Milk, Meat and the Malnourished Church
One of the greatest critiques of the American Church today is it’s malnourished.
Some would even say it’s our most pressing problem.
When most people voice this complaint, the focus is on the worship experience.
From people who leave these churches, you hear, “I wasn’t getting fed.”
Or, “I just want some deeper teaching.”
From people outside these churches you hear, “Too much milk, not enough meat.”
In some cases, I’m sure this is true. But I really don’t think that’s the real problem.
Yes, American Christians are malnourished. But I don’t believe it has anything to do with milk or meat.
Most American Christians aren’t malnourished because of what they’re getting fed on Sunday. They’re malnourished because they don’t feed themselves Monday through Saturday.
So you had filet mignon on Sunday and learned about the mystical union of Christ and the church as it relates to the rapture and the design of the tabernacle in relation to Levitical dietary laws as understood by the Council of Trent.
Good for you.
Don't Miss
Have fun starving yourself the rest of the week and letting your pastor read the Bible so you don’t have to.
So you had some milk on Sunday and learned 37 ways to ________. Have fun having 37 new ways to not obey God during the coming week.
The crisis facing the church today isn’t what people are getting fed on Sundays.
It’s what they’re not feeding themselves the rest of the days.
Who really cares whether you consume meat or milk on Sunday if it’s the only meal you have all week?
I’m not saying this to get pastors and churches off the hook.
It is the shepherd’s job to feed the sheep (John 21). And feed them well based on their needs and faith development.
Print version
Steven Furtick is the founder and lead pastor of Elevation Church. In just under seven years, Elevation Church has grown to more than 10,000 people in weekly attendance, meeting at seven locations in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. Elevation has been named one of the fastest growing Churches in America by Outreach Magazine for each of the past six years.
Pastor Steven has been privileged to minister to a global audience, speaking at conferences and churches around the world, including Catalyst Conference, Hillsong Conference, and the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit. He is the author of the best selling book “Sun Stand Still” and is releasing his second book, “Greater.” Pastor Steven holds a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
He and his wife Holly live in the Charlotte area with their two sons, Elijah and Graham, and daughter, Abbey.
More from Steven Furtick or visit Steven at www.stevenfurtick.com
Newest Videos 
WATCH: Why Introverted Leaders Have Better Outcomes
Susan Cain, author of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts," shares a powerful secret of introvert leaders.
Sponsored Links
The Bible Miniseries for Churches »