Recently I read a quote from a pastor in Plano, Texas. He said, “We have invited the devil into our sanctuaries, and now we are entertaining the goats instead of feeding the sheep.” This quote said a lot to me as an older Christian, and I agree.

I read the Western Recorder regularly, and like many older Christians I wonder how our Christian faith has changed. Then I reflect upon my early walk in my faith. I attended revivals, conferences and prayer meetings. My pastor read and taught from God’s word. He prepared his sermons with great insight and prayer. We attended church as a family.

Today, this is not happening.

Young people are entertained in separate buildings, and the only time you see them is when they need money for a summer camp. They are not taught the service of the Lord.

Our Vacation Bible Schools are large productions. Missionaries are spoke of lightly. The only time we see anything about them is when we collect for annual funds, and then we are given a two-minute video of where the money might be going.

Many churches no longer have a serious outreach program, nor are they concerned about knowing about mission work. The only time we hear about Christians in the media is when a goat in the congregation has done a grievous act.

Where have we, as Christians, gone wrong? We need to get back to where we are in accord with serving and teaching of word of God.

I am tired of the self-help books that are published and taught as truth and in place of the Bible. The authors become wealthy, and the congregation is being malnourished.

Mary Herald

Petersburg