Jim Garlow, an accomplished author and former pastor, dives deep into the state of the American church, revealing a concerning trend where congregations increasingly mimic corporate structures. He highlights how this shift compromises the relational essence of church. While celebrating recent revivals and vibrant worship, Garlow warns of diminished theological depth. Moreover, he urgently addresses the church's troubling silence on rising anti-Semitism, calling for improved education and support for Jewish communities.
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insights INSIGHT
Church as Corporation Crisis
The American church often resembles corporations more than New Testament communities, shaped by IRS tax rules.
Pastors become employees and boards act like executive committees, losing essential relational and apostolic church functions.
insights INSIGHT
Loss of Theological Depth in Worship
Modern worship music excels in emotional praise but sacrifices theological depth critical for resilient faith.
The loss of four-part harmony hymns has weakened believers' theological foundation for enduring cultural challenges.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Boulder Antisemitic Attack
A man named Mohammed planned for a year to burn an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor in Boulder, Colorado.
The attack with Molotov cocktails painfully symbolizes rising antisemitism and hatred toward Jews in America.
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Dr. Jim Garlow takes us on a profound journey examining the state of the American church, revealing both encouraging revivals and concerning trends that deserve our attention.
Drawing from decades of pastoral experience and global ministry, Garlow diagnoses a troubling shift in church structure - our congregations increasingly resemble corporations rather than New Testament communities. When church boards operate like executive committees and pastors become employees rather than shepherds, something essential is lost. This corporate model, largely shaped by modern tax regulations, stands in stark contrast to the relational, apostolic patterns we see in scripture.
While celebrating the vibrant worship movement sweeping through modern Christianity, Garlow points to an unintended consequence: we've sacrificed theological depth for emotional experience. Previous generations absorbed rich doctrine through hymns, building resilient faith capable of weathering cultural storms. Today's believers, while passionate, may lack the theological foundation needed for challenging times ahead.
Perhaps most troubling is the church's muted response to rising anti-Semitism. The horrific attack in Boulder, Colorado, where an elderly Holocaust survivor was burned with Molotov cocktails, exemplifies growing hostility toward Jewish people. Yet many pastors remain silent. Garlow suggests this stems partly from ignorance and partly from dangerous theological frameworks like replacement theology that wrongly suggest the church has superseded Israel in God's plan.
The conversation provides a compelling reminder of Christianity's inseparable connection to its Jewish roots. As Jesus himself affirmed, he didn't come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. When Christians neglect this foundational truth, we weaken our understanding of God's redemptive story.
How might your faith community be strengthening or drifting from biblical patterns? Listen now to challenge your thinking about worship, church structure, and our responsibility toward God's chosen people.
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