Things are getting worse by the day for the church in the West. Yes, much good is still happening, and many strong churches still exist. But most honest and discerning observers would see that overall the church is in a bad way. And that is because of attacks from within and without.
The outside assaults are obvious enough: secular humanism, militant atheism, the rise of aggressive Islam, the radical homosexual and transgender lobbies, etc. And in many ways the last mentioned is perhaps the most pernicious and damaging of all.
Little did most believers know a century ago that one of the greatest threats to the church and to religious freedom, and one of the main sources of anti-Christian bigotry and persecution, would be various militant groups pushing a full-scale sexual revolution.
And it is this same sexual anarchy that is tearing up the church from within as well. So many Christians, churches and pastors have fallen to the homosexual and trans agendas. It seems as if they are falling like flies. One after another is capitulating, compromising and selling out, more interested in pleasing men than in pleasing God.
So in addition to all the assaults from without, the church is also crumbling because of so much apostasy and carnality from within. Many of the militants must be sitting back, rubbing their hands with glee, as they observe one church after another caving in and running with their agendas.
While many dangers exist for the church, the sexual white-anting of the faith may be the most insidious and destructive so far. Simply put, the other side keeps on winning because our side keeps on surrendering. Instead of standing strong for the biblical understanding of human sexuality, we just keep caving in and putting up the white flag of surrender.
As a result we now have this score line: Pagan sexuality 1, Christian morality 0. Every day I see the bitter fruit of this. Every day I get people who claim to be Christians fully pushing the secular sexual agenda, denying clear biblical truths along the way.
They have willingly sold out to the world’s agendas, and completely turned their backs on the Word of God. This has become a full-time battle for me and others who still believe God’s intentions for human sexuality remain and his Word is fully authoritative on all these matters.
Let me offer three new episodes of all this in action. As to hostile attacks from without, consider just the latest in the militant homosexual war against our families, our faith, and our freedom. In Scotland the activists are now fully in control of the school system. Says one news report:
Scotland has become the first country in the world to require its public schools nationwide to add LGBT history and inclusion to their curriculums. Deputy First Minister John Swinney has told parliament that the Scottish government will mandate all state schools to “teach LGBTI equality and inclusion” to different age groups across different subjects.
According to Swinney, the Scottish government has accepted all 33 recommendations from its LGBTI Inclusive Education Working Group, which was created to “improve the learning experience for LGBTI young people.” The government will start working immediately to implement the recommendations. According to a press release, the school mandate is designed to help Scotland “lead the way in inclusive education.”
As a result, schools must teach about LGBT terminology and identities, prejudice against the LGBT community, promote “awareness of the history of LGBTI equalities and movements” and tackle homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. “Scotland is already considered one of the most progressive countries in Europe for LGBTI equality,” Swinney said in a statement. “I am delighted to announce we will be the first country in the world to have LGBTI inclusive education embedded within the curriculum.”
https://www.christianpost.com/news/scotland-first-country-require-schools-teach-lgbt-curriculum-228473/?fbclid=IwAR3MFyNn1xMa_ztpXJUMK3U_w3JzA-19M9yhxWcBm4Y5u0TPYh8BLP_tLwo
Wow, that is scary as all get out. That is full-blown propaganda and indoctrination. But things are not much better for many Christian churches and institutions. Let me look at two recent examples of them caving in on these matters. The first has to do with Christian universities capitulating to the radical sexual agendas.
I have written about such schools before, including Azusa Pacific University in California. See here: https://billmuehlenberg.com/2018/09/27/christian-colleges-another-one-bites-the-dust/
It is not just me who is concerned about the appalling capitulation to the pagan sexual culture. Now some board members have quit, disgusted with the surrender of Christian values to the world’s sexual culture. Says one piece:
Two members of the board of trustees of a major evangelical Christian liberal arts university have resigned, contending the institution has “drifted” from its foundation and mission, and now is at odds with its written policies, statement of faith and the Bible itself.
Raleigh Washington, a prominent pastor known for his leadership of the Promise Keepers men’s movement, and Dave Dias, a Sacramento-area business executive, submitted letters of resignation on Wednesday to the board of trustees of Azusa Pacific University in Southern California….
Meanwhile, an associate APU professor who shares the two trustees’ concerns, has called on the university’s president, Jon Wallace, to resign. Barbara Nicolosi Harrington, an accomplished Hollywood screenwriter who teaches writing in Azusa Pacific’s Honors College, wrote the trustees on Sept. 24 stating she had been in conversation with many faculty members from a variety of disciplines who fear APU “is in danger of losing its essential quality.”
“There is a feeling that there has been a muzzling of the voices in the community that would advocate traditional Biblical understanding,” she wrote. “We have been afraid to speak as whistleblowers lest it redound against us personally, or against our departments.” Harrington said she decided to speak out “despite this fear, because I perceive the threats to the essence of APU to be so dire.”
“More and more, it seems clear that various spirits of the age are being raised up at APU, such that the God of traditional Biblical understanding, and what He asks of us, is being redefined,” she wrote. “As Christian scholars – historians, theologians, philosophers, scientists – we know where this path leads.”…
“Through certain APU courses, particularly in the theology, Biblical studies, global studies and social justice arenas, the students are exposed to radical beliefs that deride and malign traditional Biblical Christianity.” Students, she said, soon begin to “espouse errant ideological trends that leave them isolated from the community, embittered against Christian faith and values, and approaching the world with a raised fist and angry slogans instead of an open heart and saving truth.”
“These students gradually become unteachable, and they leave APU in a much worse state than they were in when they arrived,” said Harrington. She noted a new APU policy “to accept whatever pronoun the students choose to identify themselves by.” “This is a terrible decision, and one that will cause tremendous harm to our students by encouraging them to reject their fundamental nature as created by God,” she wrote.
Harrington said she has had students confront her in class, asserting, “There is no such thing as masculine or feminine.” “I had another lovely young student transform from loving Jesus and her Christian faith when she came to APU, to becoming a sneering, bitter self-declared ‘queer womynist’ who now sees Christianity as the most divisive and pernicious influence in human history.”
https://mobile.wnd.com/2018/12/board-members-quit-over-colleges-drift-from-christian-orthodoxy/?fbclid=IwAR32paZJMhVJO1vnSXGsyMYGKnmQcF4TzEl8weEmlKBMhOAHhm9roA-ZCsc
Wow, that is a big worry indeed. My second example has to do with Christian celebrities also selling out the gospel by being weak on biblical sexuality. I have already penned several articles on the latest example of this: Christian singer Lauren Daigle. Plenty of these celebs and entertainers are capitulating, so I am not just singling out one person.
But a new article by Mario Murillo is also worth bringing in to this discussion. He too sees the problem as being much deeper than just one or two Christian artists falling down on this issue:
She is claiming not to know what the Bible clearly teaches about homosexuality. She lied. However, we should not condemn her because her failure and dishonesty is a part of a much bigger crisis. For years I have warned of this day and it has finally arrived. The storm is here. All out war on the Bible and a rampant illiteracy of scripture in the church.
We saw it in the midterm elections when millions of Christians voted abortion and socialism back into power. Now we have, not just Lauren, but a vast number of believers who have suffered at the hands of those who refuse to teach Bible standards. But this was all predicted and it has come!
https://mariomurilloministries.wordpress.com/2018/12/03/the-storm-is-here/?fbclid=IwAR2sygd_I0jyaN5mp7t8mXakYWg9oADPyazLup7yDZqlkdo_LzzyTsLPhSc
Yes he is quite right to state that this is an all-out war on Scripture, and as such, an all-out war on the God of Scripture. And the sad but simple truth is this: when it comes to God’s Word and what he teaches on human sexuality, there is now a clear division emerging within Christian circles.
Some are staying true to Scripture and are not compromising their faith, while others are cosying up to the world and its agenda, all in the name of acceptance and tolerance and an unbiblical notion of love. In one sense I suppose all this is a good thing. It is a separation of the wheat from the tares. It is separating true believers who still tremble at God’s Word from those who are more interested in regurgitating the world’s thinking, values and agenda.
The faith is under attack from within and without. Surely the most dangerous, diabolical and damning are all the internal attacks. In a war we must fight – and pray. As the days get darker, we need to do both more than ever.
24 Replies to “The Assault on Christianity: War Within and War Without”
Thank you for this article.
I agree Bill. This attack on Christianity can be a good thing as it separates the true and the hangers on. In my view, and what I know of how God works, God first tests the true at heart and we need only recall what happened at the foot of Mount Sinai where the rescued Hebrew even after seeing the might of God at the creation of the pillar of fire and the the opening of the red sea that they might escape certain death at the hands of Pharaoh’s army did, within 40 days and 40 nights corrupt themselves, God responded with setting the Hebrews upon the desert for 40 years so that their corruptions may be burned away so that the next generation would not be infected.
To think that God does not care or turns a blind eye is always a great mistake for God knows every heart and every mind and those who deny him now may have to remember that for eternity. We must stand true and strong and remember that God will move at exactly the right time and at that time we must be ready to come forward to the front line of the war that is ongoing throughout history.
The LGBTIQA+ are a purported community that has no God and no soul and will seek to justify their corruption by the mass approval and acceptance of sheep. Lions will never submit but then, has anyone ever tried to fleece a lion?
John Abbott
Thanks Bill,
The world and science is catching up with Biblical history and the threat to atheism as well as other unbelievers is certainly taking a toll as the evidence for the truth of God’s Word becomes more apparent. The church is becoming empty in order to become full and at the moment it seems that evolution is even less believable as before. Particularly as Christian scientist come up with more plausible evidence for the creation of the universe than any other evidences or theories given before. The fact that certain religions have based their doctrines and theology on the lies of evolution for the sake of such nonsense being good for business is being shown for what it is on a much larger scale. God is still at work in the church sorting the sheep from the goats, it maybe that we need to start at Genesis again as we move further into post modernity to a meta modern society and keep relying on the Lord God who sees the big picture as he controls nature as well as human nature, there’s nothing that our Lord Jesus doesn’t know. We need to let him have all our worries and cares. 1 Peter 5:7
May God bless you Bill
Hi Bill, I really feel for you. Many times you must feel like the pre-excellic prophets, constantly warning and supporting your statements with hard indisputable Biblical Texts, and all the while, many are not listening or are totally apathetic. However, as we all know, Gal.6:7 clearly states; “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”. (NIV). In Lev.10:1-2, Aaron’s two sons were killed by fire from Heaven. In an ominous message which still rings so true today, in Lev.10:3 “Moses then spoke to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when He said: “Among those who approach me I will be proved Holy, in the sight of all the people I will be honoured.” (NIV) In Acts 5:1-10, Ananias & Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and fell down dead. In another ominous message which still rings so true today, in Acts 5:11 it clearly states; “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Bill, I will continue to strongly commend you for all your efforts. My fear is for those who take our Lord’s Word & Teachings in vain, and twist and abuse them for their own misguided enjoyment and fulfilment. At any time just as it is clearly recorded in Lev.10 and Acts.5, our Almighty God could make a very bloodied and public spectacle of those who choose to mock him and take and apply His Word in vain. My apologies to you and your academically trained readers if my choice of Scriptures and the thrust of my arguement is not theologically correct, but at least you get my “drift”. Please keep up the good fight Bill, you’ll always be assured of my support and prayer covering, blessings, Kel.
I remember in my early teens in the late 80’s/early 90’s coming across Christian ‘reading materials’ that warn of the threat of an all-out Cold War nuclear strike and how that is ‘obviously’ linked to Revelations. None of them (at least the ones I read) warn about apostasy, secularism, aggressive Islam and of course the sexual revolutionaries. It’s almost as if the enemy took total advantage to strike from unexpected directions.
I praise God that our Church had made a decision to leave the apostate Methodist denomimation. Standing strong on Gods Word. There is the possibility we could lose our building that we paid for but better to lose that than our souls
Did you see the Rev. Dr. Jensen on the Drum tonight? He was given the Inquisition treatment by a man wearing a dress and claiming to be a woman.
“Do you believe I am disordered?” the cross dresser demanded to know.
Jensen then went all weak and as sure as Peter disowning Jesus, he denied the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality and transgenderism.
If leaders from the most conservative Anglican archdiocese in Australia buckle under this sort of cross examination, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Thanks Michael – oh dear!
Dear Bill
I just watched a replay of the episode of The Drum. It was sad to see the young man’s response. He should have been more direct with his answers. Hopefully he will learn to speak better on TV.
David Smith
I have always believed that the enemy of the true church was not so much about the Rome without, but the Rome within the church.
The New World Order modern translations have caused a split in the church and I often wondered if this infiltration was the means of separating the goats from the sheep, God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.
Over my 48 years as a Christian I have witnessed the church becoming more liberal, I have watch good men dying and the void that they leave is being filled by liberal ministers.
Is it any wonder that when the Judgement of God finally falls it will begin with the Church.
Bill,
I am very encouraged by your words of wisdom.
Thanks Sheryl.
Bill, are you any relation to Peyrr Mueuhlenberg of Revolutionary War fame? Just wondering. Good word as usual
Its possible – not really sure!
I have stopped attending the small church in our community because of all of the above. It is getting more difficult to sit in any pews in America. I am saddened beyond repair. Kowtowing to people who don’t believe anyway and neglecting the those who believe the word of God! I find the phoniness, eqivelant that of the liberal democratic establishment in our government. Many distorting scripture to justify their sins!
Stay true to the word bro. I’m proud to be in the trenches with you.
Thanks Claude.
Daniel 2 comes to mind?
Mat 7:24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.
Mat 7:25 And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock.
Mat 7:26 And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27 And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house. And it fell, and great was its fall.
(MKJV)
Make no mistake people. The storms are coming and we need to be prepared.
Anyone appearing on the ABC needs to understand they will be doing their best to ambush you.
Luk 12:1 In the meantime, when there had gathered together an innumerable crowd of people, so as to trample on one another, He began to say to His disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luk 12:2 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor anything hidden that shall not be known.
Luk 12:3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear in secret rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luk 12:4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luk 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.
Luk 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
Luk 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows.
Luk 12:8 Also I say to you, Whoever shall confess Me before men, the Son of Man also shall confess him before the angels of God.
Luk 12:9 But he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
(MKJV)
Years ago, the creationist group CMI pointed out how Sydney Anglicans is actually rather weak or compromising on the Bible’s account of creation. The gist is since they are so weak at that foundational level, just how strongly can they really hold on to other vital doctrines. And thanks to Michael Taouk for pointing it out, we now have an answer.
Sad, frustrating and infuriating all around.
Along with that, any moral person wishing to show up at such a pro-LGBT+ joint like the ABC should really prepare themselves with as much care as someone planning to go though a forest filled with dangerous wolves. Otherwise you will be ‘killed’.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…Dispensationalists have often called the modern state of Israel “the great prophetic sign.” That is relevant but ignores the biggest sign of the times…the apostasy of the end times…the great falling away from real, true, Biblical truth. Thank you, Bill, for constantly bringing us back to what the Word of God actually says.
How do we stop from falling into complete despair over all this?
Take a few steps back folks, look at the big picture. God allows sifting, John 6 is a great example of Jesus sifting out those who had been called and those who weren’t. Testing times are excellent for the health of the church.
Thank you for this article.
I agree Bill. This attack on Christianity can be a good thing as it separates the true and the hangers on. In my view, and what I know of how God works, God first tests the true at heart and we need only recall what happened at the foot of Mount Sinai where the rescued Hebrew even after seeing the might of God at the creation of the pillar of fire and the the opening of the red sea that they might escape certain death at the hands of Pharaoh’s army did, within 40 days and 40 nights corrupt themselves, God responded with setting the Hebrews upon the desert for 40 years so that their corruptions may be burned away so that the next generation would not be infected.
To think that God does not care or turns a blind eye is always a great mistake for God knows every heart and every mind and those who deny him now may have to remember that for eternity. We must stand true and strong and remember that God will move at exactly the right time and at that time we must be ready to come forward to the front line of the war that is ongoing throughout history.
The LGBTIQA+ are a purported community that has no God and no soul and will seek to justify their corruption by the mass approval and acceptance of sheep. Lions will never submit but then, has anyone ever tried to fleece a lion?
John Abbott
Thanks Bill,
The world and science is catching up with Biblical history and the threat to atheism as well as other unbelievers is certainly taking a toll as the evidence for the truth of God’s Word becomes more apparent. The church is becoming empty in order to become full and at the moment it seems that evolution is even less believable as before. Particularly as Christian scientist come up with more plausible evidence for the creation of the universe than any other evidences or theories given before. The fact that certain religions have based their doctrines and theology on the lies of evolution for the sake of such nonsense being good for business is being shown for what it is on a much larger scale. God is still at work in the church sorting the sheep from the goats, it maybe that we need to start at Genesis again as we move further into post modernity to a meta modern society and keep relying on the Lord God who sees the big picture as he controls nature as well as human nature, there’s nothing that our Lord Jesus doesn’t know. We need to let him have all our worries and cares. 1 Peter 5:7
May God bless you Bill
Hi Bill, I really feel for you. Many times you must feel like the pre-excellic prophets, constantly warning and supporting your statements with hard indisputable Biblical Texts, and all the while, many are not listening or are totally apathetic. However, as we all know, Gal.6:7 clearly states; “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows”. (NIV). In Lev.10:1-2, Aaron’s two sons were killed by fire from Heaven. In an ominous message which still rings so true today, in Lev.10:3 “Moses then spoke to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when He said: “Among those who approach me I will be proved Holy, in the sight of all the people I will be honoured.” (NIV) In Acts 5:1-10, Ananias & Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit and fell down dead. In another ominous message which still rings so true today, in Acts 5:11 it clearly states; “Great fear seized the whole church and all who heard about these events. Bill, I will continue to strongly commend you for all your efforts. My fear is for those who take our Lord’s Word & Teachings in vain, and twist and abuse them for their own misguided enjoyment and fulfilment. At any time just as it is clearly recorded in Lev.10 and Acts.5, our Almighty God could make a very bloodied and public spectacle of those who choose to mock him and take and apply His Word in vain. My apologies to you and your academically trained readers if my choice of Scriptures and the thrust of my arguement is not theologically correct, but at least you get my “drift”. Please keep up the good fight Bill, you’ll always be assured of my support and prayer covering, blessings, Kel.
I remember in my early teens in the late 80’s/early 90’s coming across Christian ‘reading materials’ that warn of the threat of an all-out Cold War nuclear strike and how that is ‘obviously’ linked to Revelations. None of them (at least the ones I read) warn about apostasy, secularism, aggressive Islam and of course the sexual revolutionaries. It’s almost as if the enemy took total advantage to strike from unexpected directions.
I praise God that our Church had made a decision to leave the apostate Methodist denomimation. Standing strong on Gods Word. There is the possibility we could lose our building that we paid for but better to lose that than our souls
Did you see the Rev. Dr. Jensen on the Drum tonight? He was given the Inquisition treatment by a man wearing a dress and claiming to be a woman.
“Do you believe I am disordered?” the cross dresser demanded to know.
Jensen then went all weak and as sure as Peter disowning Jesus, he denied the Bible’s teaching on homosexuality and transgenderism.
If leaders from the most conservative Anglican archdiocese in Australia buckle under this sort of cross examination, what hope is there for the rest of us?
Thanks Michael – oh dear!
Dear Bill
I just watched a replay of the episode of The Drum. It was sad to see the young man’s response. He should have been more direct with his answers. Hopefully he will learn to speak better on TV.
David Smith
I have always believed that the enemy of the true church was not so much about the Rome without, but the Rome within the church.
The New World Order modern translations have caused a split in the church and I often wondered if this infiltration was the means of separating the goats from the sheep, God moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.
Over my 48 years as a Christian I have witnessed the church becoming more liberal, I have watch good men dying and the void that they leave is being filled by liberal ministers.
Is it any wonder that when the Judgement of God finally falls it will begin with the Church.
Bill,
I am very encouraged by your words of wisdom.
Thanks Sheryl.
Bill, are you any relation to Peyrr Mueuhlenberg of Revolutionary War fame? Just wondering. Good word as usual
Its possible – not really sure!
I have stopped attending the small church in our community because of all of the above. It is getting more difficult to sit in any pews in America. I am saddened beyond repair. Kowtowing to people who don’t believe anyway and neglecting the those who believe the word of God! I find the phoniness, eqivelant that of the liberal democratic establishment in our government. Many distorting scripture to justify their sins!
Stay true to the word bro. I’m proud to be in the trenches with you.
Thanks Claude.
Daniel 2 comes to mind?
Mat 7:24 Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.
Mat 7:25 And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock.
Mat 7:26 And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Mat 7:27 And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house. And it fell, and great was its fall.
(MKJV)
Make no mistake people. The storms are coming and we need to be prepared.
Anyone appearing on the ABC needs to understand they will be doing their best to ambush you.
Luk 12:1 In the meantime, when there had gathered together an innumerable crowd of people, so as to trample on one another, He began to say to His disciples first, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luk 12:2 For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor anything hidden that shall not be known.
Luk 12:3 Therefore whatever you have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light. And that which you have spoken in the ear in secret rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Luk 12:4 And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
Luk 12:5 But I will warn you of whom you shall fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yea, I say to you, fear Him.
Luk 12:6 Are not five sparrows sold for two assaria? And not one of them is forgotten before God.
Luk 12:7 But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear, you are of more value than many sparrows.
Luk 12:8 Also I say to you, Whoever shall confess Me before men, the Son of Man also shall confess him before the angels of God.
Luk 12:9 But he who denies Me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
(MKJV)
Years ago, the creationist group CMI pointed out how Sydney Anglicans is actually rather weak or compromising on the Bible’s account of creation. The gist is since they are so weak at that foundational level, just how strongly can they really hold on to other vital doctrines. And thanks to Michael Taouk for pointing it out, we now have an answer.
Sad, frustrating and infuriating all around.
https://creation.com/gay-marriage-genesis-compromise
https://creation.com/australian-church-votes-to-ordain-homosexuals
Along with that, any moral person wishing to show up at such a pro-LGBT+ joint like the ABC should really prepare themselves with as much care as someone planning to go though a forest filled with dangerous wolves. Otherwise you will be ‘killed’.
One more thing. Bernard Gaynor is sadly under severe attack:
http://bernardgaynor.com.au/
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again…Dispensationalists have often called the modern state of Israel “the great prophetic sign.” That is relevant but ignores the biggest sign of the times…the apostasy of the end times…the great falling away from real, true, Biblical truth. Thank you, Bill, for constantly bringing us back to what the Word of God actually says.
How do we stop from falling into complete despair over all this?
Take a few steps back folks, look at the big picture. God allows sifting, John 6 is a great example of Jesus sifting out those who had been called and those who weren’t. Testing times are excellent for the health of the church.