WHY MANY CHURCHES ARE GROWING BUT THE SOCIETY IS NOT CHANGING

WHY MANY CHURCHES ARE GROWING BUT SOCIETY IS NOT CHANGING

There is at least one church on every street yet corruption, injustice, immorality, greed, lack of compassion, poverty and many other vices dominate our society today. Many people claim to be Christians and are seen attending church programs every week. Mega crusades and revivals are organized - religious messages dominate social media platforms, radio and television yet moral decadence in the society has widely spread. Why? Is the society no longer influencing the church?

The existence of the church was meant to help shape the conscience of the society, produce individuals with strong moral values who would influence their society (families, schools, government, workplaces, etc) positively. The early churches are perfect examples of this. They carried their faith beyond gatherings, it was their lifestyle. They cared for the poor, fed the less privilege, lived with dignity and integrity, demonstrated the life of Christ. To them, Christianity was not religion, it was the life they lived. And as a result, their society felt it.

But now Christianity has become cultural rather than transformational. Many Christians now see going to church as a routine, an attendance that must be marked. On Sundays, many individuals are seen raising hands in worship with tears in their eyes, yet they the same set of people are seen after Sunday raining curses in their community, committing fraud in their workplace. The church is now producing individuals who are not grounded in biblical principles. Many Christians now live double standard lives. They leave their work lives at the entrance of the church and once they're done in church remove their 'church sleeves' and go with their 'weekly identity' till Sunday. A church influences only on Sundays has not fully fulfilled its purpose in the society.

Another reason why the church has no longer has an impact in the society is the type of teachings the present day churches now give. Churches now emphasizes on blessings more than character. Teachings like prosperity, prosperity, miracles, riches and wealth is now the order of the day. These teachings are not bad, they are also important but there has to be a balance. We shouldn't ignore teachings like honesty, true discipleship, leadership, prayers, etc. Churches shouldn't forget the Ancient landmarks because the present generation consider it boring.

Also, the present day church now has leadership crises. Spiritual leaders are meant to be examples to their followers but some of our spiritual leaders are seen being dragged on social media for misconduct. They're no longer accountable to man and God. Some leaders now prioritize fame, title, wealth and influence over their spiritual assignments. Some became pastors, daddy and mummy G.Os, as a result of hunger and joblessness. Religion has now become commercialized. The calling of God has become cheap.

Furthermore, the society is still the same because of the inconsistencies of individuals. Many individuals are the problem. Some still attend churches that are morally and spiritually sound yet do not practice what they're being taught. Many just go to church for the praise and worship not the word. The heart of many is like the seed that was planted by the road side. They hear the word but it never takes root in their heart. We need to allow our heart become the good soil where the word will grow and bear fruits in multiple folds. Christians are meant to reflect the life of Christ even without the presence of their spiritual leaders. For us to notice a significant change in our society, individuals also need to learn personal responsibility. The change needed in the society should start from you.

This article calls for an awakening in individuals and churches today. The impact of our lives is how much of God we carry. Let's carry and represent God well. Stop disgracing the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. As Christians we are expected to be light in the dark, salt of the world. Also the true measure of the church is not in its sitting capacity, but the quality of lives it produces. The church is not only about how big its building is or the thousands of people attending but it's influence in the society. Spiritual leaders are to do meaningful things in and to the community they are found. That is how the society can feel the impact of the church.