Failure to Trust

Our readings in this series are from the book, The Church Captive. Here is a brief excerpt from page 59:

“In their book, Pagan Christianity?, Frank Viola and George Barna contend that the Church in our day has again become captive to patterns of Christian life and ministry that depart from what God has revealed, and have left the Christian faith little more than one option among many in a narcissistic age.

“Specifically, Viola and Barna contend, among other things, that churches have become too dependent on culture and technique, rather than on the Word and Spirit of God. We do not trust the Scripture as fully as we should, and we are looking for ideas, methods, and experiences of faith and church that have nothing to do with what God has revealed in His Word.

Consequently, we have become enamored of the wrong results – numbers and smiling faces instead of the righteousness, peace, and joy of the Kingdom. We prefer programs to disciple-making; are too dependent on buildings and professional clergy; and are trapped in a kind of cultural sclerosis that is choking the life out of Christianity in our day.”

Now, and for a limited time, you can order The Church Captive together with the next book in our Read Moore series, Revived!, at no cost. Order copies for yourself and for a study group or companion. A free discussion guide is available as well.