What The Church Needs Today by E.M. Bounds

[Abeard]

The church is looking for better methods — God is looking for holier men.

What the Church needs today is not more or better machinery, not new organizations or more and novel methods — but men mighty in prayer.

The Holy Spirit does not flow through methods — but through men.
He does not come on machinery — but on men.
He does not anoint plans — but men, men of prayer.

Prayer is our most formidable weapon, the thing which makes all else we do efficient.

But the truth is, we have lost that intense type of personal experience, that deep conviction of eternal things which are such evident features of all great spiritual movements. Many preachers and people have fallen so low in their experience that they do not relish these distinct and strongly spiritual agencies; and are devising schemes and institutions to gratify their non-spiritual tastes with schemes which are midway between Christ and the world; which, while not essentially wrong, do not possess one grain of spiritual power, and can never be the channels of heavenly grace.

 

[Chad Hutson]

Even more true today than in Bounds' day. There are no "life hacks" for the Christian life. It is one of labor, toil, wrestling, contending, sacrifice, prayer, holiness, and so on. The necessity of the breastplate of righteousness (imputed and imparted) has been circumvented in the minds of people with programs, seminars, steps to successful living and the like. Pray for the Church, pray for my church, that we may seek the things above through the approved means of grace as God has provided.