Good morning on this Saturday, June 5th. George Barna is a Christian researcher/pollster who is continuously researching attitudes and opinions, especially as they relate to all things religious. In one of his recent studies he sampled opinions of church attenders in churches ranging in size from fewer than 100 people to churches of more than 1000. Those who claimed to have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that was still important in their lives today and believed that when they died they would go to Heaven ranged from 63% to 75% of the church people sampled. When asked if they agreed with the following seven beliefs:
(1) That their faith is very important in their lives today
(2) That they have a personal responsibility to share their faith in Christ with non-Christians
(3) That Satan exists
(4) That salvation is by grace not works
(5) That Jesus Christ lived a sinless life
(6) That the Bible is accurate in all of its teaching
(7) That God is the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today
Only between 9% and 25% of the church respondents believed these seven doctrinal statements!
Additionally, people revealed that the purpose of faith was not so much to discover truth or relate to a loving praise-worthy God, but to be happy, successful, comfortable and secure. Spirituality to most respondents was less about Christianity than about self.
Consider these responses in the light of 2 Timothy 3 where it says, "In the last days perilous times shall come" vs. 1, "Men will be lovers of themselves" vs. 2, "Lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God" vs. 4, "Having a form of Godliness but denying its power" vs. 5; and 2 Timothy 4:3 which says," For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires."
Tomorrow's sermon is entitled, Christ-likeness: Transformed Into His Likeness.
I hope to see you there.
Mel Brown