Is the Church still relevant today? 

For decades, it is known that the Church, especially in mainline denominations, has been declining in the West. So often, the answer to this problem comes down, even though it is more complex, to relevance. It appears as if what the Church does does not apply to the lives of most younger people.

Thousands of dollars have been spent in research resulting in plans and strategies on how to reverse the situation. And, lots of denominations continue to pour lots of money into research. Is this a bad thing? Probably not.

The right question, I believe, to ask is: “Is God still with us?”

But, how do we even know whether God is with us or not?

I believe it is the same question the disciples in the first century asked themselves. Inspite of what Jesus had told them before that He would always be with them. Well, the One who said He would always be there with them was not physically living with His own disciples. They just saw Him a few times before He would ascend into Heaven to sit on the right hand of the Father.

One thing, however, Jesus told the disciples, is what we read in Acts 1: 6-8. In the midst of anxieties and fears of what the future would look like, Jesus said these words to the disciples:

“So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom of Israel?” It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witness in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Is it not the same question we keep bringing up in meetings and conferences: “When is our Church going to be restored?”

Jesus’ response to the disciples is threefold.

First, God, the Father is in control of times and seasons even though at times we think we are. Don’t we draw plans, strategies, dreams, goals, etc., pretending as if we have a fix to what is going on?

Next, Jesus tells the disciples is to receive the Holy Spirit. Being a Holy Spirit filled church and people is key to being relevant in everything we do and claim to be. 

Lastly, through the Holy Spirit, we receive Power to become witnesses of God locally and globally. 

Well, does it mean that we should not think of processes and structures to sustain what we are and do? No, what this means is we have to long for God, our Father before doing stuff. As much as I love discussing business, I would hope some day, we spend a tenth of our time (meetings, workshops, conferences, etc.) do business or discuss polity and dedicate 90% of our time together in worship pouring our souls before God. He is in charge of restoration, renewal and transformation. Every time we think we are, God is kicked out of the equation. As a result, we do all humans do in response to our brokenness: fight or flight.

Part of our time together should be about inviting the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit at all the time. Without the Holy Spirit, we will lack God’s Power. When we do not have God’s Power, our humnaness will rule over us.

Here are the three reasons why we need the Holy Spirit:

1. That we have God’s mind. Through God’s Spirit, we will always be connected to God, Himself. We will have more clarity on what God has in mind for us and other people.
2. That through the Holy Spirity, we have the Power of God to:
   1. reclaim our status as God’s children,
   2. face anyone or anything unafraid,
   3. always experience the assurance of God’s presence, and
   4. unapologetically and unashamedly witness about God.
3. That the Holy Spirit is the One who gifts us for God’s Kingdom. Other things (training of any kind, formal or infomal) are just accessories to help us sharpen the gifts we have received from God through the Holy Spirit.