The Powerless Assembly (please don't call it Church!)

I apologize for not posting for a few days…been really, really busy and on vacation! Francis Chan says in his DVD lessons from Forgotten God that the first century church was unstoppable…I totally agree. He goes on to say that the problem with today’s church is that it is very stoppable. Unfortunately, I again concur, but I want to know why is that? The early church faced severe persecution and still shook the gates of hell. This resulted in all people being “absolutely astounded” (Acts 3:10). When is the last time your church “absolutely astounded” someone…anyone? I am going to guess that very few of you answered last week, or even last year! I think one main reason (yes, there are a few) is that very few people believe Jesus’ words in Scripture (or other parts for that matter!). Too many in the church today would rather argue the inerrancy of the text without really believing it...or explain it away so that it fits comfortably into our secular society. I am speaking of believing what it says…no more, no less. In John 14:12 Jesus tells his followers, “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.” Do you believe that? There seems to be a tremendous disconnect between reading those words on the page and believing those words in our hearts. Could it be Peter, John, Paul & others were simply so stupid they didn’t realize they really couldn’t perform miracles, or has the 21st Century Church drifted so far from the church Jesus wants us to be that we may not be able to return?