The Bible consistently emphasises the importance of building biblical churches. Eph 5 underscores Christ’s deep concern for His Church, aiming for its perfection, “without spot or wrinkle.” Similarly, in II Cor 11, Paul expresses a profound desire to labour so that the Church may be presented as glorified, pure, and chaste; the bride of Christ. Acts 20 reminds us that Christ shed His blood to purchase the Church, while Revelation 19 portrays the Church as the bride awaiting her union with Christ.

Consequently, the building of biblical churches must be our top priority as we prepare for Christ’s return. However, as we pursue this vital mission, we face significant opposition from the spirit of our age—a force entirely hostile to the growth of biblical churches. The challenges are immense, as contemporary culture works against this objective. Consider the following seven issues that reflect the spirit of our time and difficulty of our task.

1) Hyper-Individualism and the Sovereignty of Self

In today’s world, personal rights consistently outweigh corporate responsibilities. This mindset has seeped into the Church, where the focus is often on “me”—my needs, my opinions, my desires, my family, my beliefs, my holiness, my relationship with God, my worship preferences, and my contentment. The question of what Jesus can do for “me” has overshadowed the collective mission of the Church.

2) The Cult of Personality and the Erosion of True Leadership

Who do we seek to lead our churches? Often, we gravitate toward men with charisma, dynamism, and charm—leaders who captivate audiences. Unfortunately, qualities like godliness, conviction, and character take a backseat to personality, presentation, and public appeal.

3) Pragmatism and the Prioritisation of Results Over Means

To achieve the goal of reaching people for Christ, churches often adopt whatever methods seem to work. We form institutions and host events aimed at drawing large crowds, utilizing tools and strategies like café church, family church, alternative church, and many more. The end goal of filling the pews often justifies any means, sometimes at the cost of biblical integrity.

4) Superficiality and Sound-Bite Thinking

The desire for quick fixes has led to a culture where sound-bite solutions are preferred. People flock to ministries that promise transformation through a three-step or seven-point plan, often paired with a website and a charismatic leader. The substance of these ministries are often shallow, yet promise a pathway forward. How many more ‘ministries’ do we need, each one of course with its own founder, president or ‘senior’ minister?

5) Chronological Arrogance and Historical Ignorance

Modern culture tends to dismiss anything old as irrelevant or flawed, while anything new is considered trustworthy and scientific. Early in my ministry, I was questioned about the value of studying church history as if we have nothing to learn from the past. What could we possibly learn from the ignorant people of the past? Do we not have the Holy Spirit and direct access to God? The Bible, however, is full of history, and ignoring it can only lead to greater spiritual ignorance.

6) Sentimentality and the Rejection of Absolutes

We live in a time where feelings often trump facts, and relationships distort reality. Churches are pressured to soften their stance on distinctives to make people feel more comfortable. The truth of God’s kingdom, God’s will, and God’s glory is sidelined for the sake of emotional comfort.

7) Self-Indulgence Which Leads to Compassion Fatigue

Many people today are so absorbed in their own needs and struggles that they fail to notice the suffering around them. The weight of their personal problems makes it difficult for them to engage with a world in crisis. As a result, compassion runs dry, leaving little room for care and awareness of others.

These seven challenges are undeniably present in our time. We encounter them in our personal experiences and none of them are conducive to building biblical churches. So, where do we find the strength and wisdom to counter the spirit of the age? Where can we turn for biblical counsel to remain steadfast in the Faith and resist the cultural tide?

The answer lies in the great confessions of faith constructed by our spiritual ancestors during the Reformation and Puritan eras. We need all the help we can get, for many evangelical churches are losing this battle, sacrificing the gospel to stay afloat or closing their doors altogether. The situation is indeed dire. Perhaps our own Second London Baptist Confession of Faith could serve as a powerful bulwark against the prevailing spirit of our time. Its biblical doctrines were true before our cultural woes and they will remain the same for all eternity.

As the Confession, in its biblical faithfulness, directs our gaze to the cross and the love of the Saviour for sinners there displayed, does not our naval-gazing selfishness melt away in the sunshine of his compassion? Are we not strengthened to rise up, go forth and live in love for his glory?

Do we not need believers in our churches who are empty of self and full of the Lord; believers who are rooted in the truth, energised by the glory of God, overwhelmed with the privilege of worship, confident and assured of the things they believe, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Christian brothers and sisters in our own generation as well as down through centuries past and on into the ages to come? 

All of this comes with a serious willingness to study, adopt and apply those truths we confess to believe as individual believers and as churches of Christ. 

Nothing is more critical than the building of biblical churches in our generation. If we do not do this, we are in danger of losing everything; and yet the spirit of our age is against us in so many different ways. How greatly we shall be helped if churches unite together under a common biblical confession of faith, standing upon the giant-like shoulders of our fathers in the faith. Who knows what the Lord may do if we are willing to stand together and to be faithful?