I believe one of the biggest problems in the church lack of faith.
I agree. It can be seen in many ways too.
Like if a preacher from the pulpit is preaching to the hearers to have faith in God's Providence in regards to their individual lives and even give a reference to Jesus with the fish and the loaves in how God can provide even by miracles if need be, and yet when collection time comes, the church looks to everyone for the tithes or to keep their pledges in giving to provide for the church's ministry. Did not Jesus teach almsgiving as not letting your right hand know what your left hand is doing?
Matthew 6: 1Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
I would think that for when a church comes together, they should unite their faith in God's Providence in the same measure of faith by what they are to have for when they go home. Would not God be glorified more in His Providence when they apply faith in Him to supply for the ministry that He wants them to do?
Then there is the faith in living the christian life without any yoke of bondage in making one do it by the flesh as applied the same towards Christ for salvation.
Galatians 2:20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Then there are those that seek a sign that they have the Holy Spirit but again... the promise for all those that come to Jesus is they have received the Holy Spirit by faith.
Galatians 3:14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith....26For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 11:1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen....6But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Ephesians 1: 12That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. 15Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
2 Corinthians 13:5Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
So there is more than one way a church can be lacking faith, and yet the good fight is keeping the faith. Will God enable churches today to examine themselves as He addressed the seven churches in Revelation in getting ready for the Bridegroom?
One can hope.
