How do you restore respect for the church? Proclaim truth without compromise

There was a time in America when the Church had a position of respect and trust. When Church leaders spoke, society listened. But somewhere along the way, the Church has lost that influence. Instead of being listened to today, the Church is either ignored, charged with intolerance, or both. Jesus called for the Church to be salt and light in the world; to influence the world in a positive way. But the Church, in the name of tolerance, has too often failed in its call to be a positive influence on society. Too often she is voluntarily mute when she should be speaking out against the forces of evil, even at the risk of appearing to be “intolerant.” As Edmund Burke said, “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.”
Today, more than ever, the Church needs to step up and become the influence Jesus intended her to be. How can she accomplish that? The first step is for pastors all over America to begin teaching their congregations to believe the Bible is relevant to the issues we face today. As Americans have grown more “sophisticated,” the belief that the Bible is outdated and no longer relevant has become more wide-spread. But since Scripture deals with physical and emotional, as well as spiritual relationships, it is still as relevant as ever. Men have not changed, nor have the ways in which they relate to one another. Neither has God and His truths changed. The Bible still speaks to these issues, and it has not lost its relevance to the world today.
To have a greater impact on the world, the Church needs to overcome the denominational focus that tends to separate Christians. She must begin to emphasize areas in which we have a unity of belief, rather than emphasizing doctrinal points that divide us. Areas such as the Lordship of Jesus, the Truth of Scripture, outreach to those outside the Church and the raising up of disciples who will follow Christ, regardless of the cost, are some areas all Christians agree on. These beliefs are the basis of our unity.
The Church must strive to help people see and understand the issues faced today and work to find ways to address and deal with these issues. Scripture tells us that the sons of Issachar “/... had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.”/ The leaders of the Church must seek God for that same “Issachar anointing” and pass it on to the soldiers of the cross. It is crucial we understand not only the spiritual aspects of what is happening in the world, but the practical aspects of those events, as well. Only then can the Church speak intelligently about what is happening around us, and only then can she become the voice of influence she needs to be.
Some might argue that non-spiritual matters are not the business of the Church, but that idea is negated by Scripture. Jesus commanded Christians to “go into /_*all *_/the world,” not just the spiritual part of the world. To those who believe, everything is spiritual. I believe one of the reasons the Church has lost its influence is because she has forgotten this truth and attempted to focus only on “spiritual” matters.
For example, there is much pressure being exerted to force Israel to give up land in order to maintain peace. Many churches have nothing to say about this because they consider it a political matter. It may appear to be only a political matter, but when one realizes Scripture tells us to “pray for the peace of Jerusalem” {Psalm 122:6}and that God “will bless those who bless you” (i.e., Israel) {Genesis 12:3}, it becomes a spiritual issue, as well. The Church must put an end to this artificial dichotomy of spiritual/non-spiritual and accept the reality that every area of human endeavor is spiritual at the core.
Finally, I believe that if the Church is to become an influence on society again, she must lose her fear of man and stand for what is right- without wavering.
Immediately I hear the question, “Who determines what is right?” My answer is: “Not any man. God has already determined what is right, and that is where the Church must stand.” The Church must never fail to take a stand for what Scripture tells us is right. In taking such a stand, the Church does not need to become harsh and unloving. Jesus came to bring healing and salvation to the lost and hopeless. The Church is to carry out that same ministry. But Jesus never compromised truth. Although He loved the sinner, He always identified sin when He saw it. To the lady taken in the very act of adultery, He spoke forgiveness but said, “Go and sin no more.” Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda, but later told him to “/... Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” / He did not hesitate to point out the sin of the Pharisees. For the Church not to point out sinful behavior and unrighteousness, wherever it occurs, is hypocrisy and causes the world to look upon her with scorn.
There will always be those who reject the truth of Scripture. Because they reject that truth, they will attempt to demonize it, deny it, or ignore it. But truth is always truth, whether it is believed or not. If the Church is to regain her influence in society, she must proclaim truth without compromise, relate that truth to events today, and show that Jesus is still the answer the world needs.