At the suggestion of a much smarter and wiser person, I just read and finished a book entitled Thieves in the Temple by G. Jeffrey MacDonald. In it, the author presents the current state of protestant churches, and how the environment has become much more consumer-driven.
At the beginning of the book, MacDonald accurately addresses the purpose of a church, which is to elevate people to a higher plane of thought and living. Churches have begun to shy away from this purpose; helping people spiritually requires encouraging people to leave their comfort zone, and people aren't as likely to bite on that idea. With the general membership demanding more and more "comfort sermons" (God loves you as you are), churches have seen no other choice but to shift their model or go out of business.
The problems consisted of the first half of the book. Once the suggestions for a better church started, I found that it was harder to focus; I was too busy thinking about the problems, if any, that my church faces with these same issues.
My faith does a great job in presenting the standards that God expects and then holding me accountable for them. And this is all a church should be expected to do. Whether I act on the doctrines or not is up to me. I know what I need to in order to make an informed decision.
As I am not protestant, I may have not fully appreciated the direct purpose of the book. However, I did find myself applying the principles to my current situation without even knowing it. And for that, the book was a success. Great read.
Labels: church, G. Jeffrey MacDonald, protestant, religion, Thieves In The Temple