The Church is dying. It’s a constant refrain sung by both a culture departed from virtue and those who whisper “remember when” to each other amidst crumbling spires, dwindling numbers, and struggling institutions. It’s hard not to feel alone. Frustrated at the hypocrisy. Scared of the future. It’s a trick of the devil. 

Satan paints a picture of an ideal church. Full to capacity. Free from the sinners who actually need what’s offered there, doing terrible things while pointing fingers elsewhere to hide their dark deeds. Leading a culture that counts us as wise and follows along. In short, a church that needs no cross.

You’ll catch sight of it when you realize that every whispered “remember when” is about attendance, culture, and the trappings of power and safety instead of the day the faithful were scattered, the crowds yelled “crucify”, and the sun was darkened as the Christ cried out it is finished. Remember when Jesus saved you? 

Christ builds His church at the gates of hell, and hell will not prevail against it, even if hell is really hot. We focus more on the gates than the God of Jacob, who is our fortress. Repent. Rejoice. Rest. Be still. Know who your God is. Know that the church is marked by being near to Jesus, not far from your fears.

Then realize that some of this stuff is supposed to die. Pride should die. Idolatry should die. Lust for power should die. Every trapping of a theology of glory should die. And so should you, united with Christ in your baptism. “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.” Good. So also you must consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Look around. The word is preached faithfully. The sacraments are administered rightly. This is how it’s supposed to be.

Dying church…. Rising hope.