- Replacing biblical absolutes with cultural traditions
- Emphasizing movement allegiance above loyalty to Jesus Christ
- Style preferences become equal to doctrinal convictions
- Circling the wagons—Defensiveness replaces aggressive evangelism
- Practicing Cancel Culture against any with secondary differences
- Leaders appear to be in competition rather than cooperation
- Lack of visionary leadership
- Defeatist eschatology (Laodicean church age) is used to justify the lack of fruit
- Suspicion of thriving ministries
- Preaching preferences and pet-peeves instead of expositing Scripture
- Targets a single class of people
- Unable to connect with youth
- Conversions are rare
- Conformity in dress and appearance are more important than conformity to Christ
- The belief that “full-time Christian service” is for preachers instead of every believer
- Separation grows into isolation from sinners for whom Christ died
- Checking off religious boxes leading to self-righteousness
- Insecure leaders attract insecure followers
- Obsessed with negativity
- Big on Truth, but weak on Grace
- Unloving disposition
- Popish ministers with an air of infallibility
- Humility and teachability are non-existent
- The local church becomes an institution instead of a “fellowship”
- “Faithfulness” to the church is preached more than devotion to Christ
- Methods are emphasized more than motives
- Services look more like a nursing home than a delivery ward
- Shallow sermons are more about opinions than proclamation of non-changing truth
- Preachers wrap themselves in the Red, White, and Blue instead of the precious blood of Jesus
- Politics arouse more sentiment than the loveliness of Christ
- The power and presence of Christ is seldom sensed
- Less and less conviction and celebration
- The dynamic of LIFE is absent
THE CHURCH IS NOT A MUSEUM TO VISIT, but a movement that glorifies God by connecting people to Christ.
Harold Vaughan
