Why is it that the church goes through these periods of decline? And why is there that pattern of darkness, light; darkness, light? There is no absolute answer that can be given to that, but my guess is that it is a lesson that we need to learn over and over again. That is, that it is God who builds his church. We are quick to forget that and then we rely upon ourselves, our own ingenuity, and our own resources. And so, over and over again, because of our propensity and pride to self-sufficiency, God teaches us that he is the one that builds his church.1
Terry L. Johnson
1 Now the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.