Monday, January 28, 2008
God's people rise to the occasion
Tonight at church we, Pastor Jon and I, talked about the Purity Focus Conference that our church is going to have. Our church has to do this type of community outreach by faith. In other words, we struggle to have enough money to do these events. Nonetheless, we talked about the importance of ministry to these teens and that life changing opportunities would be available to them. At the end of our service, Pastor Jon said that enough money was pledged to cover the costs of this ministry. Praise the Lord! This shows that God is at work at doing something with our little church. I think that He has a lot for us to experience by faith through His power in the coming months. There were several victories in the Lord today. Praise the Lord! We may not be numerically strong, but we can be strong in faith and service. God is moving. All of us at Smith Chapel will do well not to get bogged down on the negetives, but it will be better if we focus on what He is doing. We are going somewhere and I can't wait.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
More Church Research
Churches' Greatest Critics May be Their Own Followers
By
Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Wed, Jan. 23 2008 02:38 PM ET
[-]Text[+]
Criticism from people outside of Christianity toward the Church doesn't surprise many. But when negative viewpoints are being expressed by believers, it raises a red flag for churches across the country.
Enlarge this Image
(Photo: AP Images / Nathan W. Armes, Pool)
People exit the worship center at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007.
Related
'unChristian'
How Do Unchurched Americans View Christianity?
Study: Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus
In the latest research report by Sam S. Rainer III, who heads Rainer Research, only 39 percent of people who dropped out of the church perceived their church as "caring." Meanwhile, 51 percent of them called their church "judgmental."
Among other unfavorable views from those who quit their church, 41 percent of them said their church was "insincere." Only 20 percent felt their church was "inspirational;" 30 percent said their church was "authentic;" and 36 percent said their church was "welcoming."
The survey was conducted on 18- to 22-year-olds and is featured in Rainer's upcoming book, Essential Church?.
"The churches that do not demonstrate these biblical qualities and rather become insincere and judgmental lose this generation," Rainer, a young Baptist pastor, commented. "They return to the culture that claims churches are not living up to their calling.
"And, for the most part, the culture is correct."
Part of the church's calling is to reach those on the outside and live out what they preach, but these students who are dropping out are hearing one thing in church and seeing another thing in the lives of these churchgoers, Rainer pointed out.
Polls have shown increasing hostility and negativity toward Christianity, mainly from younger non-Christians – a majority of whom have a bad impression of Christianity, according to The Barna Group.
But more reports are indicating that young adults not just outside of the Christian faith, but those in the pews are turned off by believers.
"Yes, we need to be greatly concerned about outside perceptions," said Rainer. "But perhaps more frightening are what our own students are saying about our churches."
National youth leader Greg Stier of Dare 2 Share Ministries believes one of the worst enemies of Christians are Christians.
"When we are known more for what we are against than what we are for what other outcome can we expect?" he said, echoing what many church leaders have expressed.
"If we put down our picket signs and picked up a basin of water and towel to wash feet with then maybe the world would sit up and listen. Or maybe they wouldn't. But either way we would be more like Jesus," Stier noted in a recent interview with The Christian Post.
Young born-again Christians were nearly just as likely as non-Christians (22 vs. 23 percent) to say Christianity in today's society no longer looks like Jesus, according to David Kinnaman of The Barna Group who wrote his findings in unChristian.
Along with perceptions of churches being judgmental, Kinnaman has found that many, including Christians, view the church as full of hypocrites and anti-homosexual.
"If young people view Christianity negatively may it be for the exclusive claims of Christ in the Gospel not because we come off as jerks when we communicate that message," Stier commented.
Despite the bad impressions expressed by those who dropped out of their churches, Rainer found that the churches of young people who did not drop out were viewed very favorably.
A majority of the young people who did not quit described their church as "caring," "welcoming," "authentic" and "inspirational." Only 19 percent of those who stayed said their church was "insincere" and only 24 percent felt their church was "judgmental."
Rainer's Essential Church? releases in the fall.
By
Lillian Kwon
Christian Post Reporter
Wed, Jan. 23 2008 02:38 PM ET
[-]Text[+]
Criticism from people outside of Christianity toward the Church doesn't surprise many. But when negative viewpoints are being expressed by believers, it raises a red flag for churches across the country.
Enlarge this Image
(Photo: AP Images / Nathan W. Armes, Pool)
People exit the worship center at the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007.
Related
'unChristian'
How Do Unchurched Americans View Christianity?
Study: Christianity No Longer Looks Like Jesus
In the latest research report by Sam S. Rainer III, who heads Rainer Research, only 39 percent of people who dropped out of the church perceived their church as "caring." Meanwhile, 51 percent of them called their church "judgmental."
Among other unfavorable views from those who quit their church, 41 percent of them said their church was "insincere." Only 20 percent felt their church was "inspirational;" 30 percent said their church was "authentic;" and 36 percent said their church was "welcoming."
The survey was conducted on 18- to 22-year-olds and is featured in Rainer's upcoming book, Essential Church?.
"The churches that do not demonstrate these biblical qualities and rather become insincere and judgmental lose this generation," Rainer, a young Baptist pastor, commented. "They return to the culture that claims churches are not living up to their calling.
"And, for the most part, the culture is correct."
Part of the church's calling is to reach those on the outside and live out what they preach, but these students who are dropping out are hearing one thing in church and seeing another thing in the lives of these churchgoers, Rainer pointed out.
Polls have shown increasing hostility and negativity toward Christianity, mainly from younger non-Christians – a majority of whom have a bad impression of Christianity, according to The Barna Group.
But more reports are indicating that young adults not just outside of the Christian faith, but those in the pews are turned off by believers.
"Yes, we need to be greatly concerned about outside perceptions," said Rainer. "But perhaps more frightening are what our own students are saying about our churches."
National youth leader Greg Stier of Dare 2 Share Ministries believes one of the worst enemies of Christians are Christians.
"When we are known more for what we are against than what we are for what other outcome can we expect?" he said, echoing what many church leaders have expressed.
"If we put down our picket signs and picked up a basin of water and towel to wash feet with then maybe the world would sit up and listen. Or maybe they wouldn't. But either way we would be more like Jesus," Stier noted in a recent interview with The Christian Post.
Young born-again Christians were nearly just as likely as non-Christians (22 vs. 23 percent) to say Christianity in today's society no longer looks like Jesus, according to David Kinnaman of The Barna Group who wrote his findings in unChristian.
Along with perceptions of churches being judgmental, Kinnaman has found that many, including Christians, view the church as full of hypocrites and anti-homosexual.
"If young people view Christianity negatively may it be for the exclusive claims of Christ in the Gospel not because we come off as jerks when we communicate that message," Stier commented.
Despite the bad impressions expressed by those who dropped out of their churches, Rainer found that the churches of young people who did not drop out were viewed very favorably.
A majority of the young people who did not quit described their church as "caring," "welcoming," "authentic" and "inspirational." Only 19 percent of those who stayed said their church was "insincere" and only 24 percent felt their church was "judgmental."
Rainer's Essential Church? releases in the fall.
Theological Beliefs
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What's your theological worldview? created with QuizFarm.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You scored as Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.
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Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Purity for teens
I have to say that this is one of the most important things that our church can do. We must encourage teens and young adults to pursue abstinence. Maintaining sexual purity is considered by many to be impossible and that teens will never be able to do it. Well, I think that I can speak for our church people when I say we believe in our youth and God's Power to help them overcome temptation. This conference will encourage teens as a group to pursue God's help in seeking purity. This is also a chance for teenagers who may not have waited to seek a second chance in purity. I think we have good speakers lined up. There is a passion in our youth pastor and me to see this become a great moment in time for our teenagers and those who will be attending. While reading this, would you stop and take the time to pray that God will be able to persuade those teens who will attend to pursue Jesus Christ with all of their hearts, and to surrender to Him by making commitments to remain sexually pure for marriage, or to stop any sexual activities that they are taking part in until marriage? Also, pray that they will be able to stay away from all forms of sexual acts too. Pray for our speakers and those who will be working in different areas that they will sense the urgency of this message.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Self-Indulgent Christians
Erwin McManus comments on why Christian churches are in decline in the United States. Check it out. I think that he is right on.
Monday, January 14, 2008
We watched End of the Spear at our church last Sunday night. It is a movie based upon the lives of 5 missionaries who gave their lives sharing the gospel with a formerly unknown tribe in Ecuador. These men were martyrs for their faith in Jesus Christ. A strong point is made about what it really means to give your life away for Jesus Christ. Further, it causes one to consider what it means to give your life so that others might live. These men's families picked up the mantle left behind by those men and carried the gospel to those who had murdered their husbands. These women proceeded to show love and forgiveness for those who sinned greatly against them and their children. Many wonder whether or not God is real, or if Jesus is who He says to be, but they cannot argue that people will not lay their lives down for a lie; nor will they choose to love those who have harmed them in such a great way. I cannot help but wonder why people choose to believe that Christ should be cut out of public and personal life and His ways not taught to our children by our educators or their parents. It is something for us all to meditate on while we continue to practice our "cheap grac" and build our own kingdoms. What does Christ expect from us?
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Less than a Pundit
According to Wikipedia.com, "A pundit is someone who offers mass-media opinion, analysis or commentary on a particular subject area (most typically political analysis, the social sciences or sport), on which they are presumed to be knowledgeable." While I am not a real pundit, I will play the part since I do have an opinion about what we should consider during this election season. I think that we should re-elect Jesus Christ King. I remember several years ago while living in Indiana before an election, I was driving along when I read an election sign that said re-elect Jesus Christ King. It seems that this is the most important issue facing America, and the American Church. This is because it is a to elect a president since nobody knows for sure whether or not the person who is elected will do what is best for the people. It is amazing that Americans are seeking safety, having thier needs met, health care, equality for all, laws that will legislate tolerance for all, and etc. I don't think that there is a candidate out there who can acheive this. However, Jesus Christ can. Some may wonder what Christ can do and why is this even an opinion that needs to be heard. It needs to be heard since He can write the law of love upon our hearts. He can give eternal life to those who believe in Him and serve Him. He can intervene when we need Him the most; as He did by giving His life for ous sins. He can help us treat each other properly. This means that He is well qualified to be our leader. As a pundit, I hope that you will think about electing the right leader for your life.
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