Churches around the U. S. are slipping into irrelevancy. Many spiritual leaders and pastors are asking themselves what is happening? Why are people turning from the church and more importantly their faith? It’s hard to pin down, but some researchers have pointed to four big problems facing the American church. Not every church has these problems, but every church, including the congregation, has to look at themselves and ask if they are part of the problem or the solution.

Thom Rainer in Breakout Churches lists four big problems that hold the American Church in mediocrity.

1. Doctrinal ignorance: Rainer’s study shows that only 83% of his respondents believe that the only way to get to heaven is through Christ. Unfortunately, that number is getting lower every year. If we want our church to be great, we must profess in everything we do that Jesus is the only way to get to heaven. 
2. Evangelistic apathy: Many people in churches believe that the evangelistic work of the church is for others and not themselves. They trust the pastors, missionaries and others to do the work, while they simply give money. To compound this problem, many Christians don’t want to share their faith because they don’t want to impose their beliefs on others. Believers must make it their personal mission to spread the Gospel. We have the greatest news and we must share it to all who will hear. It is the final command Jesus gave us before he left this Earth.
3. Ministry irrelevance: Many churches insist on serving only the membership. The pastor may have a passion to reach the lost, but the congregation is concerned only with the next church potluck. Sadly, they become more like social clubs than the Church that Christ intended. Unfortunately within these church’s communities, many people cannot name one ministry of the church that serves the less fortunate.
4. Fellowship Fractures: The church becomes so inwardly focused that the color of the carpet or the flavor of the donuts become more important to them than seeing others come to Christ. They fight and bicker and build support to make things look the right way to suit their needs and fail to consider the lost and hurting. Many have left the church and the faith because of the hypocrisy of these arguments. Churches must put aside these petty disagreements and get busy saving the lost.

We don’t have to live this way. Fortunately, Rainer’s research says that there is a way out. Many churches have broken out of the mediocrity and had great impact in their communities and around the world. Your church may not have these problems. However if we don’t keep a look out we can easily find ourselves in big trouble.