Evaluating the Modern Church with Biblical Discernment: A Call to Faithful Stewardship

The modern church faces numerous challenges in upholding the timeless truths of the gospel amidst the ever-changing landscape of cultural, social, and political influences. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to exercise biblical discernment in evaluating the state of the church, identifying areas of concern, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in fostering spiritual growth and faithfulness. In this blog post, we will explore various aspects of evaluating the modern church, including the dangers of bad doctrine, sin in leadership, ignoring sin due to cultural acceptance, unsaved individuals in leadership positions, bad teaching, and the influence of political views. We will also encourage readers to seek knowledge and wisdom from the Bible, trusted theologians, and the Holy Spirit to navigate these challenges and remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ.

1. Dangers of Bad Doctrine

One of the most significant challenges facing the modern church is the proliferation of bad doctrine, which can lead to confusion, division, and a distorted understanding of the gospel. Bad doctrine often arises from a failure to adhere to the clear teachings of the Bible, leading to the promotion of false teachings, heresies, or a watering down of the gospel message.

Bad doctrine, false teachings, heresies, gospel distortion

2. Sin in Leadership

Another critical concern in evaluating the modern church is the presence of sin in leadership, which can undermine the credibility and effectiveness of the ministry. Leaders who engage in sinful behavior, whether it be sexual immorality, financial misconduct, or other forms of moral compromise, not only harm themselves but also bring disrepute to the church and the gospel message.

Sin in leadership, moral compromise, disrepute to the church

3. Ignoring Sin Due to Cultural Acceptance

In today’s rapidly changing cultural landscape, there is a growing pressure to accept and even celebrate behaviors and lifestyles that are contrary to biblical teachings. This pressure can lead some churches to ignore or downplay the sinfulness of certain actions, resulting in a compromised witness and a failure to uphold the moral standards of the gospel.

Cultural acceptance, compromised witness, moral standards

4. Unsaved Individuals in Leadership Positions

The presence of unsaved individuals in leadership positions within the church can also pose a significant challenge, as they may lack the spiritual discernment and biblical understanding necessary to guide the congregation in a manner that is faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ. This can lead to the promotion of false doctrines, the neglect of important biblical truths, and a general failure to fulfill the mission of the church.

Unsaved leadership, spiritual discernment, neglect of biblical truths

5. Bad Teaching That Ignores or Excuses Sin

In addition to the challenges posed by bad doctrine and sinful leadership, the modern church must also contend with bad teaching that ignores or excuses sin. This can take the form of teachings that promote moral relativism, downplay the severity of certain sins, or advocate for a “cheap grace” that does not require repentance and a turning away from sinful behaviors.

Bad teaching, moral relativism, cheap grace

6. Political Views Pushing People to Ignore Sin

Finally, the influence of political views and ideologies can also have a detrimental impact on the modern church, particularly when they lead to the promotion of a “woke” culture that seeks to force people to ignore sin in the church or others. This can result in a compromised witness, a failure to uphold biblical standards, and a general erosion of the church’s moral authority.

Political views, woke culture, compromised witness

Encouragement to Seek Knowledge and Wisdom

In the face of these challenges, it is essential for believers to seek knowledge and wisdom from the Bible, trusted theologians, and the Holy Spirit to navigate these complexities and remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ. By immersing ourselves in the study of the Scriptures, engaging with sermons and teachings from faithful biblical scholars, and seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit in prayer, we can cultivate the discernment necessary to identify and address the issues facing the modern church.

 

Recommended Theologians:

1. John MacArthur
2. R.C. Sproul
3. A.W. Tozer
4. John Piper
5. D.A. Carson

Evaluating the modern church with biblical discernment is a crucial responsibility for all followers of Jesus Christ, as we seek to uphold the timeless truths of the gospel amidst the challenges of our ever-changing world. By addressing issues such as bad doctrine, sin in leadership, ignoring sin due to cultural acceptance, unsaved individuals in leadership positions, bad teaching, and the influence of political views, we can work towards fostering a church that is faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and committed to the mission of spreading the gospel to all nations. May we, as faithful stewards of the gospel, continually seek knowledge, wisdom, and guidance from the Holy Spirit, striving to remain faithful to the call of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.