Identify the Greatest Spiritual Needs that the Church has Today

Identify the greatest spiritual needs that the Church has today. 

The inability to distinguish clearly between the principles and actions of the Church and those of secular society depicts one of the Church’s greatest spiritual needs today.  Debatably, there is no discernible difference between the behavior of believers and the average citizen.  More regrettably, the Church mimics the world rather than being the “called out community” (ecclesia) whose existence is fundamentally grounded in the will and service of our Lord Jesus Christ.  To resolve this intractable dilemma, the Church must return to its basic purpose as a biblically based New Testament church operating according to the teachings of our Lord. 

Reaffirming the Bible as the rule of faith and practice resolves a number of attendant problems for the local church.  The moral and ethical laxity in the pews arises from protracted biblical illiteracy.  Plainly speaking, most congregants do not know the Bible well enough to follow it.  They are not acquainted with the commands of Christ.  They cannot explain adequately the reasons why obeying our Lord supersedes the moral relativism and ethical aimlessness of the dominant culture. 

Ignorance of the scriptures precludes the development of a vibrant relationship with the Lord.  Evangelism inevitably suffers when believers do not understand The Great Commission.  They fail to commit the resources of time, money and service to actualize this crucial purpose of the Church.  It stands to reason then that countless lives remain untouched by Christ’s love.  Additionally, disregard for disciplined study of the Word of God creates vulnerability for the average believer who may be exploited by the crass commercialism practiced in several sectors of the Church.  Theologically vapid and biblically ignorant sermons encourage spiritual versions of “rugged individualism” and the American dream to the detriment of serving God by sharing His love with others.  This gospel of wealth and health, in addition to spiritualized motivational speaking, tends to be apolitical and ahistorical.  Thereby, it detracts from the prophetic, biblical command to advocate for a more just and equitable society.  The Church can redress all of these dilemmas by reclaiming its uncompromising biblical roots.