Hot Summer, Cold Churches

As another weekend approaches, one of the things I look most forward to is the opportunity to worship my Lord and Savior with a group of believers on Sunday morning.  I can't say that I have always felt this way.  For years I attended a church that was, to be quite honest, dead.  The pastor and most of the members seemed to be just going through the motions of playing church instead of having actual worship services.  I found myself in a quandary when witnessing to non-believers because I knew that if they visited the church I was attending, they would likely never attend another service.  Being in a church that was once a bright shining light but has lost its fire can be a bad experience.  To quote those two great theologians, Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, "There's nothing cold as ashes after the fire is gone."
I am happy to report that I am now attending a church who has not lost its fire.  Despite the fact that they are currently looking for a senior pastor, the church seems to be growing.  Not only the leadership, but the members seem to have a zeal for reaching the community with the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ, often using new and innovative methods.  The late Adrian Rogers once said, "The seven last words of churches today might be, we never did it that way before."
That got me to pondering why churches die.  I think the pastor has a lot to do with it, but he does not bear all of the responsibility.  I am convinced a church cannot die unless a majority of their members have "left [their] first love." (Revelation 2:4)  Many members of churches hold their traditions in more high esteem than the souls of the lost. 
Please do not misunderstand me, a church should NEVER compromise their principles or the Gospel, but man-made traditions and personal preferences of seasoned citizens may be a turn off to the younger generation.  I am not saying that there is not a place for traditional worship. God knows that no church can afford to lose the wisdom of godly men and women who have been walking with Him for many years.  The church should follow the leadership of Paul when he said, "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some."  (1 Corinthians 9:22) Again, not compromising the gospel but meeting people with that gospel on their own individual levels.
If anyone reading this feels they are attending worship services at a cold church, I would first urge you to do some soul searching to make sure that the fire in your belly is still going strong.  You may be one of the reasons the church is so cold.  If you are still on fire, then before making a move to another body of believers, always seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  It may just be your fire in which that particular church needs to set them on fire again.  I can only speak for myself and I am glad that I heeded the guidance of the Holy Spirit to worship at the church I am currently attending.  May you have a truly blessed weekend.