concede one’s position to his brother telling his adversary,
“Please take this grace as I believe that you could do better job than me. Let me humbly assist you for His services whenever needed.”
Instead, now these two adversaries are going to run against each other again, like fighting dogs for the same position in another election with the rich campaign donations, in contrary to the teachings of our Lord. It seems to indicate that their desire for the president of the bishops is not for Christ’s shake but one’s personal glory, dirty money and power.
김 국도 목사, 고수철 목사도 “ 재선거 출마 선언” We will fight again. If the voters are in good faith, none of the candidates should be honored. Their perception of the ministry seems to sadly reflect nothing but the clergies without faith in Christ. Who can stop these de-Jesus-ed bishops, no place in the Bible teaches bishops do behave as they are. They have to learn the hardworking pastors in the farming villages of Korea.
FREE PRESS SHOULD EXPOSE THEM
As the Boston Globe expose the Catholic scandals, Korean churches need help from the free press to enlighten the new breed of Christians.
Most of these guys seem to have an abnormal training at the seminaries. It is a good chance to re-evaluate theological education in Korea and U.S. Their training seems to have many shortcomings as pastors. Perhaps, some of them mentally diseased or infected with Judah virus or Dollar poisoned, not a Christian faith. Let medical doctors check their heads for a cure.
May be they fit to the Korean deformed Methodist church standards. If so their churches are really spiritually bankrupt. Never think Jesus is in their churches. For we know Jesus is much smarter than these foolish minded bishops and their mobs.
Where is gone all the stupid mad cow candle light
marchers? Don’t they need their help? Why the Christians can’t do a Jesus smart candle light march against Judah virus and these mad money bishops? Somebody has to clean up the Jesus garbages. They are spiting upon Jesus’ face. Who can stop these guys? The next scenario remains to be seen how it gets dirtier.
JESUS’S WORKING CLASS FOLLOWERS
After all, they do not seem to remember their vocation originated from a poor guy, penniless Jesus from Nazarene. Most of his followers were largely from the working classes, unskilled, or skilled like fishermen from Galilee, or outcasts, or hot minded activists like Peter, Paul and their fellows.
Eventually, as Jesus warriors, they infiltrated into the powerful Roman Empire, with the Jesus’ stinging new messages, converting them into a Christian nation, although they never had such fancy education like today’s brand named clergies as at Methodist seminary, Drew seminary, Yale, Harvard, Princeton, etc.
For these poor Jesus guys in those days, the immediate concern was for the social justice for the oppressed, powerless and poor under the established religious leaders and politicians and power brokers.
Eventually the wise guy Judah sold him on black market price for 30 denarions to the power brokers, one Roman denarion equaled one day’s wage for a farm laborer, it was not known his profits from the original investment, that betrayal led him to crucifixion, (Matt. 26:14,16; John 19:34)
but his triumphant resurrection was the historic victory for the social justice, that is, God’s righteousness. (Romans 10:9; John 20;8).
Since then, the spirit of that Jesus victory come to us to day through the brave struggles by his followers - many of them, starved, tortured and beaten to death for the Jesus’ cause, that is, for our social justice and salvation.
DAWNING FOR PROTESTANTS
John Calvin, John Wesley and others inspired so many of us through the history.
Now the Korean Methodists seem to have sadly lost their father Wesley tradition as appeared in the Korean church politics for the president of the bishops as an example. If the church voters are not so dumb enough, the new breed voters should drive the dirty bishop out of the denomination and get a new candidate for the spiritual rescue of the churches. Or the so called self proclaimed Bishops eventually will destroy the already badly injured churches. Aren’t they modern day heretics? What do you think? Yes, they violated every aspects of their oath of ordination.
Sooner or later, if, any of them is wise enough could employ this harsh church hijacking tricks to take over the Korea Methodist churches as the wise guys did in this historic Korean Church and Institute to grab the money and power in New York City. Absolute Dollar power corrupts the church absolutely.
Korean churches in USA and Korea should wake up to rediscover Jesus for a renewal. Do you think your Jesus could stay those stinky churches? Didn’t you know, in a sense, Jesus already become homeless long, long time ago?
Remember, “Jesus ...overthrew the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those that sold the doves”. Can we help him to do so the same for our churches today?” (Mat 21;12).
THE STANDARD OF COUNCIL
OF KOREAN CHURCHES
For recently the leaders in New York City issued a strong statement against an independent Korean church group that ordained a person. It opposes because the unrecognized group ordained an unknown person. It did not indicate what his or their possible defects were.
However, Protestant spirit is to march on to faith in Christ for a new life in a new vision. Any new movement could face timely controversy until proven to be truthful. In the sense,
such an interference is a valid process in the church history.
We should understand that there is no guarantee that only the established denomination ministers alone are necessarily faithful in light of recent scandals among the brand named clergies.
No one has the monopoly of faith but obedience to God.
In reality, if anyone has a politically strong enough ties with power brokers, a few elder hungry running dogs, and a friendly media,, if any, he can remain in the position with honor even though morally defective. Money and power talks could open up an outlet for these kind wise guys.
The fighting bishops in Korea could gain the hegemony exactly
in the same fashion even without Christ as the money talks strong enough.
Thus, even the established denominations now badly need to do its own house cleaning first because they are heavily disgraced by such scandals. Now we can see easily that many churches leaders in clergy gowns lost their moral voice to the people.
The leaders must understand that Christians commonly want to see just faithful, honest and sincere ministers, nothing else for their own faithful living.
CCC STANDARD AND JESUS COMMON ISSUE
Let me present to the concerned clergies of the Council of Korean Churches (CKC) to evaluate this Korean made horror story.
Recently it is noticed that the Korean church and Institute, near Columbia University and Rev. Chul Woo Chang admitted to be a member of the City Council of the Churches of New York City (CCC). Historically she is qualified. But morally is questionable. For more than a decade, the questionable characters managed the Jesus money scandalously since Rev. Won Tae Cha.
The incumbent Pastor Chang highly propagates her historic status regardless the shame. It is true that this is the mother church in history for all of the Korean churches in this area. But she lost her respect because of the smart money changers, If today Jesus comes to this church, he will threw them out of the Korean church, saying ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’(Mat 21;12-13) in the New York Annual Conference. This ominous Korean virus victimized the innocent family to be their scapegoat to cover up the money scandals and immensely defamed the innocent ones.
So I wrote to the Executive Director of CCC, suggesting an examination if the moral status of this Church meets the qualification standards to be a CCC member. For such membership for an unqualified church could enhance the corruptions as if an endorsement by an established organization in contrary to its principles. We must not follow the double standard in the name of Christ and Judah. We must implement the established standard.
The horror story in our case is that pastor Won Tae Cha led his group to accuse me and my son as attempted mass murders in order to cover up the abuse of money and power in the church. (Biblio. 8)
They succeeded placing us as criminals on the trial at a full jury for a civil and criminal cases for three days at the State Supreme Court, Nassau County, as they had very politically able powerful attorney who shopped around three judges and ended up at the bench of Hon. F. Dana Winslow. No problem, they had Judah’s money bag.
According to the judge, some one from the Bishop’s office (Bishop Jeremiah M Park) met with him at an Ex parte conference and informed him our case was church related, wisely deceived him – a Korean clergy lie.
We were unable to financially offer an attorney for the murder trial. Of course, we knew that the case was based upon these false murder accusations. The costly damages done to our family emotionally and financially.
Since then, we have tried to get information who met with the judge and deceived him as the criminal case was church related. So far no one answered to date. Rev. Cha now is working for the bishop Park as an emissary to visit local churches.
There were three court cases all together against our family members – my wife, my son and myself. These guys never met my son. Rev. Cha led his group to the court rooms, including their wives, the street guys and an imported elder, to demonstrate their support for the cases – Judah’s dancers and Madoff champagnes. What kind clergy is he any way? We know he trained in the Peoples’ army of North Korea.
I support that the Korean Church Council issued the statement against the unrecognized ordination of a new minister. The church leaders must stop the stupid mad cow disease marchers in our community if any as we already have seen enough of them, it is a right approach to watch out the deviants.
In the same light, the Council should be able to investigate the pastors of this historic Korean Church when you study this horror report in honor of Jesus Christ. As it is a related event with this historic church, It should be for every Korean Christian’s concern in any where. Therefore the Council cannot be just a bystander as if watching a church funeral procession.
You will be able to find more information from the attached messages or on Website for this case, and then the Korean Church Council shall find a valid cause to be evaluated according to the standards. (Bibliog. 8) Let us keep our historic church clean in good faith.
As I said before, I questioned the Executive Director of CCC about this church’s qualifications to be a CCC member under its standard. His reply would suggest a right direction for your investigation on the complain, as the Council of the Korean Churches is concerned very much about the quality of the ordained clergies according to the standard. He replied as follows:
“Dear Rev. Sone, this appears to be a matter within UMC judiciary and also appears that you have contacted all the right people. There seems to be nothing we can do. We will be praying for divine wisdom.
Sincerely yours,”The Reverend Jimmy Seong G. Lim Executive Director of
The Council of Churches of the City of New York. (I am not a pastor).
He did not answer the main point of my question about the membership qualifications. But his letter impressed as if CCC suggesting it has no standard, but an open door policy for any church could be a member without questioning on moral questions. So I wrote him a thank you note for his reply with comments.
“Dear Reverend Jimmy Seong G. Lim,
Executive Director, CCCE-mail. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Thank you very much for your response to our email.
My question was if CCC had the standard for the Korean church to be a qualified member in light of the criminal problems in it. Your answer was “ There seems to be nothing we [CCC] can do.” Then you indicated the problem we already knew very well.
In other words, CCC has an open door policy for any Christian church to be admitted as a member regardless her moral standing.
For this case, we assumed that if there is a complaint against a member, your Membership Committee would evaluate the status of said church in light of CCC value system. It is so sad so often to see pseudo Christian leaders in well known Christian organizations.
Our question is a public issue for all churches which should be concerned, but the individual church. We hope that CCC would have a chance to re-evaluate its standard.
The continued Korean church deviances will signal a warning to Korean Christian community.”
God bless you, C. Sone, Ph. D.
However, I hope the Korean Church Council, not CCC, would have a better answer for this wayward church.
Another upside-down Jesus story. Now, it is really disturbing tragic news to learn that Honorable late Rev. Martin Luther King’s siblings are quarreling for estates, which mostly were originated from the brave Jesus marching, even many white students lost their lives for the cause in actions. My college days in the class donated dimes or quarters for the student in the action. They sang, “We shall over come!!” Alas, now some are overcame by the greed.
Remember the Jesus’ marching is still going on.
Please tell the King family Yes they are still marching on for the oppressed!!.
Pray for Jesus to stay in the Kings family. They don’t seem to understand why marched for. It is not for dollars.
Is there a sun set on Christian churches today?
YOUNG CHRISTIANS SHOULD SPONSOR
SEMINARS FOR CHURCH RENEWAL
Most clergy failures often originated from the greed for money as they lacked education on the laws of Endowment Fund and Trust Fund in the church.
The lack of understanding of the church financial rules seems to be a major cause of Korean church problems. They have to learn how to follow the financial rules. Always abide within the teachings of the Bible and the law, and then they could find Jesus free from Dollar conflicts. And we could live in peace within the Christian community.
Let us pray for those who are working so hard for the churches and for Jesus to return to the original faith. “If you love Me, keep My !Commandments.” (John 14:15)
It seems the time has come for Korean Christians, young and old, to sing, “We shall overcome the evil clergies!!” Especially the main issue in this message is; please help let them repent and return the abused Jesus’ money to him in the Korean United Methodist Church and Institute, according the State law and church rules, as a way to demonstrate their renewal. That’s the way should be. Remember, our primary goal is to bring back Jesus to us. Let us pray for our brothers, sisters and churches!!
For further information, please review the attached messages.
(Names mentioned are on the public records)
Blessings.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Chae S. Sone
2 Woodbury Court Hicksville, New York 11801
Feedback, Free speech
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address);
. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), Metro N. District Superintend. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), The pastor. .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and others
General Board of Global Ministries: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
The United Methodist Church 475 Riverside Drive - New York, New York 10115
김은혜 기자 .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address),
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address),
ReligionNewswire.com,
ChristianNewswire.com,
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), http://www.kmc.or.kr
BIBLIOGRAPHY
In Websites
1.KIM, Kwang Tae. “Activists say North Korean woman publicly executed for distributing Bible”. By Associated Press. Last update: July 24, 2009 - 12:59 PM in Website.
2. “Methodist politics corruption.” New York Times. April 10, 1982. In Website
3. 뉴저지 갈보리교회, 외부 회계 감사 받는다 This article can Phase on Internet and auto translated. NJ Calvary Korean Methodist church court case for audit problems.
4. 뉴저지 법원, 교회에 ‘최대한 협조하라’ 주문
This article can auto translated
5. “Bishop Raymond Goedert”. New York Times, July 22, 2009.
6. • Christianity daily. GUILINES FOR DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING INTRDUCTION I took a liberty to name this .....by Chae S. Sone
7. Torture is Growing Concern among Churches, by Mary Beth Coudal
8. Chin Superintendent rev 7 27 09. Attached message
It includes 1) Petition to Bishop Park, Commentaries included; 2) Park testimony on extensive false murder charges; and other Articles.
9. Contributions for specific causes and objectives.(Bk Discip. Donor’s will. 270 (e))
10. NYS non profit organization law.
11. [UMNS-ALL-NEWS] UMNS# 475-Bishop Kimresigns episcopacy following
12. COUSER, Richard B. Ministry and the American legal system, Fortress Press, 1993.
13. Hagia Sophia
14. 고 장효희 목사, 불륜관련 추락사 ‘충격’ - 교회개혁의 새로운 지평을 ... - [ Translate this page
16. Calvary Today: What’s in the Audit Report on CIM?
This people follows thought process like those who lacked sophistication on logical thinking. Just endless argument
17. 감독회장,감독선거 선관위 파행 관련 기사모아보기!
18.. “감리교 사태, 교권 물질 만능의 ‘가짜’ 때문”
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