So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, being built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the chief cornerstone
Ephesians 2:19-20

In recent years, the Church in the western world has been a declining. I do not need statistics to tell me that. I have seen this happen in some communities here in Victoria. A lot of communities are dying because of dropping church attendees.

The sad thing about this is that instead of going back to the basics, these communities compromise on the proclamation of the gospel, thinking that by making their teachings more 'relevant' to modern times, more people will attend. By doing this, pastors of these congregations are signing the death of their own congregations.

We have seen this in the denominations that have accepted same-sex marriage and also allowed the ordination of female priests. Instead of attracting more people into their congregations, this has caused parishes to split from their bishops.

We also see this in religious communities within the Catholic Church. Some traditional communities are dying because they have strayed from the original vision of their founders. The congregations that are growing are those that stay true to their mission and continue to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by the apostles.

A lot of people within the Catholic Church think that the Church should change her teachings to make them 'more applicable to modern times'. One of the things these people do not understand is that truth is truth. The truth does not change and it will not change. A person may think he can fly on his own ability. But that does not change the fact that he cannot. What he believes does not change the truth. Even if for some reason, one can break free from the law of gravity, God's truth cannot be broken.

The Catholic Church is not in the business of increasing market share. The mission of the Catholic Church is to preach the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. A community that preaches Christ, is sure to lose people. Many will not be able to accept the teachings. John 6 tells us that all the disciples of Jesus left him because they could not accept his teaching of the Eucharist. But that did not stop Jesus from proclaiming the truth.

The important thing is not to increase in numbers. Many people preach the truth that God loves everyone, but they forgot to preach that this love requires a response. Malachi 2:17 says, “You have wearied the Lord with your words. Yet you say, 'How have we wearied him?' In that you say, 'Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them;' or 'Where is the God of justice?'” Congregations that preach the love of God should also preach repentance.

Repentance makes people uncomfortable. Yet it is the appropriate response to the love of God. It is not only being sorry for our sins but it is turning to God. It is changing our way of thinking so God can take charge of our lives. The first words of Jesus in the gospel of Mark (1:15) is, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near! Repent, and believe in the Good News.” This is the mission of the Church. When a community preaches the love of God and the need for repentance, that congregation will increase in number in time. God will bring people to their congregation because that is his message to his people and he wants people to hear about it.

Lord, may we remain faithful to our mission – to preach your word in truth and in love. Let us speak out your word mightily and boldly.