I get a lot of email traffic from different Christian writers. I love to read how God is impacting the body of Christ in all areas of the church. I’ve been reading about the condition of the church. Any committed follower of Jesus would quickly agree, that overall, the Western church is not doing well in impacting our world.
We have the largest number of men quitting the ministry than ever before. I am not sure of all the reasons why, but my hunch is the church is ceasing to be a supernatural demonstration of the power of God. Very little changed lives but a lot of activity.

I don’t know about you, but my heart yearns for an outpouring of the power of God among the church, a real spiritual awakening like this continent has never experienced. It has been well over a hundred years since we have had a national spiritual awakening.

I often pray for the Lord to allow me to experience a great spiritual awakening during my lifetime. Not for the sake of being part of history, but for the sake of a world who has, like Israel of the Old Testament, forgotten God.

Regarding awakening, I recently read an article from a Bible College professor named Dr. David Riser. He related an event in a class that greatly affected his life. As I read the event and heard the student’s question and comment, it also got me to thinking.

So for today’s posting I want to share an excerpt from that article as food for thought regarding the need for a major spiritual awakening. I would love to hear your heart regarding the matter of spiritual awakening.

“I came across a quote attributed most often to Rev. Sam Pascoe. It is a short version of the history of Christianity, and it goes like this: Christianity started in Palestine as a fellowship; it moved to Greece and became a philosophy; it moved to Italy and became an institution; it moved to Europe and became a culture; it came to America and became an enterprise.

I clarified it by adding, “An enterprise. That’s a business.” After a few moments Martha, the youngest student in the class, raised her hand. I could not imagine what her question might be. I thought the little vignette was self-explanatory, and that I had performed it brilliantly. Nevertheless, I acknowledged Martha’s raised hand, “Yes, Martha.” She asked such a simple question, “A business? But isn’t it supposed to be a body?” I could not envision where this line of questioning was going, and the only response I could think of was, “Yes.” Then she asked “When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?”

The room went dead silent. For several seconds no one moved or spoke. We were stunned, afraid to make a sound because the presence of God had flooded into the room, and we knew we were on holy ground. All I could think in those sacred moments was, “Wow, I wish I’d thought of that.” I didn’t dare express that thought aloud. God had taken over the class.

Martha’s question changed my life. For six months, I thought about her question at least once every day. “When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” There is only one answer to her question. The answer is “yes”. The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him; and I mean really know Him.”

Bottom Line
The above story is certainly food for thought. Is this weakening of the church a sign of end times, or is it the circle of apostasy cycle that we have seen for centuries? (Circle of apostasy is plenty, backsliding, idolatry, permissiveness, catastrophe/bondage, repentance).

Regardless of why the church has almost no influence on our society, we are in need of a visitation of the Holy Spirit’s power and cleansing. Will you join me in searching your heart and as David said, “search me oh God and see if there be any wicked way in me?”