For the moment I have restrained myself from grabbing my soap box and expanding on each point in your list because they are each so pertinent. Suffice to say that it is a sad situation, and one which causes many who love the Lord great quiet distress, judging from comments make to me. Even more, the church seems to believe that the cure to dropping support (on many fronts) is even more of the same. It is a mindset and a vicious circle.

It is often so frustrating, but the Lord was gracious enough this evening to have me read an article that reminded the reader of the Lord’s advice that we store up our treasure in Heaven and not on earth. This has very wide application and comes to mind when I read your list of the worldly performance critieria and approaches that seem to surround us.

I pray that we may encourage one another to cleave only unto Him and Him crucified.

If the church were boasting like Paul it would be upside down to its current state at large. As it is; we have mass marketing, professionalism, performance driven, super structures, consumerism, and fame-vying. There’s a whole lot of boasting going on, but little talk of the cross or suffering. Is it any wonder that the church is losing members in droves, has leadership with rampant moral failures, and yet still trying to champion worldly success. We’ve all but emptied the church of its true power — Christ and Him crucified!