They are located in every town and city in our nation. We have all seen them and wondered what happened that would cause it to happen. In my town of Henderson, Kentucky, a ride through the older neighborhoods contain a half-dozen churches that are now silent and cold. No more does Amazing Grace ring from its sanctuary; no more do its members walk down the aisle to pray at the altar. No more does the nursery hold the younger generation of church faithful; no longer does the church impact the community.
Within the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah wrote A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God (Jeremiah 3:21). After all that God had done for the children of Abraham, Jeremiah is bearing witness that they forgot God. The prophet Ezra wrote Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Moses the man of God. And they set the altar upon his bases; for fear was upon them because of the people of those countries: and they offered burnt offerings thereon unto the LORD, even burnt offerings morning and evening (Ezra 3:2-3). Not only did the children of Israel forget God but they also neglected to keep up the things that God had prescribed – which is why Ezra recorded that they had to “set the altar upon his bases” – essentially rebuilding the altar that had fallen down after years of neglect.
We read those scriptures and similar passages in the New Testament and wonder how God’s chosen people could allow such a thing to happen – how the altars were forgotten, neglected, and allowed to deteriorate. We wonder what could
have caused those of so long ago to forsake the teachings about the deliverance, goodness and grace of God and act with indifference when we find ourselves following the same path. Just as the altars of Israel had fallen in decay, there are churches across America that are in the same shape. The question must be asked is why? Why did this happen to the church? Unfortunately all we have to do is to look what happened to those Old Testament lessons and we can see exactly why the church is in decay.
They forgot to teach their children about the things of God
During the exodus out of Egypt, the Lord, through Moses, was trying to teach the children of Israel and the mixed multitude that accompanied them the importance of remembering the mighty work that God had done. According to the leading of the Holy Spirit, Moses wrote Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons’ sons (Deuteronomy 4:9). Those that were brought out of Egypt had a divine obligation to teach their children and their grandchildren of the mighty works that God had done. Somehow, they even ignored the warnings given by God, Beware that thou forget not the LORD thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day (Deuteronomy 8:11) and continued to ignore the responsibilities to teach the younger generations. Within a few generations, the nation of Israel found itself with its altars broken and God had left them to their own devices as He had warned: And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish. As the nations which the LORD destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish; because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the LORD your God (Deuteronomy 8:19-20).
