Churches Respond to Weak Economy By Closing Doors
Oct 06
This one just landed in my email. Churches are responding to the looming economic crisis by shutting their doors and doing social service activities. Considering that a lot of churches no longer have the good news of the Gospel to share with a suffering world, it’s probably just as well.
I listened recently to some sermons from the early 1930’s from the old Lutheran Hour broadcast. They were recorded in the midst of the Great Depression. Frequent references were made to those who were hurting and hungry, but the hope that was perpetually held up to listeners of that program that aired every Sunday was the Gospel itself. Never once did that message waver. The suffering was so vast all across America, yet that minister of the Gospel, Walter A. Maier, knew that what he could give as a minister was the most important thing of all—the eternal hope of Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with churches providing physical help to those in need, but it should always be accompanied with a clear Gospel message. In the era of Rick Warren-style interfaith works projects, this is sadly not the case.