Setting Loose the Log Jam of the Modern Church Movement
How Our Prayers Echo in the Halls of Heaven
Disagreements are not the same things as division. Loyal friends can disagree, and disagree in healthy, constructive ways.
But the log jam of the Christian movement in the west is not due to the culture drift. The church was birthed and advanced in power in a pagan culture. It’s not the ever-threatening theological drift. We’ve dealt with that throughout the ages. It’s not the tense political or social environment. We have more religious freedoms than any Christian generation in the last 2000 years. And it’s not lack of education, finances, or opportunity. We have that.
The bigger challenge for the modern church is at the micro, local church level. The modern Christian of the west is so easily offended. We are so quick to judge motives. Quick to assume the worst. We’ve become contentious and ruthless toward one another, failing to forgive like we’ve been forgiven. Now our pugnacity has splintered us so that our most fervent prayers no longer ring in the halls of heaven.
While teaching us to pray, Jesus said, “For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15
When we fail to extend to others the mercies we’ve received from God, our communion with Him stays in the shallows and our prayers in the abyss.
The church was born among a diverse people who were of one accord devoting themselves to prayer and depending on the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
May we repent, return to the Lord, forgive one another, show abounding grace, and embody our newfound calling as ministers of reconciliation.
Only when we align our ways to the Lord’s can we pray with confidence, “Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” Then, perhaps, our prayers will echo in hallways of heaven and the Spirit will act in power again.
GROW YOUR LEADERSHIP. GROW YOUR TEAM. JOIN ME AT THE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT—AUGUST 7-8, 2025
THRIVING PASTORS. STRONG CHURCHES. TRANSFORMED COMMUNITIES.
These three priorities describe the calling of my life, and by God’s grace, I’m able to pursue this calling as the Strengthening Healthy Churches Team Leader with the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. We serve churches by multiplying gospel leaders who advance God’s kingdom.
If you’re a Tennessee Baptist pastor, please reach out. I’d love to get to know you, and how we serve you.
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