Transforming the 21 Century Church - Where does it start?

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"[Most churches] are very much unlike the spiritually vibrant and relationally rich mission stations described in Acts 2. The 'ultimate concern' of most [21st century] church goers is not the worship and service of Christ, but rather survival, self improvement, or success in their family and secular vocations. Church activities are just another spoke on an already full wheel of life dominated by secularization and self absorption. Some may repeat the catchwords of a theology of grace, but they have little if any awareness of the depth and power of Christ's love and purpose for them. Since their understanding of the gospel of grace is marginal or unreal, anchored not in Christ but to an imagined state of goodness in their lives, they know little of the dynamic power of Christ and so have very little incentive to follow or trust Him on a daily basis.

This religious existence does not satisfy their consciences nor their hearts at the deepest level so there is both an underlying insecurity in their lives and a seeking of meaning and purpose a part from Christ and His Kingdom. Consciously they defend themselves as dedicated Christians who are as good as anyone else, but underneath there is deep despair, a 'theology of works', and a deep self-rejection."   - Richard Lovelace, Dynamics of A Spiritual Life page 204-205