The Unchurched in America

"There has been a 92% increase in the number of unchurched Americans in the last thirteen years. In 1991 there were 39 million unchurched Americans compared with 75 million currently. (2004)"
The Barna Group http://www.barna.org
Barna describes unchurched as 18 years old or older who have not attended church in the last 6 months. This excludes,Holidays, weddings, funerals etc.. These statistics show that as Christians we really need to be spreading the Gospel outside of the church building. We can not expect that people will come to church and hear it. Jesus said He would make us fishers of men. Fish don't jump in the boat, the fisherman has to take the boat out in to the water and work for the fish. Likewise, we can not expect the unsaved to come to church, we must go out and tell them about Jesus.

Seeker Friendly

"To me, much of the "seeker friendly" movement has abandoned the fundamentals of our faith in an effort to attract everyone while offending no one, turning Sunday services into up-tempo variety shows and mistaking attendance figures and bank deposits for evangelistic success. The greatest obstacle to gaining the truth is the assumption that you already have it."------From an article by Jack Kelley at http://www.hallindseyoracle.com/articles.asp?ArticleID=12503

Amazing Grace

God's grace is truly amazing. Does that give us a license to sin? No way! There is a fine line between being legalistic and living in God's grace. I believe that if one is truly saved, and has experienced the life changing power of God, they will not want to sin. If we truly love God, we should want to be Holy, just as He is Holy. Will we slip up and sin? Yes, and that is when grace comes in to play. We do not need to feel condemnation. We can ask God's forgiveness and fall under His grace. The problem is, in many congregations today we are preaching grace, grace, God's grace and failing to mention sin and the need for Salvation. We fail to mention that one must be born again to receive God's grace. Therefore many a pew are filled with unsaved people being told of God's grace week after week and never being presented with the message of salvation. The "feel good" messages and the "motivational speaking" found in many pulpits do not force the sinner and the unsaved to recognize their sin, realizing their need for a Saviour.

The Holiness Manifesto

I thought this was very interesting. The church does need holiness. There is a lack of holiness in a lot of churches and a lot of Christians. God calls us to be Holy and set apart. Check it out here: http://holinessandunity.org/fs/index.php?id=1253

Standing and Knocking

" I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. " So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth." Because you say, " I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3: 15-17, 19-20
Those words are something to think about. Most of the time when we hear those scriptures preached, especially the part about standing at the door and knocking, they are being used evangelically. They are used in the sense that Jesus is knocking on the heart of the unbeliever. Jesus is doing this, but these scriptures in Revelation are directed at BELIEVERS. They are written to the church; specifically, the Laodecian church. I believe the church today has qualities of all 7 of the churches mentioned in Revelation. Unfortunately, I believe the American Church has many of the qualities of the Laodicean church. The Laodicean church was the wealthiest of the seven churches. The Laodicean church had become complacent and stood for nothing. Their indifference led to idleness. The Laodiceans had confused material possessions with God's spiritual blessings. They were confident, satisfied and complacent. Likewise, America is a wealthy country. For the most part everyone has their basic needs met and many of us live in abundance. Many are extremely wealthy. The American Church has become complacent. We like to stay within our 4 walls, with our comfortable pews, and beautiful stained glass windows. We have watered down our message so that we do not offend anyone, and they will come back. We have almost turned in to a social club. We say we want the lost to come to church, but when they show up with rings in their nose, or in blue jeans and tatoos, we turn our noses up at them. Come on folks, you all know what it is like to walk in a room and know that you are not wanted because you don't "fit the mold." Some of us invite people to church, but how many of us will actually share Jesus with someone outside of the church building. Many have to dust their Bibles off on Sunday morning before church. Would anyone know you were a Christian if you did not tell them? Shouldn't we be different? Shouldn't our light so shine that others notice a difference? What do you stand for? Anything? Or is it everything? When that abortion discussion starts at work, are you quiet so as not to offend anyone, or do you speak up and tell them you believe it is wrong? Jesus made it very clear how He feels about lukewarm Christianity. I believe we need to wake up! Time is short. We were called to GO INTO ALL the world and preach the gospel. I did not read anywhere where it said to invite people to church and hope they would come. Don't get me wrong, that is not a bad thing, but people do not have to be in a church building to hear the Gospel. Many will not come to a Church, but will listen if you share the Gospel and the love of Jesus with them. Let's Get Busy! Jesus is coming back soon! SOULS !

It's Not About Religion, It Is About Relationship

This is an awesome sight and tool for leading others to Christ! Check it out!
http://www.notreligion.com/

The Rapture

Rapture........Pre- tribulation? Post Tribulation? Mid -Tribulation? I have my views.....But what really matters is..BE READY!!!!!!!! ARE YOU READY?

Unity

I woke up this morning thinking of that word. What does unity mean? Webster's defines it as a state of harmony, continuity without deviation or change (as in purpose or action). Will there ever be unity in the Christian church? No, I do not believe so, but let me say that I do believe there will be remnant of believers who will be like minded and in one accord. It is so sad to me that the church in America spends it's time arguing over doctrinal theology instead of focusing on the great commission. We were all called to be "fishers of men". We all were called to spread the good news, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our # 1 priority should be SOUL WINNING! JESUS IS COMING BACK SOON AND WE NEED TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL TO A LOST AND DYING WORLD! The Christian church in the U.S. thinks it is doing well when the attendance #'s are high. Never mind that no one is getting saved and many pulpits don't even mention the gospel Sunday after Sunday. Many don't want to confront sin. What are we doing to reach the countless #'s that will not step foot in to the church building? Well, you say, we have Christian television. Yes that can be a good thing, but the majority of it is pastors promising you the blessings of God if you send in an offering. Many telling you to serve God and He will make you rich. Does God want to prosper us ? YES! Certainly! But should that be what draws sinners to Christ? No! I believe in order to be truly converted one must be aware of his or her inherent wickedness and need for a savior, not a big bank account. Why is sin a taboo word in many pulpits? Lat's face it folks, that is why Jesus Died for us. WE ARE ALL SINNERS. I believe there is a remnant that will not compromise, will not be shaken, will not conform to this world. A remnant of believers that will stand for righteousness no matter what the cost. No matter what Hollywood, Oprah, or Dr. Phil says. If the Bible doesn't say it, it isn't true. If God said it will happen, it will. Jesus did not call us to be tolerant, but to stand for righteousness. It is in this group of believers that there will be unity. our lives and the way we live them need to be a light to a lost and dying world. We should be different. We should tell everyone we can about Jesus. We can not expect that they will come to church on Sunday to hear it. We must focus on SOULS !

Religion vs. Relationship

Do you think the kingdom of Satan, Lucifer, "the devil", the prince of the power of the air, (whatever you choose to call him), is at all hurt by us being "religious"? Does us faithfully going to church Sunday after Sunday, singing in the choir and being a good person in any way hurt or slow down the enemy and his army of demons? No! The devil is not worried about "religious" people. The enemies camp and his powers are only thwarted when we have a relationship with Jesus Christ. When we stand our ground. When we not only preach it but practice it. When we truly stand and say, "I am a child of the Most High God." When we truly live and believe that no weapon formed against us shall prosper. When the way we live our lives is a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we live a life that makes our neighbors and co-workers notice something is different. We are not called to be of this world, but to stand out and be separate. To let our light shine does not mean going to church Sunday and Wednesday. Our light shines when we live a Godly life Monday through Saturday. When we stand up for what is right. When we choose not to laugh at the off-color joke at work. When we love the unlovely. When the co-worker says he has a headache, we don't say, "I am sorry" , but we ask to pray for him. We are called to be holy.This is when the kingdom of darkness is thwarted. We must separate ourselves and let our lights so shine. We must have a relationship with Christ so that when all hell breaks loose in our lives, we can stand and know that God is in control. We can have the peace that surpasses all understanding. We must remember who we are in Christ and when the enemy comes knocking we remind him with holy boldness who we are!

Noah's Ark

Once again, a bunch of buzz about Noah's Ark. Could it be? Good Morning America had a story wondering if "the legend" of Noah's Ark could be proven true? Many have spent years trying to see what is on that mountain top in Turkey. They have even worked with a team of naval architects to see if it is possible for a roughly 1,000 foot boat built of wood to float. It would be wonderful if they could"prove" that it was true.,that there really was a Noah's Ark. But if they can't, will that change the truth? Only skeptics need proof. My Bible says it's true, therefore God says it is true, so it is true. The Bible, the infallible word of God. Faith-- The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. One must have faith even to believe evolution. No one was here to "prove" how it happened.

A Famine of Truth in the Land

I believe that the United States is experiencing a famine of truth. I believe it starts in the pulpits of many main stream churches. Why is "sin" suddenly a taboo word. Why is the mention of hell suddenly a possibly offensive thing. Where in the Bible does it say we have to be "tolerant." We are not called to be "tolerant." 2Cor 6:17] Therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you,
1John 2:15] Do not love the world or the things in the world. If any one loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.
[1John 2:16] For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world.
What is coming from the pulpits of many churches today, and streaming over the airwaves of Christian television is nothing more than "motivational speaking" with a Christian flare. Pastors all across the country are offering an ear tickling sermon in order to keep the offering high. Pastors are afraid to mention "sin" because they would not want to offend anyone and keep them from coming back next Sunday. Churches are more concerned with their attendance numbers than the number of salvations they have. Many, way to many, don't even have an altar call for salvation.

What is Religion?

According to Webster's , "religion" is a " cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." I personally hate the word "religion". Many people say "he or she was very religious." What does that mean? Does it matter? Does being "religious" affect where you will spend eternity? The most highly "religious" people of Jesus' time were so caught up in their religion that they failed to recognize that He was the Messiah. Their vast knowledge of the Old Testament writings and their devout religious practices did nothing to help them see the truth. In fact it did just the opposite. They could not understand how a simple Jewish carpenter could be the Saviour of the world.

It is all about Jesus!

It is all about Jesus and Him crucified. Man has tried to add and take away so much from that. So many denominations. So much differing in our doctrinal theology. What really matters is the simple gospel truth of Christ crucified. Why do we let so much divide us?