The Church is Closing

One of the sad developments in the area where I live is that there have been several churches closing in recent months.   While it might be common in your area to see churches close, it is not common where I live here in the Bible belt.   None of these churches are new church starts.   A matter of fact, all of these churches have been around for many years and are United Methodist Churches.      I suspect that there are other churches in our area that have closed that are not United Methodist Churches.  

While I grew up in a time when it appeared that “everybody” went to church (or so I thought), such is not the case anymore.   I read recently that worship attendance in churches is at an all time low.    A recent CNN report states that the majority of Americans label themselves as “irreligious”.    If these reports are true, perhaps we should not be surprised that churches are closing

In Matthew 16: 17-19 we read these words of Jesus about Peter and the church:

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸ And I tell you that you are Peter,^[a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades^[b] will not overcome it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be^[c] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be^[d] loosed in heaven.

Note that these words of Jesus say “my church”.  It does not say “your church”.   I believe that the Church of Christ Jesus will always last and always endure.  I am afraid that the same cannot be said about any church that we seek to make into our own image instead of the image of Christ Jesus.  It is easy for us to point fingers and  blame others that churches are closing.   We can blame that fact on changing demographics or lament the eroding morals of our country.   Some would want to blame religious leaders and the “young people” of our community who choose not to involve themselves in a church.   Before we are quick to point fingers as the reason that churches are closing, perhaps we need to ask ourselves this question:     What have I done or not done that has led to the state of the churches in my community today?

I remember a visit I made to a home when I was new in pastoral ministry.   The man received me into his home and began to give a long list of things that were wrong with the church.   I listened intently to his list of complaints.   Even though that encounter has now been over 40 years ago, I still remember my reply.  It was this:   “Sir, much that you say is true.   Come join us at the church and lets change that together.”    That man did not accept my challenge or invitation.  Will you?   Have a joy-filled week.-   Pastor Randy Wall

Prayer:   O God, I pray for leaders of the churches in my community and  the world.  Help them to be faithful to your calling and be a Light for you;  through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.