Dear Modern Church
If Apostle Paul wrote a Letter to the Modern Church
In the New Testament, out of the 27 books, 21 are classified as epistles or letters. This means that about 77.77% of the New Testament is composed of letters. These letters were written by different people to various churches and communities, addressing the unique challenges they faced. Paul is one of the most prominent writers in the New Testament, contributing 48.15% of its content—primarily through his letters. Whenever Paul noticed issues within the churches he had established, he believed the best way to address them was by writing a letter.
This makes me wonder: If Paul were alive today, what kind of letter would he write to us? I’m sure others, like David Garland, have pondered what Paul might say to the modern church. Now, I’m not Paul, and I could never compare to him in any way. But I’ve made a humble attempt to imagine what Paul might write to the modern church.
While each church has its own specific challenges, I’ve identified three issues that I believe affect every modern church: conformity to the world, the centrality of Christ, and unity. Drawing from Paul’s epistles, I imagine he would write a short letter to today’s church addressing these concerns, perhaps something like this:
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I thank my God every time I remember you, for your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. I have heard of your perseverance in these trying times and your desire to live out the gospel in a world that often seems hostile to the truth. Be encouraged, brothers and sisters, for your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
However, I must address certain concerns that weigh heavily on my heart. Just as I wrote to the churches in Galatia, Corinth, and Ephesus, I urge you to examine yourselves and the path you are walking.
Have you allowed the culture around you to shape your values more than the Word of God? In my letters to the early churches, I warned against being conformed to this world but instead called you to be transformed by the renewing of your minds (Romans 12:2). Yet I see many in the church today struggling with the same issues that plagued the early believers- division, immorality, and the pursuit of worldly success over spiritual maturity.
I hear of your gatherings and your worship, but I ask you this: Is Christ truly at the center of all you do? Are you building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, or have you become distracted by the things of this world- by comfort, convenience, and the approval of men? Remember what I wrote to the Corinthians: “If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light” (1 Corinthians 3:12-13).
I do not write this to condemn you but to call you back to the truth. The gospel you received is the power of God for salvation (Romans 1:16), and it is meant to transform lives- not just in part but in whole. Yet some of you have embraced a form of godliness while denying its power (2 Timothy 3:5). You are called to be a light in the darkness, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden (Matthew 5:14). Do not let your light grow dim.
Remember also the unity of the Spirit that binds us together as one body. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4-6). Yet I hear reports of divisions among you- over trivial matters, politics, and matters of conscience. I plead with you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought (1 Corinthians 1:10).
Finally, I urge you to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of your faith (Hebrews 12:2). This world is not your home; your citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). Live in such a way that when others see your good works, they will glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. And above all, let everything you do be done in love (1 Corinthians 16:13-14).”
As we reflect on what Paul might say to us today, let us take his words (his real epistles) as a call to examine our hearts and our walk with Christ. May we strive to live out the truth of the gospel, keeping Christ at the center of all we do, and building unity in our churches. Let us commit to being the light in this world and just as Paul encouraged the early church, let us live with courage, love, and unwavering faith.
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God bless you!