The following is an excerpt of an article written by Rev. Fletcher Matandika in Modern Reformation, Volume 20, #2, March/April 2011:
I am writing to share a few things that I have been thinking about over time regarding the state of the church in North America and in the Western world, in light of the prevailing trends we are seeing as a result of the church's departure from the Scriptures, from historic Christianity and its pillars...Much of what I saw and experienced seemed shallow, subjective, and sentimental. It seemed more worldly than godly. This troubled me very much- it left a sour if not a bitter taste in my mouth and was often nauseating.However, I did not know what to do about it as I did not understand the root of the problem and, at times, I was unsure if my sentiments were right or wrong - but something just felt off balance...
... The church must strive by the grace of God to open the eyes of the blind by faithfully proclaiming and living by the gospel of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:1-6). I feel that many churches across North America are preaching a different kind of gospel, which the Lord through the apostle Paul condemns in Galatians 1:8-9. I plead with all who have been called to preach the gospel to follow the example of the apostle Paul and preach the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:26-27) and contend for the historic Christian faith (Jude 3).
My main goal in writing this letter is to highlight what I consider to be the central problem that I have observed and experienced in the North American Church, which is the lack of faithful preaching of the Word of God... The pure and unadulterated gospel of God's grace is a nonnegotiable priority for the church of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let me just take a moment and address all of my brothers who have been called to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Dear brothers:
1. Remember that you have been given the highest calling that any mortal man can received from the Lord Jesus Christ. In His divine providence, the Lord has graciously chosen and called you to declare the whole counsel of God for the salvation of sinners and sanctification of his flock entrusted to you. Heed the divine instruction handed down to Timothy and to us through the pen of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4:2: "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching."
2. Remember, that souls of sinful men and women are at stake!
3. Remember, that the gospel needs no improvement!
And to my brothers and sisters in the pews:
1. Sincerely long for the Word of God.
2. Fight against the spirit of the age.
3. Seek to understand Christ's atoning work on the cross.
4. Let me encourage you to learn to appreciate the gospel and its necessity for the salvation of sinners.
5. Keep your ministers accountable, especially by praying for them.
Stop playing as the church and start being the church that the Lord Jesus Christ bought with His precious blood. Church is a serious business and so is the worship of God. We do not have the luxury of worshipping the Lord God in the way of our own choosing...
... There is hope in Jesus Christ. The battle is not lost! If you are a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, hold on to the faith. Keep fighting the good flight of faith. If you are a gospel minister, pray for the outpouring of God's Holy Spirit upon America and keep preaching the gospel faithfully. It's not a lost cause. Preach Christ, the Son of the Living God, and Him crucified. Remember His own words, "On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Mt. 16:18). Hold onto that promise and watch what He will do, and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will be found blameless.
JE
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