Frequently I am asked what trends I see in churches as I travel. The tendency is to generalize and lump all churches together. Yet each local church is unique. Every body of believers has its strengths and weaknesses and only the Lord Jesus Christ who truly knows His own can speak accurately about the real condition of churches. Perceived needs are not always the root problems and surface issues do not always tell the story.

I am amused when I hear people speak of a group of churches as if they are all the same. This is never the case, just as no two people are exactly the same. We must avoid the temptation of making false assumptions and giving blanket statements.

God is at work in His churches. Christ still walks among the candlesticks (Rev. 1:13). He is trimming the wicks, providing the oil, and keeping the fire burning! For all of this we should praise God.

At the same time there are common needs in churches. The regular question has caused me to think more deeply about those needs. Remember that the greatest deficiencies are always spiritual in nature – everything else grows out of that. So, what is missing in many of our churches at this time? Permit me to offer three observations…

1. We are missing faith. Did you know that believers can operate like unbelievers? Every time we live and labor as if it all depends on us we are walking in unbelief. Christ could do no mighty works in His own home town “because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58). Faith releases the power of God and unbelief is the one thing that limits His work. Fear and feeling have taken the place that faith should have in many of our lives. Pastors and people alike must believe that our God can and that He will work in these uncertain days.
2. We are missing a single hearted dedication to get the gospel to every creature. This is the one reason that God has left us here, the only reason that Christ has not yet returned (2 Peter 3:9). The commission given to the church has not changed: “go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). Churches in these perilous times have, by and large, settled into survival mode and are not actively, aggressively seeking to get the gospel to every creature. When we are more concerned with maintaining than advancing we have lost the heart of God.
3. We are missing a willingness to labor together for Christ. There is so much division in our world and, sadly, so much division in the church. Someone said that most churches are more like goat pens than sheep folds because everyone is always butting heads. This should not be. “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). The early church saw the fullest blessing of God when they were in “one accord” (Acts 1:14; 2:1,46). Why can’t the Lord’s people work together for the gospel? Prejudice, pride, and personality get in God’s way.

With all that God has given us and all we are busy doing, could we be missing the Lord? Let’s ask God to give us an increased faith in Him, a renewed passion to reach the lost, and a deepened humility toward other of His servants. I don’t want to get to the judgment seat and discover that we missed what God had for us in these last days.