By U.S. Army Chaplain (Col.) David J. Giammona, Ret.
It is exciting to see that the United States is starting to open for business again after that deadly, silent, and invisible killer called COVID-19 has done tremendous damage to our psyche, economy, and national pride.
It has also made us pause and contemplate where we are and where we are going, especially in the church.
People want things to return to near normal as soon as possible. Most are relishing a visit to their friends and families, going to their favorite restaurants, and getting back to church. Ah yes, church! So many cannot wait to get back to church, hear sermons, meet friends, study the Bible, go out to eat afterward, and remain the same.
Will the Church Remain the Same?
Wait, did I say, “remain the same?” Yes, it was intentional. The church in America has been asleep for decades now.
Pastors across the nation lament that their congregations are lethargic and not really motivated by the Gospel. There are some that are on fire, but not many. Why?
The Apostle Paul stated it clearly to his protégé in 2 Timothy 3: 1-5: “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
Our world and society have crowded out the Gospel with other more enticing pleasures. People flock to sporting events, movie theaters, malls, restaurants, and a host of other distractions.
Meanwhile, the church is trying to offer similar kinds of things with high powered music, darkened facilities with light shows, hip pastors with feel good messages, and programs for every palate and taste.
Feel-Good Theology is Rampant
Let’s take a hard look at the problem. First, there is the feel-good theology that is rampant throughout most churches in America.
It is that doctrine that says this religious stuff is all about me, a pop psychology that does not address the real underlying spiritual conditions or issues that plague us.
Pastor John Piper once said in a sermon that nearly anyone can form a church and get 30,000 people in attendance. He meant that large numbers of people attending church does not necessarily mean there is true revival or awakening in those that are present.
Secondly, there is a trend away from formal church attendance, especially among the younger generations. According to studies by Pew Research Center, 71 percent of millennials are at least “fairly certain” they believe in God and 67 percent rank religion as at least “somewhat important” in their lives. But only 28 percent attend church at least once a week.
I believe the reason why these young people find no attraction to the church of their parents or grandparents is because the church is not relevant for them. The reason is this: feel good theology is not attractive to those who need deeper meaning.
Third, Westernized Christianity does not reflect the reality of the Gospel. I just returned from Israel after an extended stay to study their history and culture.
First Century Christianity was more about the community than the individual. Just look at the Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one.”
Not one word about the individual in this model prayer that the Lord taught His disciples. It was all about “us” not “I.”. There is a united sense of community, of intimacy in small groups, and the power of being united together.
Time to Get Back to Basics
The real reason United States military is so strong is in the very heart of formation is a small unit. It really starts at the lowest level with an Infantry squad of about four to 10 soldiers. It is led by a seasoned non-commissioned officer, usually at the rank of sergeant. The next largest unit is the platoon with about four squads with a total of 40-plus soldiers. Hence, it is led by a lieutenant with an NCO as second in command. A platoon usually consists of three to four squads or sections.
These small units are the centerpiece of the Army because they train, sleep, eat, and fight together. They know each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and they watch each other’s backs in combat. They live and die together.
Somewhere along the line, the church has lost its way and we need to get back to basics. Our center which is the very heart of the Gospel in John 15:12: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”
You cannot love if you do not know each other. If we attend a large gathering every week and then walk out with no change, no real fellowship, and no knowledge of our community, then what difference is it really making in our lives, our society, our country, and our world?
U.S. Army Chaplain (Col.) David Giammona, Ret., is an author, writer, and speaker. His Army assignments included four years in the Pentagon as the Personnel Assignments Officer for the Chief of Chaplains, three tours of combat in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Saudi Arabia, and extensive travel throughout the world as a trainer, mentor, and coach. His last assignment before retiring in 2018 was Installation Management Command (IMCOM) in San Antonio, Texas where he was responsible for religious support on all 75 Army installations around the world. Today he is dedicating his life to preparing the church and warning the world regarding the end times. His first book, with co-author Troy Anderson, is The Military Guide to Armageddon: Battle-Tested Strategies to Prepare Your Life and Soul for the End Times, will be released in January 2021. Gain access to what the Colonel knows by clicking here.
