OUR PART IS ESSENTIAL!

 Let's look at this logically - straight from God's Word:

II Corinthians 4:4

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light  of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

That's Satan!  He lays a thick veil over their minds so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of Christ.

Only God the Creator can open eyes the devil has blinded.  

II Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Here, then, are two so-called gods locked in a life-and-death struggle - on the one hand, "the god of this age" (v.4) and on the other, "the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1:3).  

The devil blinds the minds of unbelievers, but God shines into darkened hearts (v.6).

Do we have anything to contribute?  

If the devil blinds and God shines, would it not be prudent for us to withdraw from the field of battle and leave them to fight it out?  This seems to be the posture that most 21st century Christians are taking.  

But in between the two verses quoted above, we find:  (v.5)

For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake.

SO:

• the devil blinds (v.4)
• God shines (v.6), and
• we preach Jesus Christ as Lord (v.5)

Our role is indispensable!  Allowing His light to shine through our words, actions, and priorities WILL IMPACT THOSE WHO COME INTO CONTACT WITH US!  

Don't drop the ball!  Your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors, even the people you incidentally criss-cross with throughout any given day - can be impacted for ALL ETERNITY by YOU!  You can rip Satan's hands from blinding their minds through your witness and your prayers!  

The failure of the church that I’ve documented so clearly in recent blog articles is largely a result of individual believers failing to live up to their biblical responsibility!  The church is responsible to equip the saints for the work of ministry!

Let those thoughts reframe your day!  

A FAILING ENTERPRISE IN AMERICA?

"The sky is falling!  The sky is falling!"  [Chicken Little]

I don't want to be accused of pessimism, but a good dose of reality can be awakening.

A good friend of mine, Rick Anderson, posted an article on Facebook this morning titled:  U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time.  Most won't read it, so I'll provide the highlights:

U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time (gallup.com)

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• In 2020, 47% of U.S. adults belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque
• Down more than 20 points from turn of the century
• Change primarily due to rise in Americans with no religious preference

The analysis that I found most disturbing had to do with the various generations.  

                                                                   2020 member stats           1998-2020

Traditionalists (born before 1946)            66%                             -11 per. pnts.

Baby Boomers (1946-1964)                       58%                              -9 per. pnts.

Generation X (1965-1980)                         50%                              -12 per. pnts.

Millennials (1981-1996)                             36%                                   n/a

Generation Z (1996-2010)                          28%                                   n/a

[Keep in mind that each year the younger generations are making up an increasingly larger part of the entire U.S. adult population.]

Hal's observations:

1.  Church membership is just one way of measuring religion.  Membership has been de-emphasized in many churches in recent decades.  This may be a factor in the above stats.

2.  The effects of the COVID pandemic are yet to be fully realized and evaluated.  There is little doubt that the impact is significant!

3.  Somewhere in the last several decades the church began to model itself after nightclubs:  low lighting, performance modes of worship, theater seating, use of video and PowerPoint, larger venues, language changes (i.e. Sanctuary/Auditorium, Church/Campus).  One could deduce that these changes have been rejected by the religious populace.

4.  As far back as the 1980's, John Maxwell and others introduced the need for church leaders to transition from pastors to CEO's.  The emergence of mega-churches and highly recognized Christian leaders gradually created a downflow of new structures and methods to even small churches.  One could ask:  Has abandoning biblical models in favor of corporate models hurt our message?

5.  Music/worship changes have been enormous over the past couple of decades.  However, music transitions are not new to the church:  

• Hymns dominated church worship for centuries, 
• Gaithers, Gospel Music and country music (1960's to present), 
• Praise and Worship Music [Maranatha/Integrity] (1980's and 90's), 
• Performance-based contemporary music (1980's to present).  

For centuries we sang our theology;  since back-burnering this practice, has the church become anemic?  

________________________________________________

LONGING FOR HEAVEN

I've recently been mulling over II Corinthians 5:1-10.  [Read it if you like...]

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

In my notebook I summarized this teaching as follows:

• While in this body, we groan and are burdened.
• Christians live by faith, not by sight.
• Christians long to be at home with the Lord (v.8).
• Consequently, we make it our goal to please Him (v.9). 
• Finally - ultimately - judgment will come (v.10)!

I've been trying to evaluate myself in light of these truths.  It's been a challenge.  

Do I groan and feel burdened in this world?

It's an easy answer - YES!  I do.  

I deal with disappointments and frustrations nearly daily.  

• rude people
• disillusionment with our government
• stress
• physical pain
• loneliness
• despair
• fear

Do I live by faith, not by sight?

Another easy answer - Not to the extent that I should!

It's easy and natural to respond to what we see.  It takes more effort to live by faith!  It takes intentionality, focus, time, priority...

I'm usually Lyft driving now.  Instead, I'm in my home office communing with God, studying His Word, and sharing my thoughts.  It is part of a deliberate attempt to reconnect vitally with the Lord!  It is an attempt to give Him an opportunity to help me live by faith...

Do I long to be at home with the Lord?

Everything in me wants to say 'Yes', but to be honest, I must admit that I don't think about Heaven every day.  I'm not sure I fully understand or appreciate the desire to be finished here and move on to the glories of Heaven.  

I've studied Heaven in the scriptures.  I've preached about Heaven.  During my growing-up-years, many of the hymns we sang focused on Heaven.  I have family and friends who - I believe - have gone there ahead of me.  I believe in the reality of Heaven as a real place that is beyond our ability to imagine.  

When I consciously review the above list of disappointments and frustrations, I can feel the urging and relief that can emerge from thoughts of being in Heaven.  

We just celebrated Juneteenth - a day to remember the end of slavery in our country.  These precious people left us a legacy of faith through music that helped them endure:

Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world, the troubles of this world, the troubles of this world.  

Soon I will be done with the troubles of this world - going home to live with God!

No more weeping and wailing...

I want to meet my mother...

I want to meet King Jesus...

The horrendous injustice they experienced deepened their faith in a God who would someday deliver them!  

That same God will also deliver us from the things that burden and discourage us!

Am I making it my goal to please Him?

The world wants us to believe that Heaven is our default setting.  They're wrong!  Hell is our default setting!  

Going to Heaven is for those who have lived to please Him and who know Him as their personal Lord and SAVIOR!  

I have answered this question and it has driven me to make some changes in my life.  

Each of us has to come to a similar place of evaluation.  

    Would Jesus give me an 'atta-boy' for the ways I'm living my life?  

    Would He be pleased with my priorities?

    Would my actions gain His approval?

    Do my words bring Him honor?

    Are my thoughts honorable?

    Is He pleased with the way I treat (or think about) others?

I think Sunday - the Lord's Day - was intended to be a day in which we would have time to reflect on these kinds of questions...

Do I fully realize that someday I WILL stand before the judgment seat of Christ?

He knows my heart.

He knows my thoughts.

He knows my intentions.

He loves me and forgives me.

He is gracious and kind.

But He cannot be fooled.  

 My Lord,

Thank You for being merciful and kind!

Thank You for Your patience and persistence in pursuing me! 

Meet me here daily as I search Your Word and seek Your will.

Strengthen my resolve to be Your man for this season!

           Help me to be a positive influence on my family, friends, neighbors,        and even the strangers that You allow me to intersect with on a daily basis.

May my love for You grow and become infectious in my interactions with others.

For Your Kingdom's sake.  Amen.

 

 

 

 

FOURTH CHURCH VISIT

I visited a church in a sub-rural setting this morning.  Plenty of parking and open space.  

I arrived fifteen minutes early during Sunday School.  The property was nicely kept and the building had a pleasant appeal.  The main entrance was recognizable.  I was greeted by a man as I entered.  He remarked that he didn't know me and gave me his name - also asking for mine.  He escorted me inside to the 'Welcome Center' and turned me over to a woman there who introduced herself and had me fill out a 'Visitor's Form'.  She then gave me a gift bag and some information from the staff as well as the week's information sheet.  

By the way, it was the nicest gift I've received as a newcomer at a church:  a coffee mug, with six pieces of candy, a nice little notebook/pen with the church logo, and a booklet by a Christian author - all in a nice gift bag with tissue paper.  :-)

I entered the auditorium which was nearly empty with ten minutes till worship.  The countdown started at five minutes and worship began on time - even though there were only about seventy of us spread out in a space with over two hundred chairs Twenty minutes later there were nearly one-hundred-twenty present - with 70% sitting in the back six rows and the rest sprinkled around in the front rows.  Many raised their hands during worship and one woman jumped around front and center - apparently really enjoying these moments of praise and worship.  .  

The auditorium had no windows and was capable of being completely darkened.  The young woman who led worship indicated that she and a couple others were substitutes for team members who were on vacation.  She had a crystal clear voice and led humbly and capably.  The team did not draw unnecessary attention to themselves and were quite good!  We sang four worship songs that took up nearly a half-hour.  The PowerPoint was run horribly;  we couldn't sing the first line of each verse/chorus because we didn't get the words in a timely fashion.

Then came a surprise.  After such a wonderful time of preparation, a woman came forward to lead us in prayer and then we heard announcements for ten minutes.  If not surprised enough, then we were told to take a break.  Some, not many, left for a cup of coffee.  A few greeted their neighbors.  Most of us just sat and waited.  The children left for age-level programming at this point.  Those attending were mostly younger with a healthy sprinkling of most generations.  There didn't seem to be many present over the age of seventy.  

CAVEAT

I was seated on an aisle on the right side.  I began to notice a young girl dancing at the front on our side.  She seemed to have a physical disability that made it difficult for her to dance, so she basically twirled to the music.  Then, her Mom arrived and danced with her - which I thought was precious!  Gradually, Mom guided her further to the side so as not to be a distraction.  Later, I realized that her father was the lay-speaker for Father's Day.

I was also greeted by a man (before worship) who gave me a 'Father's Day' gift - a coupon for $5 off at a nearby meat market!   Very nice!  Later, during the break, his wife also came and greeted me!   

When the meeting resumed, this younger man came forward to speak using a laptop as his source.  He was well prepared and brought a straightforward message from the scripture about the value of our words.  He began by pointing out that 'words of affirmation' is one of Gary Chapman's Love Languages.  Then he referred to the loving words of encouragement spoken by a maid/nanny to the little girl constantly berated by her mother in the movie, THE HELP:  "You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important."

He then played a video of him and his precious little girl when she was a bit younger.  He was repeating a similar mantra with her and she was providing the last word of each sentence.  He referenced key scriptures from the gospels, James and Proverbs that reinforced his point.  It was a very good Father's Day message that applied to everyone present!  I was impressed!  

At the end of his message he led us in prayer and the service was over.  It was a very abrupt ending that seemed to surprise us all.  No more singing and no call for a response.  The service was simply over.  

I lingered for a few moments and then left.  Many stayed in the auditorium and others visited in the foyer.  

I had reviewed the church's webpage before attending and it was very well done and user-friendly.  

This church is nicely located in the Columbiana area and is doing many things right.  The building and location are excellent.  Their mission is clearly stated.  

In my opinion, their effectiveness could be improved by giving some thought to their order of worship and the 'flow' of their worship-hour.  The service began at 10:30 and I was in my car by 11:40 AM, heading home.