PRAYER: Almighty LORD, thank you for setting me free by your Grace. I know, Holy Father, that this gift came at great sacrifice — the humiliating torture, and death of your Son, Jesus Christ. So use me, Glorious Abba, to bless others who have not yet found their deliverance and freedom in Jesus. I pray this in the name of my Savior, Jesus. AMEN.
Research over the past decade shows why people are staying away from churches in record numbers. It is time to consider why some churches are not vital links to the unconverted and what can be done to change a faltering outreach to the lost?
In some cases, Americans are turned off, to both the message and messengers, in organized religion. To many, the church has appeared narcissistic and self-serving. Leaders often leave behind shattered lives in the wake of their compromised leadership.
There is a high cost of not understanding a generation, not doing the homework necessary to gain a fair hearing of the gospel. We must understand that it is possible to be culturally relevant and at the same time biblically sound in our approach to the unchurched. These two ideas are not mutually exclusive.
It has been said, “The only person who likes change is a baby with a wet diaper.” That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but from my own observation, most people have some hesitancy toward change. Change takes us out of our comfort zone, it doesn’t allow us to relax, it doesn’t give us the assurance in life we long for. It’s like one deacon in a small Midwestern church said, “Change is sin, and we sin as little as possible around here.”
Even though we are uncomfortable, and we should be uncomfortable, with many of such changes in our culture, we must also understand that this is the culture we have been called to minister to.
1. This is our world, God has placed us here for such a time as this.
2. We have been called to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of this generation.
3. If we are going to do that, and do it effectively, we must take Paul’s example as our own, and present the message of Christ in a culturally relevant fashion.
4. I believe the church should be culturally relevant while remaining doctrinally pure.
The doctrinal truth taught in the Bible does not change & anyone who tries to change it or water it down or take it away from the pulpit or church classroom will be confronted from the Word of God & taken away from a position in leadership. God’s truth and His Divine principles will not change.
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