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The following is an excerpt from the poem “The Church Walking with the World” by Matilda C. Edwards.  Pastor Ron Crum shared it with me during our last visit.  The entire poem can be accessed at the following link: http://www.imarc.cc/edit/church_world.html.  This portion is profound and paints a picture of how today’s church relates to the world.

“You give too much to the poor,” said the World.
“Far more than you ought to do;
If they are in need of shelter and food,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
Buy horses and carriages fine;
Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,
Buy the rarest and costliest wine;
My children, they dote on all these things,
And if you their love would win
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in.”

My niece shared a blog recently on Facebook that caught my attention.  It was titled: “Top 10 Reasons our Kids Leave Church.”  I recommend reading the entire blog at this link: http://marc5solas.wordpress.com/2013/02/08/top-10-reasons-our-kids-leave-church/

Marc shares this “jaw-dropping” statistic: “… 70% of youth stop attending church when they graduate from High School. Nearly a decade later, about half return to church.”  He gives ten reasons for the mass exodus.  Reason #10 is the church has become relevant.  Hold the phone, Newt!  If that’s true then why are others saying the church has become irrelevant?  Maybe both sides are saying the same thing but from different perspectives.  Is it possible the church has become irrelevant because it is now relevant?  Have we desired the love of the world over the approval of God?  Have we chosen to walk in the ways of the world and left “The Way?”

The evidence is clear and you don’t need a poll or statistics to know the church in the northern hemisphere is stagnant.  The growth numbers are marginal and any increases may be accounted for by the shifting of inventory from one church to the next.

Youth ministry in many evangelical circles has embraced the “if they knew us they would like us” model.  The church has become so concerned about being relevant to the world that she is becoming the world.  The need to be accepted by the world has a binding effect.  Within this model our youth become more familiar with the ways of the world than the traditions and doctrines of the church.  They will turn to familiar ways when their need to be accepted and entertained is unfulfilled.  They are being trained to run the race as a sprint rather than for endurance.

Jesus totally rejected the world system, the temptations and the curse of sin.  By rejecting the system, He rejected the ruler of the system.  You can’t have one without the other.  They are a package deal.  Thinking otherwise is as ridiculous as saying, “I want the book but not the author.”  Jesus said you can’t serve God and mammon (Matthew 6:24).  Paul said you can’t drink of the cup of the Lord and from the cup of demons (1 Corinthians 10:20-22).  But some might say, “I’m a Christian” and, therefore, the devil can’t touch me.

That is true to a degree but have you heard about the “way of Balaam” (Numbers 22-24).  Here is the bottom line, Balaam could not curse what God had blessed.  In order to receive payment in full for his services, the prophet presented an alternative to his client.  Listen carefully to his instructions for Balak, the king of Moab.  He told God’s enemies it is more effective if the blessed ones curse themselves rather than speaking a curse over them.  How do God’s people curse themselves?  In one simple word, disobedience.  What was the trigger used by Balaam?  The Moabite and Midianite women were intentionally sent into the camp and the men of Israel disobeyed God’s direct command not to have relations with them.  The temptation was classic and the result is historic.

Some might say, that was Old Testament and we live in the New.  Do God’s principles change because of grace?  We are instructed in the New Testament that the example of the Old Testament saints is applicable for us today (Hebrews 4:1-2,6,11).  Peter said those who follow after the way of Balaam are full of unrighteousness and are like springs without water (2 Peter 2:12-22).  Jude describes those who promote the errors of Balaam as reefs in your love feasts (Jude 11-13).  Jesus rebuked the church at Pergamum for having leaders holding to the teaching of Balaam, which put stumbling blocks before the church by encouraging idolatry and immorality (Revelation 2:14).  If they didn’t repent, the sword of His mouth would be used to bring correction.  That sounds like the New Testament to me.

Matilda Edwards’ poem describes a church that went out to win the world’s love by walking in their ways.  It would be like a bride who pursues the affections of other men after being engaged to another.  To win the world’s love, the church had to exchange her drab robe of white for velvet and silk.  To step onto the world’s pathway and gain houses, wealth and fame she only had to compromise and move beyond the light’s reach.  Unfortunately, when her wedding day arrived the Bridegroom didn’t recognize her former youth and beauty.  Her age and wrinkles were exposed by the light of day and He sent her away.  Balaam doesn’t need to be instructing the church on evangelism or planning our wedding.

We are teaching our kids they need to look, act and think like the world if they are going to win them.  This is the question, “win them to what?”  Or, maybe a better question is, “who’s winning who?”  This is beginning to sound like Abbot and Costello’s routine, “who’s on first?”  We are not doing our kids a favor by sending them such a confusing message.  We should be telling them who is on first, second and third (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) and what it will take to make it home.

Our youth need instruction on the importance of separation and individualism.  They must learn to be comfortable in their own skin and content with their uniqueness.  They are a special creation and don’t have to be like everyone else.  Nor do they need everyone’s acceptance but rather the affirmation of integrity.  I used to complain to my mother when I didn’t have the current fashions and wasn’t allowed to go with my friends.  Her favorite come back was, “if they jumped off the East Street Bridge would you?”  (She made her point with the highest bridge in Pittsburgh with no water flowing underneath.)  The answer to her question was an obvious “no!”

I didn’t like that bridge back then but over the years have grown to appreciate it’s message.  We can learn more about our relationship to the world from a bridge than Balaam.  The church needs to learn this lesson if the current trends are going to be reversed.