Pursuing the Heart of God: An Honest Look at Where We Stand with the Gospel, Discipleship, and the Church in America

by Gary Brown

I have a concern about the condition of the Gospel, discipleship and the Church in America.There, I said it. Now let me tell you why.Let’s say a Chinese citizen stands up in the public square in China and shouts, “I am a Christian!” An American citizen stands up in the public square in America and shouts, “I am a Christian!” Which person are you more apt to believe is a genuine Christian?Honestly, the person who publicly professes Christ in China is more credible than the person who publicly professes Christ in America. Why? The person who would announce his or her faith in China is risking everything—their livelihood, their life, and their family’s lives. In America, you might get some blowback, but not much else.Why is this significant?The early Pilgrims who came to America were Christians seeking religious freedom. And the architects of our nation founded it on Christian values. And while those values have served this nation well, there is a dangerous unintended consequence for authentic Christianity that has resulted from our freedom.Not only are we free to be right, but we are also free to be wrong. We are not only free to speak the truth, but we are also free to selfishly distort the truth and call it the truth. We not only live in the era of “fake news,” but we also live in a time of “fake gospels.”How Did We Stray So Far?I began my ministry in 1977. I don’t know everything, but I have learned a thing or two. My take? Somewhere back in our history as a country, we lost something precious. As my high school basketball coach would say, we have taken our eye off the ball. What is the ball? The heart of God.Knowing God’s heart is essential for knowing His purposes. The human heart must have a king on its throne. If Christ doesn’t occupy that space, then by default, we do. Once we’ve lost the essence of God’s heart, everything becomes corrupted by self.Has the church in America lost sight of God’s heart? Is the American church the church Christ intended to start when He said, “I will build my church”? Or has the church in America merely become an American institution? Is it possible that the American church has become “The Cult of Self”? Is God on the throne, or are we? I encourage you to read the book and judge for yourself. My purpose isn’t to bash people, pastors, churches or any other ministry. My intent isn’t to be overly critical. Walk with me as we explore the condition of the church in America. I offer a powerful but simple solution to our woes—return to the heart of God. At the writing of this book, I am beginning my 43rd year as a pastor. I’ll admit, getting older hasn’t always been easy for me. As much as it pains me to admit it, I am an American church father. I bear at least some of the responsibility for the current condition of the American church. For those of you who have been following the Lord for decades, maybe you feel the same way. My generation has watched—and likely participated—as the American church has become “popularized” and the Gospel “trivialized.” Discipleship has been reduced to an American-styled, conveyor-belt series of classes or bases to touch. We are attempting to mass-produce disciples the way we mass-produce cars, Coca-Cola and clothing. Culturally, it was during our watch that the family in America began to fall apart and become redefined into something that doesn’t even remotely reflect Scripture. Fatherless families, the homeless epidemic and sexual abuse have become commonplace. We stood by and watched abortion-on-demand become the law of the land. We were also at the helm when AIDS ravaged our country. Do I need to go on?Throughout, I am going to ask some tough questions concerning the church in America. It is time for a thorough examination.After you have read the book contact me. Let's talk. My contact info is in the book. God bless.

188 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 12, 2019