It’s great that a lot of people are praying for revival. That’s always a good thing. But in addition to that we need to pray for repentance in the church. A big factor in the decline in faith in America is because the church tried to stay popular with the culture instead of teaching Biblical truth . Churches became liberal. They need to repent and return to teaching the truth.

This problem of “liberal” churches goes way back . It started with the “Enlightenment” and continued with the modern progressive movement. Of course there’s always been opposition to the truth and false teachers since the Fall, but for this post, let’s just limit ourselves to the last hundred and fifty years or so .

Churches began to compromise with evolution and eugenics and worsened with the prosperity gospel , racism, abortion, gay marriage, and the shifting of charity from a personal thing to welfare . Theologians warned the world that there would be consequences, but churches were more concerned with money and membership numbers.

The church growth movement popularized by Rick Warren was a Trojan horse that weakened and limited what pastors were willing to say in the pulpit. Bible studies became therapy sessions. The subjects of sin , repentance, and even hell were eliminated from the acceptable sermon topics. Churches that taught these things were deemed to be fundamentalist bigots, and lost members to more “tolerant and inclusive” churches.

The apostle Paul warned Timothy (and us) that times will come when people will not want to hear the truth and instead just have itching ears.

2 Timothy 4:3-5

[3] For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, [4] and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. [5] But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Not every Christian church compromised. There are still faithful men teaching the true gospel and wonderful Christian teachers who disciple believers in Bible study and Sunday school classes every week. If we truly want to see revival in America we need more of them.

If you belong to a liberal church, you should probably find a better one.

Church members also play a role . We must be more faithful, support our church leaders, participate, find where God would have us serve. And as individuals we must not be silenced by fear of being canceled or hated.

The fact that Christians aren’t persecuted more in America is actually a sign that we aren’t shining our light strongly enough to attract attention. If we truly believe what we say we do, we must be bold about sharing our faith . Not rude or judgmental, but sincere, humble and honest .

Start sharing your faith

To be confident enough to talk to others who may disagree with us we must know what we believe and how to explain it clearly. Thanks to the internet we have access to endless resources!

As Christians we have been given a great gift and we have a responsibility to share it.

A warning . This isn’t a call to be judgmental . It’s a call to love others so that hopefully souls will be saved. Don’t start with telling unsaved people they’re going to hell. Some people respond to the direct method, but many are turned off by it. There are better ways to engage. Learn them.

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you the words. Some people will want to debate . Others will not be interested at that time. Be thoughtful and kind, but don’t water down the truth. You’re trying to plant a seed.

For example, sharing how knowing Jesus has changed your own life is one of the most powerful methods, especially if people knew you before you were born again. Most people won’t try to deny your own testimony.

We’ve been told that faith should be kept private . That’s a lie. We can live out our faith in public: not be afraid to mention Jesus, give God glory, pray out loud in appropriate circumstances, give our time and resources to social causes while also sharing our faith, and invite others to church .

People are seeking peace in a disturbing and scary world. We need to let them know that Jesus is the answer. I’m excited to see how my own church is growing, especially with young families.

Church we have work to do. Let’s get busy! Pray, study, attend church and Bible study, speak to your children.