The Dilemma of the Twenty First Century Church

By Anderson Ruffin

Society has abandoned the Church, which has led to moral decay. Humanity's values have attempted to triumph over God and the Church. The government has made efforts to destroy the core values of what we believe about God and the Church. Constitutional rights have become more prevalent than religious rights. We passed laws that guaranteed secularism. Those values that once held us together as a person, society, and country have taken on a new meaning. We no longer live godly lives as demanded by the word of God.

God no longer lives in some churches. Materialism, drunkard pleasure-seeking, arrogance, conceit, defiance, sinfulness, moral perversion, and corrupt leadership have rejected the word of God, the law of the Lord, and the Holy One Himself. "When a society does not want to hear from God, every man does that which is right in his own eyes and feels that he is the ultimate authority, he becomes the ultimate source of truth" (Judg. 21:25).
Attempts to expel the word of God from society have become a critical issue. It started in the public schools, and has spread to public places, courthouses, coins, the Pledge of Allegiance, and on to where today we are fighting battles about what we can even say in the Church and in public! It is no longer just about the separation of Church and State, but a separation of America from God. Humanity is tearing apart the woven fabric of God's influence on society.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Dec 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098340773

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 Dr. Anderson Henry Ruffin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

Dr. Anderson Henry Ruffin/Book Baby Publishing

7905 North Route 130

Pennsauken, NJ 08110

[e-mail]

Print ISBN: 978-1-09834-076-6

eBook ISBN: 978-1-0983-4077-3

Publisher’s Notes: The book will focus on the Dilemma of the twenty-first century Church, sharing views of traditional and contemporary principles in a changing world. It will focus on the aspects of the Church in the United States of America, through conventional standards, beliefs, and spiritual practices. The book will offer an assortment of writing, questioning, and critical thinking about the essence of the Church in the twenty-first century.

The Church has changed in ways that caused a shift toward a worldly interpretation and it has lost its purpose and spiritual values. Nothing is wrong with the Church; it is the people in the Church.

Contents

Acknowledgements

Introduction

The Mission of the Church

Wrongful Perceptions of the Church

The Twenty-First Century Church

The King of Glory Is Returning

Destroying Kingdom Territory

The Mis-Educated Christian

Jesus, the Light in the Church

Spiritually Dead Churches

The Denominational, Nondenominational,

and Megachurch Church

Church Leadership in the Twenty-First Century

The Twenty-First Century Church Challenges

Biblical Theology in the Twenty-First

Century Church

Who am I? (the Church)

The State of the Church in America

Ministry and Ethics in the Twenty-First

Century Church

Notes

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to my family and friends for giving ideas that enabled the origination of this book and the understanding during the time of research and writing. I thank those who shared their time, emotions, and knowledge with me because they believed that doing so would make a difference. Their input, support, and interest kept me going. I appreciate and acknowledge their contributions and support.

Special thanks to all who inspired me along the journey: Dr. Charles L. Lett, Dr. Aaron Dobynes, Dr. Liz Cotton and Dr. Allam Baaheth (mentors). Davell Jackson (pastor), Joe Johnson (pastor-Harshall, AL), Clementine Johnson (pastor wife), Robert Hudson (mentor and pastor-Paradise Baptist Church-Shreveport, LA),), Alzo Slade (Elder/pastor-Perry, FL Carolyn Flanagan Ruffin (wife), Andrell and Thanya Ruffin (son and wife), Arissa Ruffin (daughter), Taylor and Tyra Ruffin (granddaughters), Jeff Ruffin (brother), and Frank Ruffin (uncle).

They willingly sacrificed their time, contributed resources, intelligence, patience, encouragement, and motivation, during the challenging times of engagement in the writing of this book. All these beautiful people shared my desire to pass knowledge and wisdom to the present generation and especially, to my granddaughters.

The sacrifices and offering of prayers enabled me to complete this book to God’s glory and for the advancement of His Kingdom. My intention in drafting this book is to bring attention to the many problems facing the twenty-first century Church. It is increasingly evident that dedicated Christians once shared strong moralities, but now their character has become a delusion.

To God be all praises and glory for giving me the strength and patience to complete this book.

Introduction

The Church is the fundamental spiritual institution in mortal history. It is more precious than institutions society has generated. It is God’s plan of being with us on earth. It is bliss of heaven on earth, a sacred institution of God himself. God had humanity in mind when he planned His purpose of the Church.

Truth should be the aim of forming your beliefs. Serious consequences develop when humanity develops false ideas about God. Many early Christian thinkers of the ancient Church defined faith as trusting in a reliable source. Countless intelligent men and women confessed to having a colossal faith in God. As Christians, they anchor their hope in biblical facts and biblical truths. God, Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, being the core of Christian faith.

With nothing to stand on, some men and women defended their faith, believing in biblical principles. A collection of sixty-six books contain a variety of genres, history, portrait, prophecy, wisdom, literature, letters, and apocalyptic, to name a few. The authors came from unique backgrounds: shepherds, fishermen, doctors, kings, prophets, priests, and others. Many of these authors never knew one another personally yet formed the history of Christian religion.

Unbiblical views are infiltrating and creating a different mindset of people in the twenty-first century. Human personality has become evil as bitter water flowing into freshwater, soliciting to sabotage God’s existence in the world.

Jesus declares, I will build my church (Matt. 16:18). In the Old Testament, it was a synagogue, temple, chapel, tabernacle, building, or a meeting place. The Church of the twenty-first century is nevertheless God’s design for fellowship, discipleship, ministry, the deliverance of the saints, and a cherished house for generations to grow spiritually.

Humanity has given Satan permission to come in and interfere with the order of commitment. Dedication has shifted. The disciples who represent Jesus’s interests speak revival messages that draw individuals back to the Church to seek salvation, healing, obtain everlasting existence through Christ, and receive God’s strength through devotion. It signifies what we expect of the Church now. What we consider should pair how we act toward the Church. But here is the dilemma. The Church is under restriction, incorporated with fashions of the twenty-first century. Today’s Church views, impressions, and ethics have transitioned to a religious context manipulated by radical views to humanistic innovations.

Humanism does not accept the Church as sacred, and many Christians are generating the same mindset. We are commencing to squander our dynamic, robust spiritual to let worldly ways enter. We are in a battle. The forces of purgatory are moving against the Church in the twenty-first century, Satan continues to control hearts and souls in the earthly dominion. James 4:4 tells us, Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. The solutions to living in a chaotic world will come from the Church and not from the administration of any regime.

With an amazing escalation in international disorder, abortions, terrorism, assaults on different religious systems, and people of color, moral constraints have eroded morality. The contemporary Church is so distorted that there can be little collaboration on these matters.

The world is not there for the Church. It is there for a lost world. The Church is a place to receive God’s purpose in the world. The Church mission has continuously provided a word of hope for people’s apprehensions to experience a connection between them and God. Judges 21:25 tells us, In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. America is becoming that nation. It is time we turn back to the principle of God and His Word.

The younger generations are facing many boundaries without spiritual integrity. The Church is struggling to provide absolutes in the twenty-first century relevant to living in a satanic world. Worn-out ways of thinking and beliefs need to be resurrected from the graveyard of anti-godlessness to desiring the true love of a living God. Many churches are becoming theaters of religious entertainment. Churches are closing by the thousands each year, with many being replaced with museums, restaurants, and shopping centers.

The Church has the formidable task of molding people’s lives. God made the Church to last eternally. The Church must continue to fulfill its purpose and to guarantee a haven for the lost world to find a sense of faithfulness and fight the enemies of God. It must develop a real loyalty and adherence to God, in that it agrees and embrace Jesus without amends. It will invariably produce faithful obedience and rekindle the charges which Jesus has appointed with no mental reservations or purpose, but to fulfill the obligations, design, and mission forever (Matt. 28:19–20). And upon this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18).

The local church has become a casualty. Denominations and teaching problems have mingled with spiritual craving have divided the Church into separate groups that decline to acknowledge Jesus as sovereign and supreme.

The author will scrutinize what the Church is doing in the twenty-first century for a disoriented world. Does the same attitude exist today that the world had decades ago about the Church? Why is the Church the first to get off the boat when the ride gets rough? Where is the cry reverberated through the century for decency, delight, and reverence as the fundamental spiritual institution in history?

In this book, the author investigates the issues within the Church by establishing a need for fresh innovations before we can rebuild (Jer. 1:10). Mentalities within the Church must disappear because they are strongholds that are hindering a relationship between God and society. Most Christians go on day to day, not realizing the battle is raging. God will invariably defeat Satan’s ambush on the local church.

CHAPTER ONE

The Mission of the Church

The early settlers built the United States of America upon the principle of in God we trust. Today, we have attempted to remove that trust. The Church was a stronghold for spiritual prosperity that influenced every phase of life. We have now created a rundown, outdated institution falling into ruin. The power it once held has become weak. The Church is a national institution designed to teach God’s absolutes, but in the twenty-first century, those absolutes are disappearing, with no one sounding the alarm. Each year thousands of churches are closing their doors because many who were once believers have gone astray. The tide of time has caused a significant shift, or rigor mortis, to occur.

The Church was the most prized possession in society. It was more valuable than gold because it was the breath of life in the community. We now generate a lost sight of God; out of mind, focus, and touch. The Church is losing the influence it once had on the masses.

God designed the Church to be the epicenter of culture and equipped the Church with spiritual gifts used for the welfare of humanity. The Church is where believers worship, fellowship together, and attract extra members to advance God’s kingdom.

Society has abandoned the Church, which has led to moral decay. Humanity’s values have attempted to triumph over God and the Church. The government has made efforts to destroy the core values of what we believe about God and the Church. Constitutional rights have become more prevalent than religious rights. We passed laws that guaranteed secularism. Those values that once held us together as a person, society, and country have taken on a new meaning. We no longer live godly lives as demanded by the word of God.

The Church is missing a variety of things: dedicated people, the word of God taught according to the Scripture, and Jesus Christ is not welcome. The Church is coming to an altar-less, cross-less, and bloodless Christianity. We are losing the cross in the Christian life.

Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it (Matt. 16:24–25). No one wants to die for the Church. The cross and the blood no longer have the influencing power for one to sacrifice their life for the Church. Jesus sacrificing his life on the cross is no longer relevant.

The world will not give God the glory because we have people who seek the glory of God by calling themselves the chosen. It has altered values and principles that shape a world of godless people without a spiritual consciousness of right and wrong. How is the Church grappling with how to bring the Lordship of Christ back into society?

The world is more enthusiastic about food, sports, arts, music, work, and money. The norm is to worship people, a job, achievements, and money. The accepted standard is not to worship God. Isaiah tells us, Woe to me! I cried. I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips (Isa. 6:5). God’s power, His greatness, His holiness, people of unclean hearts and lips cannot see His sovereignty, His love, and His compassion. Jesus Christ declared, I will build My church, and the gates of hell [the grave] shall not prevail against it (Matt. 16:18). Jesus has given the Church power over the gates of hell. Nothing can stop the Church.

Jesus promised that the world could never destroy His Church. Nevertheless, we must ask: How do we find a great church? What do we look for in a church? Jesus Christ and His apostles said to identify His true church, examine the characteristics and fruits of that Church:

Members are half-committed to Christ, who stress rituals, ceremonies, and programs and cannot please God (Rom. 12:1–2; 1 John 4:1–3).

A church that cannot proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Son of God (1 John 2:22–23).

A church must commit to teaching the word of God (2 Tim. 3:16, 4:2–4).

Committed to evangelism and mission (Matt. 28:19–20; Acts 1:8).

Committed to stressing holy living for Christ (2 Cor. 6:17–18; 1 Pet. 1:16).

A church not committed to self-denial and sacrificial living will lose Christ. Humanity must deny self and live holy (Luke 9:23, 18:29–30).

Members are committed to the Church (Heb. 10:25).

Church members must attend and stay for service (1 Tim. 4:13; Heb. 10:25).

Fruitful members support the Church (1 Cor. 16:2; 2 Cor. 9:7).

Committed to witnessing (2 Tim. 1:8; 2:2, 1 Pet. 3:15).

The world is transforming and making it harder for people to live faithfully. The future of the Church is becoming a lost quest for the world. Christians must continue in hope, holiness, grace, and truth.

The Church is damaged in various ways: unhealthy and destructive teaching; selfish, ambitious people bordering on individuality is producing a dangerous imbalance. Often biblical truths are being taught with embellishment, not going beyond an understanding of Scriptures. Biblical warnings are ignored or misinterpreted and taught without their impact or effectiveness, leaving people vulnerable to sin.

The local church is losing control to outside organizations, assigning leaders with title connected to a social unit of elders, bishops, and ecclesial apostles who will not discipline the flocks. The leaders of the local church no longer have control of the church and can be dismissed for inappropriate behavior and move after a short stay without the consent of the congregation.

The demographic of some countries continues to shift, and we have a decline of worshippers. A growing number of church buildings are being closed. The hallowed ground where believers prayed and worshiped is closing its doors. Places once welcoming generations of seekers are now empty sanctuaries. Many have become Dollar Tree stores and shopping malls for those searching for a bargain.

God no longer lives in some churches. Materialism, drunkard pleasure-seeking, arrogance, conceit, defiance, sinfulness, moral perversion, and corrupt leadership have rejected the word of God, the law of the Lord, and the Holy One Himself. When a society does not want to hear from God, every man does that which is right in his own eyes and feels that he is the ultimate authority, he becomes the ultimate source of truth (Judg. 21:25).

Attempts to expel the word of God from society have become a critical issue. It started in the public schools, and has spread to public places, courthouses, coins, the Pledge of Allegiance, and on to where today we are fighting battles about what we can even say in the Church and in public! It is no longer just about the separation of Church and State, but a separation of America from God. Humanity is tearing apart the woven fabric of God’s influence on society.

Politicians have established laws that have affected the Church in ways of empowering the practices of evil. They have been trying to remove God from this culture through court rulings awarding individuals rights.

The Supreme Court ruled school prayer unconstitutional in 1962.Bible reading in public schools was ruled unconstitutional in 1963.

Restrictions on abortion lifted and permeated the nation (through the infamous 1973 Roe v. Wade decision by the Supreme Court).

In 1985, the government ruled nativity scenes in public places violated the so-called separation of Church and State.

The Supreme Court ruled laws against gay and sodomy unconstitutional in 2003.

The United States Supreme Court legalized gay marriage.

In 2004, a federal court held it was unconstitutional for a school to teach intelligent design theory as an alternative to evolution.

Satan is the Church’s number one enemy. Give him an inch, and he will take a mile! Believers are hated, misunderstood, and persecuted around the world. The Church has the outstanding responsibility of warning every culture with the truth that transforms. The Church is in a coma and needs awakening in the twenty-first century.

The Bible tells us that things will get worse before Christ’s return. For the glorious day of His wrath has come, and who can withstand it? (Rev. 6:16). Jesus said, You will hear of wars and rumors of wars and nation will rise against nation (Matt. 24:6–7). The world is returning to the days of Noah’s time. Then the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil (Gen. 6:5–6). The earth will be so corrupt and filled with violence (Gen. 6:11–12). And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains (Rev. 6:15). Corruption, violence, and evil will savage, and the world will be on the brink of self-destruction. People will hide under rocks seeking refuge, and the only comfort they will find is when they call on the name of Jesus Christ.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17).

Truth feeds the inner man (Matt. 4:4).

The children of God must love truth (2 Thess. 2:10).

The wise Solomon exhorts us to, Buy the truth and sell it not; wisdom, and instruction, and understanding (Prov. 23:23). Humanity is setting their truths and enforcing them as they see fit. The Church must remind humanity of the need for righteousness to escape the wrath of God. The Church needs to regain a deep desire for its mission according to the word of God.

Godly character and integrity are lacking in today’s world. Too many Christians please man rather than God; this ought not to be (Acts 5:29; James 3:10). The Church has lost its influence to change the world in the twenty-first century. Satan is trying to make cowards of Christians by destroying their integrity and character.

The Church in the United States is witnessing a significant loss of followers in the twenty-first century. The atheist stands with a preconceived notion to destroy a belief in God. Dr. Tony Evans tells us, One of the premiere purposes of the Church is to legislate the values of God’s kingdom. God reminds the Church to carry out His agenda and purpose in the kingdom.

Barna Group has identified some problems that may spark concerns for the spiritual well-being of the next generation. Among young adults, Gen Z teens are entering adulthood with no claims of faith. Faith-sharing is falling out of favor with younger adults. Christian millennials (47 percent) believe that evangelism is wrong. Nearly three in ten Gen X (27 percent) and one in five boomers (19 percent) and elders (20 percent) share this sentiment. Recent data show that over half of millennials (51percent) and Gen Z (54 percent) say we have a race problem in this country. Many of these younger generations also express motivation to address racial injustice in their society (75 percent millennials, and 68 percent Gen Z).

The Church must maximize the resources that God has allocated to fulfill its purpose. We must get rid of misconceptions that the enemy uses to keep Christians stagnated and disconnected from the Church.

Stop thinking the Church has lost power and influence. The saints need to stop reflecting upon the idea that the Church has become a weak vessel, unable to get people to heaven. The believers realize that fundamental changes have come to society. The present generation is failing to pass on the knowledge of Jesus Christ to the next generation to give them spiritual principles to live godly in a changing world. We are rewriting history and attempting to remove God from the land.

Society once based its actions on absolute Christian values and biblical principles learned in church. Christian absolutes are those truths and standards of Scriptures which cannot change but influence one to live godly. They are becoming less affirmative and less practical in the world today. We have marginalized (if not outlawed) Christianity in the Western culture.

Society has crippled spiritual values. Some folks have accepted the practice of doing what they like for themselves. Christians are in no position to throw their cultural weight around unless they first put into practice spiritual things as a priority. The Church must return to the catalyst of the Gospel for humanity to hear, study, and learn God’s words again. Those days, if they still exist, are moving to a rapid decline.

If the Church takes a checkup today, it is bleeding with evil. It has gone through some sudden and violent changes in practices. Introducing same-sex marriage to the congregation has shattered biblical principles. The Church no longer has the luxury of sitting back in a recliner and watching the world go by because the world is coming to knock on the doors of the Church. Modifications are now penetrating the institution as the enemy creates an atmosphere of catastrophic disruptions. The twenty-first century is making the most remarkable revolutionary changes in the Church. The word catastrophe is two Greek words; cata, meaning over, and strophe, meaning to turn. The word implies a sudden and violent change.

It is difficult for Christians to wrap their minds around such ideals as same-sex marriage and relativism. The atheists support relativism, which means to do as one sees fit; no restraints on right or wrong. The soul of them has no yearning for heaven.

Today, evil acts are filling the house. The