Hi to all my Forum Friends,
Today, an article was posted on Facebook titled "Why Millennials Are Leaving The Church" and I found the writer's suggestions somewhat misleading and disturbing: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/...-leaving-the-church/
You might notice that this article/blog is from CNN (part of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.) and Ted Turner is not exactly known as an advocate of the Christian faith.
CUTTING TO THE HEART of this article, I find this statement:
"We want our LGBT friends to feel truly welcome in our faith communities. We want to be challenged to live lives of holiness, not only when it comes to sex, but also when it comes to living simply, caring for the poor and oppressed, pursuing reconciliation, engaging in creation care and becoming peacemakers.
You can’t hand us a latte and then go about business as usual and expect us to stick around. We're not leaving the church because we don’t find the cool factor there; were leaving the church because we don’t find Jesus there. Like every generation before ours and every generation after, deep down, we long for Jesus."
And:
"Many of us, myself included, are finding ourselves increasingly drawn to high church traditions – Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, the Episcopal Church, etc. – precisely because the ancient forms of liturgy seem so unpretentious, so unconcerned with being 'cool,' and we find that refreshingly authentic."
First, I have to ask: Are you seeking the Jesus Christ who died to make eternal life in the presence of God available to all? Are you seeking the Jesus Christ who tells us, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me" (John 14:6)?
Or, are you seeking the Jesus who is attractive to the secular society, the Jesus who wears a flower in His hair, and tells folks, "Don't worry, be happy!"? If so, it is no wonder many are not finding Him -- for all they see are dancing and singing "social salvation" workers, folks with "Love Everyone!" signs, who tell us, "Don't worry about your lifestyle; just come sing and dance with us and you will be okay." Wrong! Tilt! Time to plug into a different power source, the Holy Spirit who guides us in more fully understanding God's Word!
To me, this article, and specifically these excerpts, rings loudly as a call for church fellowships which are based on a "Social Theology," i.e., a works oriented theology. And, the second excerpt tells me that the writer is seeking an Emerging Church environment which is trying to lead people back to liturgical and mystical traditions -- and away from teaching the Bible as the inspired, inerrant, literal Written Word of God; the sole authority for finding salvation and guidance for daily Christian living.
Personally, I disagree with this writer. I believe what our church fellowships need is to put more emphasis on being Christ-centered, Bible-teaching fellowships which are encouraging and teaching people to seek a personal relationship with Jesus Christ -- and let the "social works" grow FROM that saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
Music and entertainment won't save anyone. Latte won't save anyone. Social movements won't save anyone. The name over the door of the church will not save anyone. So, what will save folks, people of all ages and all generations?
Glad you asked! Let's start with getting back to basics, i.e., teaching the Bible as the God-inspired, inerrant, literal Written Word of God, His full revelation to man. This is the first step.
Teach that, in the Bible, "God says what He means, and He means what He says" -- and that in God's Word we will find the ONLY WAY to eternal life, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
In such a Christ-centered, Bible-teaching type of fellowship, people may not be as entertained, they may not feel as "cool" -- but, they will find the true Jesus Christ, our only Way to eternal life with God.
Let's not entertain people! Let's put our emphasis on taking people by the hand and leading them to Jesus Christ. Let's put our emphasis on loving people all the way to the cross.
And, if we truly love them, we will sincerely, truthfully, and fully share the Word of God, the Bible, with them -- as their sole Travel Guide to eternal life in Christ.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill