The 21st Century American Church-The Quiet Church

Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Malachi was a prophet who was told to speak to the people of Israel regarding their destitute spiritual condition. I cannot shake this witness in my heart that tells me that the 21st Century American Church has fallen into a similar condition as the people of Malachi’s day. I have felt the Lord warning me to prevent this kind of spiritual casualness in the church that I pastor.
The book of Malachi begins by instantly telling us the degenerate spiritual state of God’s people at that time. Malachi 1:2 opens, “I have loved you says the Lord. Yet you say ‘Wherein have you loved us?’” The people of Malachi’s time had failed to see the love of God in their lives. In the next few verses the Lord goes on to remind them of His great provision in their lives as compared to other nations. God’s love provides for His people yet His people are short of recognizing it. America has been blessed with more provision and prosperity than any other nation on Earth and yet the people of God have failed to finance the Gospel. We talk more about the financial crisis and the worry of tomorrow than we do of the excitement to give to our local church. We hold on to our sacrifices because we doubt God’s love to provide for us. I believe the Lord is telling America, “I have loved you” and I hear the American Church asking “Wherein have you loved us?” There is no way you can be thankful and yet asking “Where have you loved us?” Our thanksgiving has gone cold like the people Malachi prophesied to.
When is the last time you were challenged in a church service to lift up your voice to God and thank Him? Hebrews 13:15 says, “By Him (Jesus) therefore let US (not me) offer the sacrifice of praise to God CONTINUALLY, that is, THE FRUIT OF OUR LIPS (together) GIVING THANKS TO HIS NAME.” A church that is not stirred to lift voices in thanksgiving is a church of spiritual laziness and disregard of praising God. Unfortunately, our churches have become a place of disrespectful quietness. We are not going to see the revival our hearts long for until we begin to praise God scripturally.
Psalm 67:5-6 says, “Let the people praise thee, O God; LET ALL THE PEOPLE PRAISE THEE. Then shall the Earth yield her increase and God…shall bless us.” The harvest of souls and the blessing of the Lord will not come until someone is willing to lift their voice and praise God. Blessing will not flow until you get vocal with God. The people of Malachi’s day grew critical of God when they should have been praising Him.

Pastor Tim

Family Church Jamestown is a non-denominational church located in Chautauqua County in Jamestown between Lakewood and Busti NY. The senior pastor of Family Church is Pastor Tim Stahlman a native to the Jamestown, NY area.