There is a "hot topic" among ministers these days! It concerns a current issue in the churches that seems to be quite prevalent. The issue expresses itself in a variety of ways - but almost always it can be boiled down to a few common statements.
- I can't figure out what our people are doing!
- Our people seem to be completely consumed with weekend activities!
- We have become very inconsistent. Up - down - up - down!
- Many of our people just seem like they don't have any interest - or even care about the things of God. They aren't mad! They just aren't anything!
- Whatever is going on doesn't seem like the ebb and flow of the past. This seems more pronounced, more off the charts in the swings, more rapidly ocurring!
- I don't seem to be able to find anything I can say or do to change it!
Is it every single church? No! Is it the majority? Well, I have not commissioned a research study. I can tell you that I talk to a good many ministers and all but one have expressed these concerns at various levels.
We are living, as always, in challenging times. People are seeing and hearing sinful lifestyles and practices being normalized as part of every day life. Hardly anything that has been considered durable in the past is considered reliable anymore. From government to healthcare to job security and hours worked to financial considerations - everything seems to be undergoing change or upheaval! This uncertainty and upheaval seems to have found its way to the church.
Here is what is interesting to me. In what seems to be a response to these issues, I am hearing much more emphasis in preaching on the topic of discipleship these days. A greater challenge is being issued to church members to be genuine followers of Jesus Christ. In issuing the challenge I am hearing God's preachers be more precise and powerful in presenting the bold claims and practices of Christ for following Him. This is refreshing and ultimately will produce fruit. I could not preach or attend worship this last Sunday as I recovered from a medical procedure soI channel surfed sermons for a good portion of the morning. Nearly all of them were addressing these issues with messages that were either directly on discipleship or very near it.
However, I am not sure that the fruit of such preaching will be increased numbers overall for our churches, but rather increased numbers of disciples. This type of preaching may in fact, initially, reduce the size of our churches. People who are in church but are not following Christ don't seem to hang around long when presented with a clear and somewhat accountable challenge to become a Christ follower. I am reminded that Jesus was not a slave to the crowds. He would, on occasion, thin them out by issuing fairly bold statements about what it cost to follow Him.
As ministers, what are we to do with these circumstances? I think a few reminders are helpful....
- Preachers can't change people! Only the Holy Spirit can convict.
- We must not keep trying to up the "attractional" value of our church to grow. This approach generally just attracts church members of other churches who will jump ship again to see the next "cool" thing!
- We must be faithful to clearly lay out the claims of Christ on the lives of our people!
- We must also recognize that God is always clarifying and purifying what and who is His church!
- We should resist the attempt to "program" a solution - or to seek a "program" to solve it!
- In reality, the key to a vibrant church will be obedience to a mighty, Holy God by vibrant members - converted, transformed into His likeness, filled with the Holy Spirit. This takes brokenness, repentance, prayer, faith, and His Word. (and this has always been true)
We do seem to be in a time of great change. However, rather than seeing it as "the end of an era" or even "the end of the church," I beleive we should see it as a new beginning! A renewed focus on Christ is essential. The great hymn writer said it well with these words - "Turn your eyes upon Jesus - Look full in His wonderful face - and the things of earth will grow strangely dim - in the light of His glory and grace!"
Be encouraged! May His glory and grace fill our vision until the things of this world grow stangely dim!
Great article, Tommy. I'm sharing this one!
Posted by: Matt Celoria | October 15, 2013 at 08:38 AM