My heart is heavy for the state of Christianity in the 21st century. In my time as a pastor and preacher of the gospel, I have seen a great apostasy sweep across the Church I know. In the beggining I was glad that the evangelical church I belonged would bring hope to the nation, comparing with the majority of other nominal CHristian expression of faith. But now I see differently. Where once stood a vibrant community of believers, I now see a remnant of truth seekers.
The apostasy of the Church in the 21st century is not something that has happened overnight. Rather, it is a slow and steady decline that has been taking place for decades. As the world has become more secular and materialistic, the Church with most of its streams, has found itself struggling to remain relevant. In an attempt to keep up with the times, many Christians have compromised on essential truths of the faith, accepting beliefs that are in direct opposition to Scripture sometimes using Bible verses to oppose Biblical truths.
One of the primary issues that have plagued the Church in recent years is the acceptance of liberalism and progressivism. These movements, which are centered on social justice and humanism, have infiltrated many churches, leading to a watering down of the gospel. Many Christians have become more concerned with being politically correct than proclaiming truth. I saw that during the last two years, that most of Christians I knew were faster to believe what someone on TV said that their pastor on the pulpit. Rather than standing firm on the Word of God, they have opted to accept the world’s notions of doing life, often ignoring the clear teachings of Scripture.
As a consequence of this shift, many churches have abandoned the true gospel in favor of a social gospel that seeks to address worldly issues. While caring for the poor and marginalized is something that is important to Christ, it must never come at the expense of declaring the full gospel. When we focus solely on social justice issues, we risk losing sight of the need for salvation and the power of the cross.
Another issue that has contributed to the apostasy of the Church is the rise of relativism. This view, which holds that there are no absolute truths, has permeated society, and Christianity has not been immune. Many Christians have accepted this view, believing that there are no objective moral standards. In doing so, they have rejected the teachings of Scripture and have become more concerned with feelings than truth.
This view has led to a distortion of the gospel, with many Christians preaching a message that is more comfortable than convicting. It has led to a lack of clarity about who Jesus is and what he has done. Many Christians have become more concerned with being inclusive of everyone, rather than calling people to repentance and faith in Christ. They have embraced the idea that there are many paths to God, rather than the narrow way that is found in Jesus.
The problem with relativism is that it leads to a lack of accountability. If there are no absolute truths, then there can be no absolute wrongs. Christians who hold this view may find themselves unable to confront sin in their own lives and the lives of those around them. This lack of accountability can lead to a lack of growth, both individually and corporately.
A third issue that has contributed to the apostasy of the Church is the lack of discipleship. Churches have become focused on numbers rather than discipleship, seeking to attract as many people as possible rather than leading them to a deeper understanding of Christ. As a result, many Christians are not growing in their faith, remaining stagnant or even regressing.
Discipleship is essential to the health of the Church. It involves not only teaching people about the basic teachings of the faith but equipping them to live a life wholly devoted to Christ. It requires a commitment to teaching and modeling the life of Christ. When churches neglect discipleship, they risk becoming stagnant, and the gospel becomes diluted. Unfortunately, I see this even in the new Albanian church here in Toronto. MostlyI see a desire to cover the basics, to pass the class and to make sure that they are in, instead of being hungry to know more about the beauty of the Word of God.
Finally, the apostasy of the Church has been supported by to the rise of technology. The internet and other forms of media have made it easier than ever for Christians to access information. However, this has also made it easier for false teaching to spread and creating a individualistic Christianity without accountability where all this online Christians have themselves as the spiritual leaders of themselves together with online preachers whom they never met and with whom they have only one-way communication.
The internet has also led to a culture of distraction. Christians are bombarded with information from all sides, making it difficult for them to focus on the things that matter. This constant barrage of information can lead to a lack of discernment, making it easier for false teaching to take root.
This is a tragic reality that cannot be ignored. While there are many contributing factors, the primary issue is a lack of commitment to the truth of the gospel. Firstly leaders of the church and all Christians must be willing to stand firm on the Word of God, even when it is uncomfortable or unpopular. I see a lot ignorance and unwillingness to be better educated in the Scriptures and many have replaced the Scripture with the preferable preachers, putting themselves at risk of having the truth we want to hear. We must be willing to reject the world’s standards and inclusive mindset and embrace the narrow way of Jesus. It is only by doing so that we can effectively combat the apostasy that plagues our churches and set the Church on a course toward spiritual renewal.
Brother Endrit Journey 