The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Men's and Women's studies

Dave,

From reading your reply it appears that you think that spirituality comes automatically when a church and/or pastor/elder(s) are faithful in doing A, B, C, etc.?? Although it is important that whoever is responsible for the preaching that they preach "the Gospel", which IMHO should occupy a very small part of preaching vs. "the whole counsel of God" for "the upbuilding of the saints", it wouldn't make a wit of difference if Charles Spurgeon or R.C. Sproul were doing the preaching if the hearts of the hearers weren't regenerate.

I say, that the Church with its preaching and teaching opportunities can only further the already resident desire to grow in grace and to call those without that desire to repentance and faith in Christ. If someone told me that they don't have any interest in going to Bible Study, no desire to read the Scriptures, had no appetite for doctrinal discussion and/or learning, then I would have to conclude that there is a serious spiritual problem NOT with the person's church, but with THEM. There have been and are countless individuals who right now belong to/attend "dead" churches where there is little to no sound preaching and/or teaching. Yet, there are some who have an insatiable hunger to learn about God and study the Scriptures. Many seek high and low for that "good food" outside their respective churches. The Highway is one of those type of "spiritual cafeterias" which serves up solid meat and some milk for those who hunger due to a lack of substance where they "worship".

Bottom line.... the church can do everything right, within its power and ability, but that is no guarantee that those who attend that church will be spiritually alive and hungry to study, pray and live out their lives before God in holiness. The Church is not some kind of vending machine where you can simply drop in the correct change and push the button to get the wanted result. The Lord Christ was the most perfect evangelist and teacher this world has seen or ever will see. Yet, His "success rate" in getting people to be His disciples; i.e., with a lively faith in Him, continue in His word and hunger after righteousness, was probably less than any known preacher/teacher in history while He was yet on earth. As I stated in my other replies, there are "2" areas that need to be considered in such matters: 1) the Church and 2) the Individual.

1 Corinthians 3:7 "So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase."

In His grace,