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****************************************************** webminister@webminister.com March 2000 - #1
IN THIS ISSUE:
****************************************************** In a comparison of the1994 edition with the 2000 edition, almost no change took place in attendance or the number of churches. In reality, this amounts to a decline compared to the growth in US population. Thus the gains made between 1994 - 1997 were lost between 1997 - 2000. The accuracy of counting rolling marbles leaves a lot to be desired both in time and space. Instead of rolling marbles, Mac Lynn has tried to count the number attending the various churches of Christ throughout the United States. Some may disagree with the counts, some accounts may be exaggerated, and some may have used different criteria. However, Lynn has attempted to rely on three different types of count – "members" or those baptized and still identified with a certain congregation; "adherents" or members plus unbaptised children and others included in the extended church family; and "attendance". In the 2000 edition, Mac Lynn under "America's Mission Areas" states "Over the past decade, Churches of Christ have expanded only minimally. As the US population continues to grow, the representation of Churches of Christ has diminished. No ground swell appears for evangelizing in the unentered counties or for new church plantings anywhere. In spite of a tremendous amount of energy spent in nurturing activity, neither a passion nor a strategy for domestic outreach is evident, in spite of a significant interest in evangelistic gatherings. More significantly, membership and attendance have declined." (pp 22 - 23)
****************************************************** The divinity of Christ includes belief in the virgin birth of Christ, in the miracles He preformed, in His death and resurrection from the dead, and in His being the Son of God. Without a 100% belief in the divinity of Christ, Christianity would become meaningless. Hoge, Johnson, and Luidens in "Vanishing Boundaries" state 84% of the Pre-Boomers (born before 1946) and 78% of the Boomers (born between 1964 and 1964) believe in the divinity of Christ (p 60). The inspiration of the Scriptures implies that God wrote or caused His chosen men to write what He told them. If the Bible was not created in this manner, then the Bible would only be a book of philosophy written by man with no guarantees to the divinity of Christ or a possibility of a resurrection and final judgment of mankind. 97% of the Pre-Boomers and 92% of the Boomers believe in some form of divine inspiration of the Scriptures (p 60). The promise of life after death relies on the divinity of Christ and the inspiration of the Scriptures and its teachings. Otherwise, no life time guarantee exists. With this in mind this "Core Value" is harder to comprehend. Only 90% of Pre-Boomers and 83% of Boomers believe in life after death (p 60). Without total absolute belief in these "Core Values" the church would be meaningless. This is the foundation upon which the church is based. However, many interpreted the "Core Values" with their own understanding without biblical study or discussion with other people. Hoge, Johnson, and Luidens' survey results were about evenly divided (about 46%) for both Pre-Boomers and Boomers on whether the purpose of this life was a preparation for the next life (p 60). When the question was asked about a divine judgment after death, 61% of the Pre-Boomers agreed and 29% disagreed compared with 56% of the Boomers agreed and 32% disagreed. When questions were asked about the type of judgment and whether heaven and hell were real or figurative the issues varied greatly. Some wanted to believe in a real heaven and a figurative hell. Some even believe we will come back in a future generation. With regard to Christian universities and colleges, human biblical scholarship, "no-holds-barred criticism," and many critical introduction of the Old and New Testament center around men writing the Bible, not God, as the focused authority. This in turn weakens "biblical authority" and the teachings of Christ no longer remain firm and clear. Hoge, Johnson, and Luidens state "Textual criticism, historicism, and new understandings of culturally conditioned worldviews have put distance between the scriptural texts and people's commitments. . . . We have diagnosed the crisis of authority as being a result of the expansion of liberal higher education, pluralism, and cross-cultural awareness" (pp 206 - 211). In other words, many create their own theology and interpret their theology. A hundred years ago, it was "WDJD" – What Did Jesus Do, and then apply the teachings. Today, it is "WWJD" – What Would Jesus Do, based on a concept of goodness, expected morality, and at its worst – personal pragmatism. When was the last time you heard or preached a sermon on one or all of the basic "Core Values?"
****************************************************** The "Andrew Principle" is relevant today. Andrew brought Simon Peter to Christ. Jesus encouraged His disciples to bring others to Him. Jesus did the teaching, just as today Christians should establish relationships with non Christian in bringing them to church where the members of the church can teach them. Christ never said one had to do it alone. How many Andrews or Andreas does your church have?
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****************************************************** "Churches of Christ in the United States -- 2000" can be bought from 21st Century Christian for $17.50 (paperback) plus shipping and handling at http://21stcc.com.
****************************************************** I need your comments, so e-mail me at webminister@webminister.com. Let me know if you want to "unsubscribe." In His Service, The Webminister |