One of the biggest questions being asked by Christians across denominations and throughout North America is, “What is in the future for the Christian Church?” If you truly want to know the honest answer, read on. However, if you think you have the answer or you are unwilling to consider change from how “it used to be” don’t bother reading any further. Honestly speaking, If you think that the only way the Christian church can be restored is charted in the past, don’t read this article. If you don’t take criticism well, STOP HERE!
As I was reflecting on the past year at Light of the Valley, there were many times that God just showed up and led us into His great blessings. This church is blessed with a very friendly family, a wonderful facility, a desire to learn about the Bible, and a genuine desire to “be the church”. Just to name a few.
I also found that, while we have been growing, we have also been lacking in participation in Evangelistic efforts. The Evangelism committee has been low on attendance for meetings, flyers for big events have not been distributed to the community when they are available, and only a few people have expressed concern for the lost. I can’t just say, “So, fix it.” Genuine concern for the lost is something that can only be stirred up when a person realizes that the church is becoming increasingly irrelevant and ineffective to the world around us.
Recent studies of American church attendance records indicate that past statistics are misleading and those surveyed lied about their church attendance. George Barna has reported a growth in the “unchurched” population (those who have not attended a regular church service in 6 months), showing that the unchurched group has grown from 24 to 34 percent in just ten years.
In another study, Thom Rainer of the Billy Graham School of Evangelism has narrowed the “believers” down by generational participation. In his study of 5,200 people (1,300 in each group), Rainer found the percentage of believers making up various generations according to the following groups: 65% of Builders were believers (born before 1946), 35% of Boomers (1946-1964), 15% of Busters (1965-1976), 4% of Bridgers (1976-1994).
This is a powerful message to today’s faithful to put away our pride and open ourselves up to the fact that we, as the church are missing the boat! If things continue the way they have been, the church will become just another marginalized fringe group. Is that the witness of living faith you hope to see alive in 50 years?
Reggie McNeal writes, “[The church world in North America is] a world that has largely forsaken its missional covenant with God to be part of a kingdom expansion. It has, instead, substituted its own charter of church as a clubhouse where religious people hang out with other people who think, dress, behave, vote, and believe like them.” To what extent do you think this description is fitting for Light of the Valley?
To a certain extent, I believe we are responsible for this…we cannot blame it on everyone else. Which means we need to repent and become the solution to the mess we are in and the road we are on. In the coming months, we will focus on how we can address this culture that is ingrained into our church. The goal will be to seek ways that our witness is truly faithful and effective at providing what this world needs to be reconnected to God’s church.
This means that I will need to preach different, get to know the community more personally, approach the Scriptures with a different set of lenses, and lead the church in transitioning to a more effective ministry of the gospel. Honestly, this scares me. It scares me because that means I’m going to have to make decisions that not everyone will like, I will have to ask questions that are uncomfortable for people to answer honestly, and I will need to experience failure at times. My comfort will be in knowing that I am going where my conscience leads. I pray you will join me in this wholeheartedly…if you haven’t already.
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