Journal: Grace Journal
Volume: GJ 12:3 (Fall 1971)
Article: Part Two: The State of the Church Today
Author: Luther L. Grubb

GJ 12:3 (Fall 71) p. 23

Part Two:
The State of the Church Today

Luther L. Grubb

Is the church following the Biblical mandate of the Lord Jesus Christ?

An Object of Criticism

One of the most criticized institutions in the world today is the church. It has become a “whipping boy” for many of our problems. Ever since the beginning of time, man’s nature has demanded a whiping boy for his errors and failures. Adam blamed Eve for tempting him with the fruit of the tree. Eve passed the blame to the serpent. Harry Truman had a sign on his desk which said, “The buck stops here.” So today men are blaming the church for their own inadequacies. Don’t believe all you hear! Criticisms are coming from every quarter with extreme and it seems increasing intensity. I doubt if there is any institution on the face of the earth today more criticized and emasculated than the church.

Is the church above criticism? No, indeed! Some criticisms are valid and some are not. Questions such as, “What’s Happening to the Church?,” “Has the Church Failed?,” “Is Religion on the Decline?” are subjects for an increasing number of articles written by self-styled experts on the state of the church. It is amazing how little many of the “experts” know about the intrinsic nature and operation of the church. Yet they write as if they are authorities on the subject.

The members of today’s churches should face the issues of criticism squarely with no attempt to avoid the realities they affirm. The tendency to fight back and to criticize those who criticize does not provide answers. It is true that some criticisms are designed to be destructive and yet even these demand careful consideration because out of them may come indications of spiritual needs which are not being

GJ 12:3 (Fall 71) p. 24

satisfied by today’s church. Also, there are many constructive criticisms, all of which are well worth our careful consideration. Criticism is not necessarily bad. In fact, it may be extremely profitable and stimulating in improving the program of the church for tomorrow.

Spiritual Weakness

Those who are familiar with and informed about the church of this day should be the first to admit that the church is weak spiritually. The leaven of apostasy has swept through the church like a brush fire. The infiltration has been insidious and effective. The great church which came into existence on the day of Pentecost as so graphically narrated in Acts 2, was really intended to be a channel of spiritual instruction, edification and blessing to the world. That edification was to come directly from the Word of God. But now, after about 2,000 years of operation, ...