Seven Deadly Sins of Dying Churches
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• The word “Christ” means “king.” The people of Jesus’ time in human flesh understood the place of a king in their lives. • Society has defined love to the church instead of the church defining love to the society. Jesus’ meaning of love is different from society’s meaning. If people do not understand the meaning of the word love as Jesus used it, they cannot obey His commandment of love as He loves. • The word “sin” has become a politically incorrect word in many churches. • The word “repent” is generally misunderstood by most people who hear Christian messages. • Much common language of the pulpit sounds like an “unknown tongue” to most people in the pew. • People flee the church when The “Prince of Peace” is dishonored by the lack of peace created by disputes in and among churches. • An idol is often seen in the mirror.
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About the Book
The church insists that Christians are people who have been “converted,” “regenerated,” “born anew,” and set free from the habitual practice of sin. Whereas the church should be expected to positively influence society, the degenerating North American society is clearly influencing the church. Since Christians have been taught to love one another, we want to believe that we live by a higher moral-ethical code than non-Christians. But something’s wrong. Among the pieces of evidence: the divorce rate of 50% among the general population in the U.S. is even higher in the church. Seventy-five percent of all family sexual abuse occurs in “religious” homes. Ninety-seven percent of all persons confined to our prisons claim to be religious on the day they are first confined. Some of the major Christian bodies in the USA are already dying. While the population grows, church attendance declines. The author attempts to reduce the “reasons” that many churches have lost their life-transforming influence on their members to seven deadly sins. The author believes that churches must repent from these sins if it is to do more than merely survive, and if it is to conduct Christ’s redemptive ministry to the world.
About the Author
1. I have been an active church member for more almost seventy years and have been involved in "church politics" for many years at local and denominational levels. Since I am a retired hospital chaplain, I have preached in hundreds of churches. I have listened to thousands of patients who talked about their pastors and their churches. I have conversed with hundreds of pastors. I am widely read and well educated. 2. I love Christ's church and hope to make a contribution toward major reforms i many churches. 3. I live in Knoxville, Tennessee and served for thirty-one years as a professional hospital chaplain at the bedside of my patients. After I retired, I went into private practice as a licensed Professional Counselor and as a Marriage and Family Therapits (AAMFT) where I served until forced to retire to care for my wife as her health declined.