I am teaching a course at seminary on Ecclesiology - the Church. It is now 2,000 years old from its beginning at Pentecost with a few frightened men and women and has grown into….What?
Richard Halverson, former Chaplin of the United States Senate, captures the history and perhaps the trajectory of the church over the centuries as it matured around the world:
"In the beginning, the church was a fellowship of men and women centered on living for Christ. Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy. Then it moved to Rome and became an institution. Next, it moved to Europe where it became a culture. And finally, it moved to America, where it became an enterprise." Are we an enterprise with productions to produce, products to sell, markets to penetrate, scandals to avoid, and CEO’S to lead? I live in Dallas and we have seen many scandals of well-known CEO-pastors in the papers over the past few months. The result is that many have left the church, uncertain of its purpose and its integrity. The good news is that this is a minority both in terms of pastors failing and people leaving, but it is still a reality.
- Pray for your pastor and elders for purity of heart and clarity of leadership.
- Pray for yourself for purity of heart and wisdom of mind.
And always remember and take heart. Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled” He also said, "I will build My church and the gates of hell will not prevail."
Serving Him with you Until He comes for us. Fred | 
