Sojourner #042: Among The Gathered - Shepherding The Unconverted Within The Modern Church
"Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23)
Every Sunday, Churches across the U.S. fill with people from every background and status. The lights dim as the music swells, and a polished and positive message is preached from the stage. People leave feeling uplifted, maybe even spiritually “recharged" - ready for the week ahead.
But for many, nothing has changed. They walk out our doors with no realization of the Kingdom, no real repentance of sin, no regeneration, no saving knowledge of the Gospel, and no union with Christ. This should be a grave concern in the Church today.
This isn’t a shot at excellence or production. It’s a warning against imitation - against trading the biblical model of worship, preaching, fellowship, and shepherding for the all too popular emphasis on platforms, personality, and performance. An entire generation has been raised in churches shaped more by branding and business metrics than the pattern of Scripture.
Motivational content, in many cases, has entirely replaced Gospel proclamation. Pastors become motivational speakers and influencers who attach Jesus to the end of their message on self-help and personal advancement. Churches become brands instead of Kingdom embassies. And the covenant community becomes a crowd - little more than a consumer base.
And within that crowd is found a deeper crisis: the presence of the unconverted churchgoer.
The testimony of Scripture is more than clear. Jesus Himself warned: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven... I never knew you” (Matt. 7:21–23). This isn’t new. The visible church has always been a mixed field of wheat and weeds, sitting side by side (Matt. 13:24–30). The tragedy of our day is that this distinction goes unacknowledged. Entertainment replaces exhortation. Preference replaces preaching. And in the fog of comfort and emotional response, many sit lost - unaware and unalarmed.
An All Too Comfortable Deception
“They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace” (Jer. 6:14).
Too many churches today would endeavor to trade the offense and foolishness of the cross for the appeal of cultural relevance and timeliness. Though, a gospel that never offends will seldom save the sinner. When sin, judgment, and repentance are dulled or dismissed, people may respond emotionally - without ever coming face to face with their need for the Savior.
False assurance thrives in that kind of atmosphere. Participation gets mistaken for salvation. Community for conversion. And when the whole counsel of God is not preached clearly and consistently from the pulpit, the sheep are left exposed to all manner of snares and distractions. Paul warned of those “having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power” (2 Tim. 3:5). Hebrews adds: “If we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment” (Heb. 10:26–27).
The Shepherd’s Noble Task
The call to pastors and elders today is the same as it has ever been. It is not to grow a crowd or audience or brand - it’s to guard the flock. “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock… to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood” (Acts 20:28).
This is the burden of the true shepherd: to know that not everyone under your care is safe. Some have heard the Gospel, or an entirely different one, hundreds of times, but have never truly responded in repentance and faith to the message that has once, for all, been delivered to the saints. “The message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith” (Heb. 4:2).
The exhortation is clear: Preach Christ crucified (1 Cor. 1:23). Call for genuine, grace-enabled repentance (Acts 17:30). Expose and root out false assurance within the flock of God. Speak the truth in love, desiring that all would come to a knowledge of the truth. Disciple with sincere care for those God has placed around you. Watch for the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 7:16). Membership must reflect new life. Discipline must protect it. And whatever you do, do it in prayerful dependence on the Spirit who alone gives life (John 3:6–8).
Gospel Faithfulness Over Fleeting Fame
“When the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory” (1 Pet. 5:4).
Pastors, the goal is not mere relevance or fleeting attraction, nor has it ever been - it is regeneration. Faithfulness to the Kingdom is measured not in the size of your congregation or following on social media, it is measured in your obedience to the Great Shepherd. May He grant you the wisdom and grace to carry out this noble task - for His glory and for the good of His people, wherever they are.
Among the gathered lies one of the greatest mission fields in our communities: The unconverted in our pews. So, resolve to preach naught else but what is written. Forget about metrics and new-found methods. Contend for souls. The simple Gospel still saves. Trade your practiced polish for Gospel power, your cultural relevance for genuine, Spirit-empowered preaching of the Word, and faithfully shepherd with courage until the King returns.
Reflection Questions for Pastors and Elders
Are we preaching Christ, or simply presenting content?
Have we allowed metrics to replace spiritual discernment?
Do we assume salvation, or do we examine for fruit (2 Cor. 13:5)?
Are our membership and discipleship processes shaped by a biblical view of conversion?
How do we confront the presence of false assurance in our congregation?
Are we praying by name for those in our care who may be near, but not in, Christ?
When Christ returns to separate sheep from goats (Matt. 25:31-33), will we be found faithful?
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About the Author:
This article was written by a theologically trained member of a local church who desires to remain anonymous. Their intent is not to elevate a name, but to make the message clear: Christ must be preached, and the Church must be shepherded with vigilance and truth.
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