What does the church have in common with the society at large, the common problems that Christians were not supposed to have… we were supposed to have been delivered from sin and sickness. But in a fallen world, this is not the case. The pew and the pulpit is filled with instances of depression, porn addictions, alcoholism, drug abuse and in worst cases suicides. Our clergy and lay are battling these problems silently crying in their closet for deliverance!
The demons at the gates of Hell have progressively invaded the Church. The nation guarding forcing and moral conscience keeper is the church, are we up to the task to defend the territory from the principalities and dark forces?
An ever-discussed topic in mainline churches. Is alcohol agreeable to the faith or is it a line we do not cross. How can a whiskey-drinking church lay leader speak to a chronic alcoholic about the ills of his/her addiction?
“So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” -Thessalonians 5:6-8
As a result, the majority of church leaders either advocate abstinence or unrestrained indulgence. However, nobody is willing to confront the proverbial elephant in the room. The number of Christian families that have been decimated from within due to the presence of a full-time alcoholic father and a part-time churchgoer is significant.
What happens in the church of today is because of the societal stigma associated with this issue, most people would rather participate in idle gossip than engage persuasively with someone with alcoholism.
Most of the time, removing an alcoholic from the church is more convenient than leading them through the rehabilitation process. How can the church engage the faithful moving from one high to the other; how does it engage and inform the demonic oppressions that occur in the journey that starts with an innocuous “cheers”
Does the church address this issue as a medico + spiritual warfare? How many sermons speak about the truth of Jesus and establish and nurture the mind of every churchgoer? Unfortunately, data shows otherwise,
According to a church in America study:
“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalms 34:18
People in America are more vocal about their mental health than in India, where mental health concerns are not taken seriously.
It is safe to say that most churches are unprepared to deal with socio-psychological issues, such as depression. We must understand that those who are suffering from deep-rooted mental illness need more than just a pep talk to overcome chronic mental issues and addictions. The church has been fighting a losing war against depression, with an increasing number of Christians suffering from different mental diseases. Will the church rise with a strategy to occupy the mind of the believer and destroy the lies of the Demon of Depression.
The very gift of life which is owned by God snuffed out. Almost in total rebellion with the author of life.
The Sixth Commandment clearly states, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13), and suicide is murdering oneself.
After discussing the consequences of the other gates of hell, suicide is the most heartbreaking to contemplate. What are the overriding factors that cause someone to take such drastic measures? Suicide is considered unbiblical by the majority of Christians, making such an act of defiance unthinkable. But, as national data shows, we need to take stock of the reality that we face today. Hat are the options before the church, who can they work alongside, will pastoral care be redefined taking into consideration the mental illness and suicide rates across the nation? Who will stand at the gates of Hell?
A pseudo dopamine effect on the mind, nothing else. Fornication and depravity of the mind long existed in different forms in biblical stories. But the digital revolution has caused a tornado of information right into the smartphones in our pockets. Sin has been personalized; depravity has gone into the closet. Only God knows what goes on in the closet of the Church-going Christian!!
Statistics reveal that the increase in the amount and reach of pornography cannot be ignored. Many Christians may believe that the Church is protected from such blatant sin. We look at the cheerful smiles of those who frequent our church and assume that everything is ok. The truth is that we live dual lives especially those indulging in sexual sin. Pornography is surely a no-go area for a bible believing Christian. But how often is this confirmed from the pulpit?
It is now an open secret that not only has pornography infiltrated churches, but data indicate that Christians, including pastors, engaged in viewing porn at the same rates or even worse than the general population.
“But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28
Some global statistics to assist us in grasping the gravity of the situation facing the church:
In spite of the evident impact of pornography on our culture, the church remains reluctant to face this issue headlong. This is one of the primary reasons why the majority of Christians are afraid to acknowledge they have a porn problem. Stigma along with condemnation is what greets anyone who is willing to confront this seductive demon that captivates our desires.
If the church continues to remain silent, this epidemic of the heart will eventually consume us from within. The church must take a stand and be counted in order to wage a war against this gateway to hell.
It’s unbelievable how it transforms a child of God into a wastrel. The devastation of Drugs in a social context must upset the church. According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Christians account for 21.3 percent of all drug users. According to certain studies, your local church may also be on the list. More than 8% of those polled stated they had purchased illegal drugs near a place of worship. Is the church provoked into action?
According to a survey conducted by UNODC in 14 cities across India on drug abuse and addiction- Roughly equal percentages of respondents were married (45.5%) and unmarried (48.8%) in the total sample. The sites where married respondents outnumbered the unmarried ones were Ahmedabad (77%), Chennai (61%), Jamshedpur (59%), Delhi (55%), and Thiruvananthapuram (48%). Among the drug users interviewed, Christians constituted a majority in Shillong (70%), Dimapur (70%) and Goa (49%). Thiruvananthapuram presented a more balanced sample, with 37 percent Hindus, 34 percent Muslims, 18 percent Christians, and others. Hindus formed the majority in the remaining sites.
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” -1 Corinthians 3:17 ESV
The mean age of drug users across the fourteen sites was lowest in Shillong (23 years) and highest in Ahmedabad (35 years), while the median age in the sample had a similar range from 23 to 34 years. Most drug users in the sample were in their late twenties or early thirties. Overall, 371 women (8% of the total sample) were interviewed. Goa recruited a relatively higher percentage of female drug users (20%), followed by Thiruvananthapuram (16%), Mumbai (15%), Shillong and Dimapur (11%), Imphal (10%) and Hyderabad (10%). Most of these databases and cities had a very high number of Christian drug users.
All this data is just to place a mirror on the church leadership and lay believers to make aware of the challenge the next generation and the current crop of youngsters face on campuses and workplaces. An easy high, a lethal fix, recreational drugs, party drugs, prescription drugs, engaging in the dark web for drug purchase. Everything is happening, we are just playing the ostrich on these matters.
How do we redeem these souls, how do we reclaim their bodies and minds with the Word? Who will help them battle this lasso around their mind? Who will stand and fight at the gates of hell? The gates of Drug Abuse!!
Credits : Mental Illness Remains Taboo Topic for Many Pastors – Lifeway Research
Mission Frontiers – 15 Mind-Blowing Statistics About Pornography And The Church
https://www.unodc.org/pdf/india/publications/ras/10_results.pdf