How should we "do" church?

John MacArthur's Pulpit Magazine blog features an outstanding article titled The Church As It Was Meant To Be.

Many churches have become nothing more than entertainment centers, employing tactics that effectively draw people into the church, but are incapable of truly ministering to them once they come.

God never intended the church to be like that. In Matthew 16:18 Jesus says, “I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” Notice the Lord’s one condition to that great promise: “I will build My church” (emphasis added). Christ’s guarantee is valid only when He builds the church His way. When you follow His blueprint, you can be sure that He is doing the work through you and that nothing, not even the gates of hell, can stop Him.

It's very sad what has become of evangelical churches. And the disease in our churches is no longer confined to liberal churches or churches that proclaim a man-centered theology. It has become all too prevalent in conservative circles including the Conservative Southern Baptists, Independent Fundamental Baptist churches, and conservative independent Bible churches. Internal politics, an entertainment culture, and a lack of revulsion from sin characterize even conservative Baptist churches now.

We must pray for Christ to heal his church.