Below is a lightly edited transcript of my sermon in a Methodist Church UK 

I recently observed some interesting information about the state of this country:

There has been a gradual decline in Christianity in UK over the past few years due to a cultural shift. Now only 50.7% of people in UK are Christian. Only 34% of people have trust in the church and the rest have very little trust or not much trust.

It is against this backdrop that I introduce the theme, ‘Looking to the past via scriptures to inform the present, with the aim of looking at the effect of sin/rebellion on our church.

Let me draw your attention to a famous quote by Mahatma Gandhi:

 “I like your Christ but I don’t like your Christians. They are so unlike your Christ”

Is an uncomfortable statement by Gandhi but one we ought to pause and reflect on at once. I dare say many of the people who claim to be Christians are not actually Christians in the manner that was contemplated by Christ. It has become a health club type of Christianity. Maybe we should consider redefining our Christianity?

Throughout history, the Bible has been warning us against complacency by alluding to numerous examples of contention between good and evil. From the battle between Lucifer and the angels in heaven, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, Abraham contention with God about Sodom and Gomorrah and of course rebellion under the leadership of Moses which the prophet Isaiah makes reference to in our Bible readings (Isaiah 55: 1-9) – at a time when the Israelites had been consumed by sin and material things.

There was a pernicious agenda to ensure that Moses and Aaron did not get to the promised land no matter what. When you read the scripture you’ll notice key people, Jannes” and “Jambres” (two chief magicians/sorcerers) who withstood Moses and Aaron and left Egypt with the Israelites. They later helped turned the people against Moses when he went up to the mountain for 40 days and 40 nights – promoting rebellion through the worship of idol in a form of the golden calf that Aaron made.

They even promised the people that things will be better under Pharaoh Kingship. You’ll also notice that Korah and Dathan used their position to gather together two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives to usurp Moses and Aaron.

The Bible says the Lord struck the people with a plague and consumed 250 people because of rebellion and sin. But God was gracious in saving the offspring of Jannes and Jambres. So the Bible shows that throughout history there has been a constant battle between good and evil in the fight for Christianity.

I dare say things are no different now. I dare say that as a church we have become barren of all that is really good and the consequence is obvious to see. There’s been a gradual separation of the state from a religious institution. Freedom of gospel witness is under a threat now more than ever. There is darkness in the country – darkness and uncertainty in parliament – darkness in communities – darkness among rich and darkness among poor. Darkness among our kids – many are losing their life to heinous gun and knife crimes at a precious age.

And what’s worse is that the church is sound asleep and clueless. The truth is we don’t have the solution and neither does our MPs. We can’t even attract young people to our Churches despite our vast resources. In an age where education is so important, we don’t have enough Methodist schools that will instil our Christian values into our young people. Our young people are sound sleep and we don’t really bother to wake them up. They’re not interested in our Methodist heritage/DNA. They’re not interested in playing a significant role in our leadership structure. The question is what are we really teaching them? What are we feeding them? Why are they so disinterested? Why do they not have any faith in our leadership? Do they really feel included in our decision making? Do they really feel inspired to serve or valued? Are we enabling them to flourish? We must interrogate our Church.

We worship like saints on Sundays, only to worship idols on a different day. We engage in pernicious behaviour and think nobody notices. Status has become an obsession. We have become comfortable with a form of Christianity which makes us feel good without doing what’s required to make us good. What’s ironic is our behaviour during lent. We want the whole world to know what we’re giving up. It is almost as though we have turned into angels overnight.

Sexual immorality, gambling, and drunkenness are rampant, and no one is thought the worse off for indulging in them. Now when such is the state of things in churches and chapels, is no surprise that the church is dying. Is no surprise that Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 10: 1-13 to remind and advice us to learn from our past:

¹¹ These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. ¹² So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 

So what can we take away from this?

1. Firstly, brothers and sisters, I believe that God is assuring us that in the midst of all that’s happening around us we can be assured that darkness cannot overcome the light of Christ. I’m submitting to us that we need to lay down our lives in service to the Word of God and the kingdom of Christ in all aspects of life.
2. I’m submitting to us that as a Church we need to pursue a new scriptural direction, pray for new vigour, and find new clarity, a new basis for thought and action rooted in the Lordship of Christ. I look forward to the day when our young people can testify to having a heartwarming experience. I look forward to the day when God will raise up new leaders that will put scriptural holiness at the forefront of their message. I look forward to the day when our churches will be filled with young people. I look forward to the day when our young people don’t have to leave our churches to go elsewhere to be fed. I look to the day when we will seek the face of the Lord for revival.
3. We will face trials and tribulations which will ultimately strengthen our faith and character, but let us hold firm to the belief that our temptations are not unique or beyond our strength, is part of our calling as evidenced by the experiences of Israel in the wilderness. He’s done it before and he will do it again. Amen!