Christianity in Crisis

Thom Rainer the president of LifeWay Christian Resources did a survey recently and uncovered some disturbing statistics.  The following are the percentages of those considering themselves Evangelical Christians by generation according to the survey:      

19?? – 1946              %65

1947 – 1964              %35

1964 – 1976              %15

1977 – 1994              % 4

1995 – Present         % ?

 George Barna’s research is equally as bleak regarding the next generation’s spiritual lives. 

 My question is simple.  Why?  What’s going on that is creating this rapid decline in the percentage of those that consider themselves born again Christians? 

Is it the pluralistic nature of the US now?  Is it the anemic condition of the western church at large?  Is this the great falling away?

 Is there anything that we can do to stem the tide?

 I believe that it’s time that the church come out from behind it’s four walls of protection and isolation and serve the people that Christ died for.  Instead of fearing contamination, let us be those that influence this next generation.

The church must give up the isolationist policies and the expectations that if we open the church doors, the world will come flooding in, to understand that Jesus went out to serve people in the “highways and byways”.  He went to where they are and didn’t ask them to come to where he was.  He met them at their point of need.

Instead of trying to get people into the church, let’s try to get the church to go to the people.  That’s how Jesus did it.

It’s what the younger generation is looking for.  A church that’s willing to get its hands dirty.  A church that is there to serve, not to be served.

 Let’s not be so heavenly minded that we’re no earthly good. 

 See you in the streets… 

Until next time…

JPF

Three Superstars Pass Away

Wow!!!  Can you imagine this past week we lost three superstars in the arena of entertainment this week alone?  Ed McMahon (Johnny Carson’s sidekick); Farrah Fawcett (Charlie’s Angel’s, Ryan O’Neill); and Michael Jackson (King of Pop).

It really makes me wonder about the future.  Although McMahon and Fawcett were older than me, Jackson wasn’t.  This is the kind of week that has people beginning to think about eternity.  I remember crying myself to sleep as a young person because I was unsure if I had been good enough to “earn” my way into heaven.  It was a painful time for me.  I know that there are others that are dealing with the same dread, fears, and thoughts.

Good news, it’s not about works, it’s about faith.  Faith in God’s goodness, His mercy, and His grace are the three aspects of God that you and I so need and I appreciate, more than I can tell you.  God’s goodness because there is no darkness in Him.  His mercy because He doesn’t give me what I really deserve.  And His grace because He does give me what I don’t deserve.  My God is a wonderful being.

Although my thoughts go out to those superstars who just passed away, I am really praying for those of their family and loved ones that are still alive and on planet earth.  We are the ones that need all the prayer we can get.  We still have very important decisions to make in our lives. 

May each and every one of us learn from others’ experience and from God’s presence during these most challenging times.  May they rest in peace!

What do you think?

JPF

Is The US really a Christian Nation?

I’ve heard many people comment about the US being a Christian nation.  By my observation, the US is a post-Christian nation.  In fact, we were never created to be a Christian nation.  Our founding fathers had intended for us to be a pluralistic society.  One where everyone from every religion, culture, and ethnic background would be able to come and have the privilege of freely expressing themselves.  It just so happens that many of the original founding fathers were Christians.

So why are we struggling with the fact that the US is indeed now a pluralistic land?  Is it because we are now not the sole proprietor of the philosophy of the land?  Have we really lost ground or is America becoming what it was created to be?  We are a post-Christian nation!  Can we ACCEPT that and move on?  It’s time for us to pro-actively SHOW the others in the country why Christianity is a religion of relationship and connection with the supernatural.  And why it’s worthy of their consideration.

Whether it’s a new president, or a local leader who doesn’t believe the way we believe, it’s time to get behind them and support that which we agree with and speak our mind about that which we disagree with.  That is the democratic process.  The process is not simply in place to support our agenda, but the agenda of all that are a part of this nation.  ALL  have a RIGHT to their opinion and their perspective being shared, and even embraced.

What is the point of this post?  I believe that it’s time to stop whining about the President and anyone else that’s not considered conservative, and become the light and the salt that God has intended us to be for Him.  If we do that, I’m quite sure that we will see the promises of the Bible come to pass.

I hope you’ll comment on this.  Agree or disagree, but this is my opinion, and isn’t it cool that I have the ability to communicate it and practice my beliefs as I see fit.  Just like everyone else…

JPF

Giving The Benefit Of The Doubt

J. Lee Grady recently wrote an editorial on Todd Bentley, and my heart broke once again as I considered one of the most recent of the moral failures that we have experienced in the church in recent years.  And it seems the more influential people are, the greater the fall.  It’s so obvious.  I don’t really want to comment on Lee’s take as much as I want to raise a couple of questions about the rest of us.  Those of us not as close to the situation as Lee is.

What we hear and read in the media I’m afraid is what causes us to make our own judgments about a person or a situation.  In this case, there are too many blanks for me to fill in order for me to make an accurate assessment as to what to do and how to handle this brother.

What I do realize is that appearance can easily become reality for those of us who are on the outside looking in.  And our perception becomes the reality of the situation.  And that’s just plain out not right.  Who am I to judge from a distance when I don’t have all the facts.  Yet everyone has an opinion.  And often they are laced with judgment and criticism. 

I wish that we could give one another the benefit of the doubt.  Maybe I’m still too idealistic, but I trust that Rick Joyner, Bill Johnson, and Jack Deere know what they’re doing.  And I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt until I know better.  They’ve earned that trust through years of being key leaders in the church.

Although I believe in church discipline, and I believe that it’s not used as often as it should be, in this case, it is being employed.  Bottom line is simply this; there are a lot of people hurt in this situation.  May God help each of us and never think that we’re too spiritual to ever do anything to embarrass our Lord.  I hope and believe that healing and restoration is coming for both Todd, Shonnah, and the children, so that they all can go on making an impact though walking with a limp!

What do you think?

JPF