If I were the Devil.......

If I were the devil I would convince the church in the West of the following:

 I would tell them that the church is dying.

 The media say the church in the west is in decline. I would show them all the large stone churches that are empty or have been sold to become Muslim mosques or Hindu temples. Those old Methodist churches that are now antique auction houses. I would show the church the old tin sheds that many traditional Pentecostal groups still meet in and I would show them the small and dying congregations that have no relevance to anything.

I would tell them that the church is no longer relevant.

The church is an institution that has outlived its usefulness. Society is now mature enough to see to its own needs. Governments will look after the poor see to the sick and look after the widows and elderly in our communities. Society has become more complex and the church has remained staid in its thinking. Gay love is here to stay. The world is changing and the church doesn't understand and the church is kicking against the inevitable.

I would do all I could to shift the focus of the church.

The world is in a mess, churches need to ensure that their flocks are well taught with regards to the end times prophecy. People need to see what is happening in the world and how to be prepared for it. Ebola is God's punishment. Stay away from the mission field let you church be your fellowship.

Of course I am not the devil but like many Christian leaders I sometimes feel a little shell shocked at the constant bombardment from all sectors of secular society. I have said it before the worlds media doesn't like the church and so doesn't really want to know about church growth. In the United Kingdom in the last 10 years- Orthodox churches have grown by over 10% and Pentecostal churches have grown by 22%. Free churches and Evangelical churches have also seen growth of between 3% and 5%. The media will never talk about the amazing growth worldwide or of the amazing things that are happening in the  church in Africa, China and South America.

 I believe the church has lost the battle when it comes to the gay agenda and things such as gay marriage. But when we put it into perspective then homosexuality is no different from other sins, I know some church leaders who have lied to the police (slander), stolen money from the church they work for (swindlers and thieves). Church leaders who have committed adultery (sexual impropriety)and have a drink problem. I have even known leaders who love their cars more than their family and ministry (idolatry).We need to read again 1 Cor 6: 9 and 10. We readily  forgive those who have committed these sins and even restore them, however when it comes to gay men and women being in our churches we have a problem. I believe fervently in what the scripture says about homosexuality. I believe that it is not God's perfect way and will for people. If people don't want to live in God's perfect will, then they have only themselves to blame. We should be showing gay people that God loves them just as much as He loves you and me and that He wants to have the same relationship with them as he does with any other sinner. We do understand, we understand that humankind is not perfect, the bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of God's perfection.

As for the institution of marriage then the State should marry everybody that way all have the same piece of paper for the purpose of the law. But the church should be given the choice to then conduct a wedding and bless those it wants too. After all we all want God's perfect way for our lives one woman, one man.

I believe that over the last hundred years when the church has kept its focus on its mission -To reach the lost for Christ- then it has done more to feed people, cloth them, look after the poor and elderly. It has done more to instill value , ethics and morals than any government could and can do. When it has not kept its focus it has concentrated on things that have done nothing to extend the kingdom of God, they have had their ears tickled (2 Tim 4:3) and cocooned themselves in their Christian fellowships and just pastored the flock that has resulted in stagnation and eventual demise.