A historic church in the heart of a decaying downtown section of a large American city had fallen on hard times. The environment around it was blighted. The cheap stores up and down the street had all seen better days. The challenge facing the young pastor had caused him to be discouraged and dispirited. One day an old friend happened to be in the city and came by to visit him.
“John,” the young minister said to his friend, “I am appalled by what goes on around this church. In the back of that grocery store across the street is a bookie joint that deals in illegal bets. Around the corner in the middle of the block and up a flight of stairs is a house of prostitution. That pool hall on the corner over there is the hangout for the neighborhood gang. Narcotics pushers openly sell their drugs on the street.”
His friend replied tersely, “Why don’t you get off this block? This is no place for a church!” He was trying to sympathize with his friend but, my goodness, how badly he missed the point! Churches should not run from the pockets of evil, vice, poverty, and lawlessness, though many churches have and some still do.
The outstanding Quaker theologian, Dr. Elton Blueblood, described many of the churches in our country today as “stained-glass foxholes isolated from the battle going on around them.” God cannot and does not use a stained-glass foxhole in a powerful way to impact its community. The kind of church God uses to build His kingdom on earth will always have the following three biblically-defined characteristics:
It will be a praying church. Acts 1:14 tells us that prior to the day of Pentecost the first Christians were “all joined together constantly in prayer along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers.” Those first 120 believers were gathered in the Upper Room. Everyone was present – all 120 of them. No one was absent. The result of the prayer meeting was that following the completion of Peter’s sermon 3,000 people accepted Jesus as their Savior.
What would happen if every member of your church showed up next Wednesday night to pray for your church and for your community? What would happen if every member of your church prayed for your church staff and for the lay leadership in your church – every single day? It is not difficult to see that God would infuse your church with such power that it would have a tremendous impact on your community. W.W. Ayer, in Christian Digest wrote. “The quickest way to get a church on its feet is to get it on its knees.” Prayer is why the early church was “in one accord.” No church that is genuinely united in prayer can be divided in purpose.
It will be a witnessing church. Of the first century church it was said, “And all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria” (Acts 8:1b). This was during a time of persecution. Notice that the apostles stayed in Jerusalem at the risk of their own lives to minister to those who were not dispersed. And Acts 8:4 says, “Those who were scattered preached the word wherever they went.” This was the lay people, not the preachers. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and . . . preached the word . . . wherever they went. Both prayer and witnessing preceded Peter’s sermon at Pentecost. If the sermons at your church lack power it could be that the members of your church have not been engaged in prayer and witnessing.
It will be a preaching church. The message coming from the pulpit of every church should be based solidly on the Word of God. “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (I Corinthians 1:18). The Christ whom Peter preached at Pentecost is still the Son of God. He is still willing to forgive us of our sins. He is still able and willing to adopt us into His family. And He is still willing to accept and bless any commitment that we make to Him.
The Paper Pulpit 
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