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Is the modern-day church fulfilling purpose?

St Paul's, @ Sea Cows Bay, on Tortola-one of many churches on the main island. Photo: Internet Source
Is the modern-day church fulfilling purpose-Kenneth G. Gladstone. Photo: Internet Source
Is the modern-day church fulfilling purpose-Kenneth G. Gladstone. Photo: Internet Source
By Kenneth G. Gladstone

The Christian community remains the largest religious community across the world and regardless of status quo, most of us are either a part of, or associated with one religious body or another.

The 2010 statistics reveals that Christianity has been by far, the world's largest religion, with an estimated 2.2 billion adherents, nearly a third (31%) of all 6.9 billion people on Earth. 

This makes the “church” the most powerful group in the world.

With this in mind, it is absolutely appalling and perhaps even stupendous, how millions across the world continue to lament the dysfunctions of their resident communities regardless of race, whether the issues are political, economic or social. 

We are all cognizant of the fact that almost all concerns relating to the wellbeing of the human race can be addressed in little or no time for all to have a better life, yet people continue to suffer mercilessly in the face of limitless wealth, and none seem to care, the church being chief of offenders.

Funneling Cash

This has become a very serious concern, as leaders or owners of temples (pastors) continue to suck hundreds of millions of dollars out of the pockets of the people (the church), funneling this cash into bottomless treasuries each year, while communities remain impoverished. 

Many dogs today live a classy life compared to that of many across Christian communities worldwide.

Prophets and pastors continue to turn a blind eye to the pain and poverty of the very people who make themselves slaves to afford them the lavish lifestyle they brandish, which is often flaunted in the faces of the very people sustaining it.

Similar Trend

On the other hand, governments have also adopted a similar trend, and continue to make good the carelessness of the church community and their inherent lack of organization. 

Exploitation can only happen where there are no guidelines in place to prevent it, and the longer we sit by, carelessly making ourselves fools to this fact, we will only become more victimized as a result, perhaps to the place where our rights may even be taken away.

The Virgin Islands (VI) is driven by a significantly large and very vibrant church community, and most all influential members of government attend church.

If the VI is approximately sixty-seven percent Christian, this automatically positions the Christian community, in a very powerful position of influence politically, socially and economically.

How then is the Christian community within the VI, so callously careless and perhaps blatantly ignorant of its influence? 

How can the church community be simply sitting by, complaining like everyone else about the current state, when the church has potent authority by numbers to demand what is just and right for all across the VI? 

History

Who are we fooling here? It is either the church is a part of the nonsense, or they are against it and prepared to fix it! 

What is the truth of this matter at this point in our history?

King Leopold II, of Belgium, categorically stated in his letter to his missionaries sent to the Congo in 1883, and I quote, “You must singularly insist on their total submission and obedience, avoid developing the spirit in the schools, teach students to read and not to reason. There, dear patriots, are some of the principles that you must apply.”

Dear reader, are we victims of the ‘Leopoldian’ mandate as executed in 1883, which is currently a very integral part of our systems of governance across modern-day societies?

Are we ever learning, never learning, and worst, left in a position where we cannot reason? 

Excuses

When will the people (church) stop making excuses?  When will the people stop making pastors their gods, and demand that pastors rise up as leaders of the nations to which they are assigned, with one voice to fulfill their role as was intended, to bind up the brokenhearted, open the prisons to them that are bound, and seek to fulfill in total, the will of the almighty Jehovah God, to protect the best interest and the well-being of the human race?

Always remember:  An army of sheep led by a lion is more powerful than an army of lions led by sheep. (Munroe)

Listen live to PSI Online Radio for consistent education and inspiration, streaming.psionlineradio.com https://streaming.psionlineradio.com/public/psi_live

9 Responses to “Is the modern-day church fulfilling purpose?”

  • yes (26/11/2018, 09:34) Like (11) Dislike (0) Reply
    Real talk
  • Fran (26/11/2018, 10:38) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    After a lifetime going to church, paying tithes and offerings, and the church cannot show one recreation building they built for the community, which the children can use as an after school and summer school program, and can’t show where our money has gone to even help the parishioners in an emergency, then I say it is a farce with the Leaders using it as their personal bank accounts. I no longer trust them and I dropped out. I do my own worship at home and help the community when I can and I see the results
  • NezRez (26/11/2018, 13:06) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    No, a lot of churches are Not fulfilling their purpose. With all the money collected for years, where are the centers for each church? Where are the soup kitchens every weekend to feed the hungry? Where are the after school tutoring adults? Why can’t I see anything in our neighborhood that the church has done? They come to church in their finest gear, just to have a fashion show. People really have to be dense to attend a club where they don’t see their money working for the betterment of their community.
  • nope (26/11/2018, 16:01) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    No they are not, their main goal is to collect money and you can’t see where that money is going. I’ve attended a service where the Pastor was just speaking about money, never opened the Bible once to speak the gospel.
  • wize up (26/11/2018, 16:26) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    God can never change but the church have changed: no voice against political or social shortcomings: up the ghut the church & night club side-by-side; such a ting would never happened back then;but now it’s all good: at the end of the it’s people because the church is will always be Church: politics is a very good thing but it’s the politicians(the people) that continues causing the issue(keep the faith, God will never change and his promises are sure)
  • member (26/11/2018, 17:46) Like (17) Dislike (0) Reply
    I couldn't help but notice that the photo you have used is of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sea Cow's Bay. As a part of that congregation, I can tell you that we may be small' but we do our part without publicity. But, perhaps it is time to make some of what we do known to the public. Every year we make financial donations to the Adina Donovan Home for the Elderly and to Family Support Network, last year we partnered with one of our sister churches in Alabama and through the Social Development Department assisted a number of families with gifts and supermarket vouchers; this year we distributed hurricane preparedness kits to the elderly in our community; partnering with another sister church in Alabama, we raised funds and assisted the Ebenezer Thomas Primary School to replace books lost in the hurricanes; we provide ongoing assistance to a family still suffering from the impact of last year's hurricanes. I'm pretty sure that we are not alone -- not all churches have the resources to build community centres but there are many churches in this community that help persons on an on-going basis.
  • wow (27/11/2018, 09:05) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    Church has become a financial commodity to greedy individuals calling themselves Bishops, Pastors, and Prophets. Look at their lavish lifestyle off the back of the poor and needy! I can't recall reading in the bible where Jesus was living large while preaching or teaching the word of God. Money seems to matter mostly to these church leaders and their vanity.
  • Member 2 (27/11/2018, 22:25) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I join the sentiments of the other church member, willing to speak up amidst the clear hostility. Many churches have been quietly giving back to their communities for years and have still continued to do so. We are not all on the prosperity gospel agenda that the writer speaks of. Not all churches or pastors live lavish lifestyles quite to the contrary, many pastors live on very modest stipends - so again everyone is being branded for the actions on some. Most Christians are descent caring people who give selflessly without the publicity or applause. We do it week in and week out in working to steer the young and adults in society from wrong mindsets, destructive lifestyles or criminality. However, modesty and quiet service never draws headlines. Churches regularly volunteer at the prison, counsel persons on the fringe, rescue families escaping from domestic violence, support the elderly, help those who struggle financially (that where missionary efforts go) and there are some churches with soup kitchens. So perhaps speaking with church communities instead of casting judgment may surprise you to know how much we actually do. However, I agree that the needs of society are greater now than ever before and we as servants of God should seek more ways to connect with those on the fringe. The hostility is sad to see, but it gives a picture of how we are perceived. So fellow Christians, those who have been serving, do not be discouraged or grow weary in well doing, stay in the fight, but it is obvious that more needs to be done as we need to prayerfully seek ways for connecting with today's BVI.
  • musa (27/11/2018, 22:41) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vote God in your first


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