Bonnie Alba
Lukewarm churches mirror society
By Bonnie Alba
Over the last century, American Christian Churches have metamorphosed from standing out and being different from the surrounding society-culture to blending a little bit of this and little bit of that taken from present-day cultural mores, instead of God's Word to man.
The recent comprehensive Pew Forum U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (religions.pewforum.org/reports) demonstrated some surprising, if not astounding, statistics. That is, if the survey is accurate and asked the right questions.
Survey statistics might give us a clue as to why no one bats an eyelash when presidential-wannabe Obama appears to contradict himself in his faith and beliefs. Or, why so many Christians are influenced by Oprah Winfrey's promotion of spiritual, edge of new age, how-to books. Oprah's latest is the online course of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Heaven and a New Earth."
When we look at the numbers, we wonder where these people go to church. Though the survey included many others, here I will focus on the Evangelical (EV) and Mainline (ML) Protestant churches.
** Absolutely Certain Belief in God: EV Protestants — 90 percent; ML Protestants — 73 percent.
** Many religions can lead to eternal life: EV Protestants — 57 percent; ML Protestants — 83 percent.
Is it possible the questions were wrongly worded? The second is not the basic belief of evangelical Protestants. Something either is seriously wrong with the churches — what in the world are they teaching their members? — or, the questions were confusing to the respondents.
It's no secret that ML Protestant churches have slowly declined over the last 50 years while the EV Protestant churches have grown. There are now signs that even EV denominations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, are concerned about declining membership.
Laodicean Church Era
Are we experiencing the Laodicean church era? In the Book of Revelation, the last chronological letter to the churches, Jesus admonished the Laodicean church because they were "...neither Hot (spiritually alive) nor Cold" (total rejection of Jesus Christ), but were merely "Lukewarm." The "lukewarm" majority were not genuinely saved, but did not openly reject the Gospel.
Is the "lukewarm" crowd now the majority occupying the pews of our churches?
The following numbers may surprise you ... or not.
** Belief in Heaven: EV Protestants — 86 percent; ML Protestants — 77 percent.
** Belief in Hell: EV Protestants — 82 percent; ML Protestants — 56 percent.
Maybe we can get another significant clue from another item:
** The Bible is the Word of God: EV Protestants — 88 percent; ML Protestants — 61 percent.
** Literal Interpretation of Scripture: EV Protestants — 59 percent; ML Protestants — 29 percent.
Can we draw any conclusions from these numbers? Are we following in the footsteps of Christianity's decline in Europe and Great Britain? Have American churches become more worldly in their practices? Have American churches watered down biblical teaching about right and wrong, heaven and hell, goodness and sin?
We hear much about Heaven, but when was the last time we heard the words "Sin" or "Hell" in a sermon? We're more apt to hear Sunday morning Pep Talks instead of "Truth or Consequences of unbelief." In my humble, layman opinion, we've strayed too far into the "feel-good" positive spin zone.
To the Laodicean church, Jesus warned, "...You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." Is this status quo for American churches today?
Jesus then said, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." Jesus is offering them "faith ... more precious than gold" (1 Peter 1:7); redemption; and the "...the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
In general churches are still striving even if many are hanging on by a thread. If we are experiencing the last stage of the Church Age, then we can expect more watered down Christianity, more tolerance and political correctness for "different ways to salvation." In other words, a homogenized church no different inside than the society outside the church doors. Why go to church?
Jesus' last warning to the Church of Laodicea: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Jesus Christ stands at the doors of the churches today and knocks. Are you listening?
© Bonnie Alba
Over the last century, American Christian Churches have metamorphosed from standing out and being different from the surrounding society-culture to blending a little bit of this and little bit of that taken from present-day cultural mores, instead of God's Word to man.
The recent comprehensive Pew Forum U.S. Religious Landscape Survey (religions.pewforum.org/reports) demonstrated some surprising, if not astounding, statistics. That is, if the survey is accurate and asked the right questions.
Survey statistics might give us a clue as to why no one bats an eyelash when presidential-wannabe Obama appears to contradict himself in his faith and beliefs. Or, why so many Christians are influenced by Oprah Winfrey's promotion of spiritual, edge of new age, how-to books. Oprah's latest is the online course of Eckhart Tolle's "A New Heaven and a New Earth."
When we look at the numbers, we wonder where these people go to church. Though the survey included many others, here I will focus on the Evangelical (EV) and Mainline (ML) Protestant churches.
** Absolutely Certain Belief in God: EV Protestants — 90 percent; ML Protestants — 73 percent.
** Many religions can lead to eternal life: EV Protestants — 57 percent; ML Protestants — 83 percent.
Is it possible the questions were wrongly worded? The second is not the basic belief of evangelical Protestants. Something either is seriously wrong with the churches — what in the world are they teaching their members? — or, the questions were confusing to the respondents.
It's no secret that ML Protestant churches have slowly declined over the last 50 years while the EV Protestant churches have grown. There are now signs that even EV denominations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, are concerned about declining membership.
Laodicean Church Era
Are we experiencing the Laodicean church era? In the Book of Revelation, the last chronological letter to the churches, Jesus admonished the Laodicean church because they were "...neither Hot (spiritually alive) nor Cold" (total rejection of Jesus Christ), but were merely "Lukewarm." The "lukewarm" majority were not genuinely saved, but did not openly reject the Gospel.
Is the "lukewarm" crowd now the majority occupying the pews of our churches?
The following numbers may surprise you ... or not.
** Belief in Heaven: EV Protestants — 86 percent; ML Protestants — 77 percent.
** Belief in Hell: EV Protestants — 82 percent; ML Protestants — 56 percent.
Maybe we can get another significant clue from another item:
** The Bible is the Word of God: EV Protestants — 88 percent; ML Protestants — 61 percent.
** Literal Interpretation of Scripture: EV Protestants — 59 percent; ML Protestants — 29 percent.
Can we draw any conclusions from these numbers? Are we following in the footsteps of Christianity's decline in Europe and Great Britain? Have American churches become more worldly in their practices? Have American churches watered down biblical teaching about right and wrong, heaven and hell, goodness and sin?
We hear much about Heaven, but when was the last time we heard the words "Sin" or "Hell" in a sermon? We're more apt to hear Sunday morning Pep Talks instead of "Truth or Consequences of unbelief." In my humble, layman opinion, we've strayed too far into the "feel-good" positive spin zone.
To the Laodicean church, Jesus warned, "...You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked." Is this status quo for American churches today?
Jesus then said, "I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see." Jesus is offering them "faith ... more precious than gold" (1 Peter 1:7); redemption; and the "...the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)
In general churches are still striving even if many are hanging on by a thread. If we are experiencing the last stage of the Church Age, then we can expect more watered down Christianity, more tolerance and political correctness for "different ways to salvation." In other words, a homogenized church no different inside than the society outside the church doors. Why go to church?
Jesus' last warning to the Church of Laodicea: "Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
Jesus Christ stands at the doors of the churches today and knocks. Are you listening?
© Bonnie Alba
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