Last night during our Wednesday Wisdom Bible study, something hit me so hard I couldn’t help but speak on it right then and there. It wasn’t part of the lesson. It wasn’t planned. But it was real.
I looked around at our group, and with an honest, heavy heart I just said it — “The world is falling apart.”
I didn’t say it with sarcasm or frustration. I said it with grief.
You know it’s true. Turn on the news, or better yet, just step outside and look around. Our kids are lost. They are being devoured by confusion, anxiety, emptiness, and identity crises like never before. And while parents and school systems often get the blame—and sure, they bear their part—my heart couldn’t help but point to the one place where the real fault often lies.
The Church.
Not the world. Not the government. Not social media.
The Church.
Somewhere along the way, we decided that church is a place to come instead of a place from which we are sent. We built four walls, installed comfy chairs, set up coffee bars, printed bulletins, and patted ourselves on the back for gathering faithfully. But while we gather, the world is scattering. Scattering into sin. Scattering into deception. Scattering into eternal separation from God.
Jesus did not say, “Sit tight and wait for them to come to you.”
He said, “Go.” Go make disciples. Go into the highways and hedges. Go be light. Go be salt. Go be different.
But the sad truth is… far too often, we just stay.
We stay in the comfort zone.
We stay among people who agree with us.
We stay insulated and isolated while pretending we’re impacting the culture from our pews.
And the world?
The world keeps right on decaying, because salt doesn’t preserve anything when it’s still in the shaker.
The world keeps right on stumbling in darkness, because a light hidden under a basket doesn’t help anybody see.
When Jesus gave His disciples the Great Commission, He didn’t give them a building plan — He gave them a mission plan.
It started outside, with people who didn’t already believe.
It started with uncomfortable conversations, risk, rejection, and sacrifice.
It started where people actually needed hope.
I’m not trying to beat anyone up — but I am saying it’s time to wake up.
We, as the Church, are not failing because of bad preaching or bad singing or bad programs. We are failing because we are hiding. We’re more worried about what happens inside the church than what happens because of the church.
And meanwhile… our kids wander.
Our neighbors go unloved.
Our communities get darker.
And we keep talking about revival as if it’s going to float in through the stained-glass windows.
No. Revival starts outside.
It starts with Christians who don’t just sing “Jesus is Lord” but actually treat Him like He’s in charge.
It starts when we step outside and get serious about the souls right next door.
So here’s the bottom line — we have to do better.
Not for our sake. Not to grow our churches. Not to get patted on the back.
But because Jesus told us to.
And because real love can’t just stay silent or stationary.
It’s time for the Church to remember that the Light of the World is not meant to be locked inside a building.
It’s meant to shine… out there.
Where the broken are.
Where the lost are.
Where Jesus still sends us to go.
Because when the Church stays inside, the world stays lost.
And that should keep us up at night — until we do something about it.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” — Matthew 28:19
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden… let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” — Matthew 5:14-16
“How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” — Romans 10:14
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” — James 1:22