The 80/20 Connundrum in Gods Church

The polls have been done, the questions answered and the numbers just aren't pretty.

79.5% of Americans identify as Christians, but they rarely attend church services, do not trust exclusively in Christ for salvation and they do not value the teachings of the Bible as Gods Word.

If the statistics were true, 8 of every 10 people we know would be an active, believing Christian. 

The numbers are closer to maybe 7-9%, and of that percentage, according to a Barna Group poll:

46% of church going people say their lives have not changed at all as a result of attending services

61% say they have received NO significant insight from attending church services

17% of all Americans are actively antagonistic toward the Bible

The statistics go from bad to worse, and are indicative of the disarray Gods Holy Church is in here in America, at this time in His Story.

2 out of 3 Americans believe the Bible contains everything needed to live a meaningful life, but only 1 out of 5 actually reads the bible just 4 days a week.

When we take out the Sundays and Wednesdays in the church setting, this means 1 in 5 of actually reads any part of the bible just 2 more times in any given week period.  Since Apostle Paul tells us we are transformed by the renewing of our minds to His word, it leaves very little transformation going on!

Only 20% of church goers who identify themselves as Christian say they even think about the bible during any given day.

The actual numbers are far worse.  The truth is that fewer than 1 out of 10 Americans participate in the activities that would be expected of true Christians.

LESS THAN 1 IN 10:

• read the Bible 
• strive to live according to its teachings 
• submit their personal will to the Will of the Creator they say they believe in.

Sadder still, less than 1% of that less than 1% have experienced any significant transformation in their lives as a result of trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior according to their own testimonies.

The Lord called His people to “come out from among them” through sanctification and be a peculiar people.

From Exodus 19:5 to 1Peter 2:9 it has always been Gods intention that His people would be different from others on the earth.  That they would stick out.  That the difference would be noticeable and noticed!

How else would anyone know something was different enough about you that they might want to know what it is and thereby open a door for you to share the Gospel, the Good News of Salvation, as Jesus in Acts 1:8 instructed us to do?

Yet, particularly in the last 30 or so years, the “church” has put such effort into being exactly LIKE the world, under the false notion that being like the world would somehow attract the world to them, and then they would share the Gospel.

Unfortunately, every experiment has proven that it doesn't work that way.  If we were reading the bible, we'd remember that 1Corinthians 5:6 warned us of the opposite occurring, that "a little leaven leavens the whole lump."  Adding a little "clean" doesn't work but the opposite does.

As the church becomes more worldly, compromising in the mistaken idea they could “reach” more people this way, the only result is that the church became more worldly while the world never became more godly.  Compromise has led to a watered Gospel that lacks the power of God.

I Corinthians 5:6 and again in Galatians 5:9, we were warned against that kind of thinking and we didn’t pay attention.  Instead, we are now paying a price.

Here is a truth, straight from the Bible, that IF we will pay attention to, we can experience transformation, we can experience true salvation, we can experience lasting, glorious, joyful change in our hearts and lives that not only blesses us, but will bless those around us!

Philippians 2:12

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

We are INDIVIDUALLY responsible before God.  We will each INDIVIDUALLY give an account of ourselves to the Lord at the Day of Judgment.

When each INDIVIDUAL makes their own personal commitment and works out their salvation according to the teaching and doctrine found in the Bible, then when we come together COLLECTIVELY, like the First Century Church:

Acts 2:40-47

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, save yourselves from this untoward generation.

Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

We will have in common the doctrines we follow, when we share, rather than dictate according to our own need, want and desire, the words found in the Bible.

We will have in common a peculiarity that smells and looks like a TRUE BELIEVER that others will recognize.  They may hate us, as they hated Jesus, but we will be true to the Lord Who made formed and created us!

 We will see God move mightily on behalf of His people when we zealously, diligently seek personal relationship with the Father and The Son Jesus through the Holy Spirit given for that purpose, and then COLLECTIVELY, CORPORATELY manifest that power in His name. 

• Not the name of a denomination
• Not the name of a church building
• Not the name of any Pastor, bible Teacher or CELEBRITY so-called Christian

In the Name above all names, the Name of Jesus the Lord.

In thinking about all of this I can't help but wonder, based on the behaviors we've encountered as we've visited churches across the US, do enough of us even still care?
WHAT DO YOU THINK?  Hit the "Comment" below and share your thoughts with the Body of Christ.

Queen Ann's Beheading

Back in the 1530's when the petulant King Henry ruled in what was then one of the three major powers in the known world, there lived a young lady named Anne Boleyn. Whatever the origin of her relationship with the King and the reasons for it's abrupt end, we will probably never know anymore than what has been conjectured already.

But there was a thought that gripped my heart the other night as we watched a historical re-enactment of that particular story.

It is supposed that Anne, while not necessarily the one who introduced "reformation" to the King of England, certainly spurred him on to embracing it and rejecting the power of the catholic church over every aspect of civilian life, as had been the tradition.

As I watched scenes of Anne praying fervently, and reading her Bible,exhorting her ladies-in-waiting to exude virtue and spurn lewd behavior I started to think.  How was Anne any different than any of us who trust in Christ?

• She believed she had the privilege of a personal relationship with Christ Jesus that wasn't dependent on intercession of another human being such as the clergy. (In her day this made her a "reformer" which was itself punishable by death.)
• She committed "sins of the flesh" in spite of her confession of faith.  Dare any of us raise our hands as innocent of that transgression?  I know I wouldn't!  We fully believe and expect that when we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and forgives our sins.
• She asked God to deliver her from the unrighteous  accusations against her which were about to cost her her head!  No self respecting God-fearing woman would have failed to do so, so I'm certain she did ask for Gods favor in her unfavorable circumstances.

Having spent a great many years traveling around the United States and taking part in church services in many different regions, we have been exposed to a variety of prayer styles.  Yet one thing all have in common is the assumptive prayer of Gods favor.  Trusting we are forgiven, we also trust that forgiveness comes with deliverance from hurtful, painful circumstances.  The reality is that this is not the case.  

We ask the question often because although there have been numerous attempts made to answer it, none have ever been truly satisfactory.

WHY DO BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?

Why was Anne Boleyn's life cut so short?  Historical records indicate she wasn't at all guilty of the charges brought against her.  Was she worthy of death simply because her body was unable to carry additional children to term?  Was she worthy of death because the King had simply tired of her?

Or was she, like so many others, just the unhappy victim of the sinful nature and behaviors of others?

The very answers to those questions may be the glimpse we need into the answer for each one of us.  For all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.  The very words we speak and the actions we take intertwine with the words and actions of others and then affect every one of our lives for ill or otherwise.

  

It isn't that we are simply the victims of circumstance, but we are subject to the fallen sinful actions of ourselves and others around us.  Our prayers certainly fall on the loving ears of our Heavenly Father and in His Eternal Wisdom His intervention will be based on the outcome most necessary to His will being accomplished for ourselves and for others.

Right now, this remains an unsatisfactory answer.  But one day, we will know even as we are known and then it will all make perfect sense.  Our viewpoint is so limited.  We cannot see past our wants, needs and desires.  We have a very hard time looking past what is best for us and seeing what is best for others, especially when it is going to cost us something.

This is why trusting in the Lord is such a big deal.  Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.

Our understanding is finite; His is infinite and has no selfish agenda whatsoever.  Our question shouldn't be so much "Why" as it should be "How"?  How do we trust God with all our hearts when the circumstances are so difficult?  The answer to that question will give us greater peace as we allow His grace to guide us in our times of trial and tribulation.  We all must choose for ourselves to ask that question instead of the more selfishly motivated "Why, God, Why?"

Meanwhile, as you need prayer, it would be our privilege and joy to pray for you!  Just fill out the prayer request form found at the top left of this website.  Without doubt, prayer is a powerful and life altering action that benefits every one us!