SHOCKING!!

A survey was carried out amongst 5,000 non Christians. They were asked “if you desperately wanted to know something about the Bible or the Christian faith, where would you go”.

The top answer was “the public library” with 27% (that’s 1,350)
A close second was “don’t know” with 20% (that’s 1,000)

That means nearly half would not turn to the church for information.

What does that say about the church? Either the unbeliever doesn’t equate church with the bible or it has become totally irrelevant to the average man in the street.

I don’t know about you but that tells me we have got some serious thinking to do as it is clear that we are not impacting society in any meaningful way.

I have to admit that if I wanted to know something about the bible or the Christian faith I would not go to the local church. After 54 years as a Christian, a theological education at Bible College, three university degrees and a personal library of over 1,000 books, what I am offered in the average church is very superficial.

As God said to me one day, most Sunday morning meetings all we are doing is playing in the sandpit. It is nothing more that an hour or two of personal pleasure to satisfy no one but ourselves.

I realise that there are many Christians, most in fact who are content to do the same thing week in and week out with nothing to challenge them or take them out of their comfort zone. The nearest they get to taking up their cross is to have to sit somewhere other than their favourite seat because someone didn’t realise that it was their favourite seat when they sat there.

The church is not the place for vigorous debate and apologetic contending for the faith. In fact they are positively shunned for a staid one voice fits all mentality that churns out the usual ‘nice’ sermon each week to keep people happy so they won’t leave and take their money elsewhere.

I have yet to hear one like “I don’t want you here unless you are prepared to give 100% and if you don’t know what that means stay behind after the meeting and we will tell you.”

Since the prosperity and church growth movements have taken over Christianity we have this strange idea that numbers is evidence of the blessing of God. The fact that their brand of Christianity is 3 miles wide and 3 inches deep does not seem to matter.

What else doesn’t seem to matter is that when 30,000 fronted up to be part of Gideon’s army, God got rid of 29,700 of them. His mission was accomplished with just 300. Perhaps the world would turn to the church if we had 300 doing things God’s way rather than 29,700 doing things their way.

I read of one church in the UK which had a new minister appointed. He decided to add some new toilets to the building. Half the church left as a result. Definitely not flushed with success.

I spend time on the internet arguing for the good news of Jesus Christ in forums. Generally speaking, platitudes and clichés won’t cut it. To make a credible argument, I have to give an account of the validity of faith in God and the reasons why a person needs salvation. Assuming that a person understands the teaching of the bible is a recipe for disaster, so unless I know what they are, the unbeliever is not going to.

One thing is sure and that is the church desperately needs a restoration of spirit led teachers who can hear from God, understand what he is saying through the scriptures and fearlessly teach it.

Whilst we refuse to recognise their God appointed ministry, the church will remain irrelevant to the world.