Who's YOUR One?
Jerry Watts
John 1:35-46
The May 9, 2019 edition of the Baptist Record has this story on page 8, ''Church Rolls Continue Downward Trend, Survey Says.'' This means: ''In our state (the most ''churched'' state in the Union), we have over 50% of the population not connected with anyone's church (anyone's!!), while, our churches are slowly dying.'' Honestly, few church members will admit their church is dying because they 'love their church' SO much. It almost seems to me like, ''If I don't admit it, then it's not real.'' Yet, the reality is obvious to everyone else and denial doesn't change a thing.
As someone who works minimally in Emergency response of my community, this is what I have discovered; if a person's life blood is slipping away, no matter how slowly, if some action is not taken, they will die. Generally, physically, we must stop the bleeding and then give a transfusion to rebuild the system. The same is true for the church.
Our association paints a pic. From 2008 - 2018 Baptisms down 32%, Other additions down 37%, Mission Giving down 20%, and as best as I can tell, Worship Attendance is down over 20%. All of this is happening while our population is growing. Does this strike you as it does me?
Add to these truths Jesus' last words and we scratch our heads. The last words a person speaks before they are gone are very significant. It is the most important thing on their heart. Such is the case with Jesus. Combined His last words and hear what He said, ''All authority has been given to me and I'm giving it to you.'' WOW! Did you catch that? Then He continued, ''So as you are going into this world, be my witnesses by making disciples of all people.'' Any questions thus far? He goes on to say, ''Start in Jerusalem (at home), then Judea (neighboring, friendly areas), then go to Samaria (where no one wants to go), and then the rest of the world.'' He has sent His Holy Spirit to us, and what He told us to do (requires of us, orde ...
Jerry Watts
John 1:35-46
The May 9, 2019 edition of the Baptist Record has this story on page 8, ''Church Rolls Continue Downward Trend, Survey Says.'' This means: ''In our state (the most ''churched'' state in the Union), we have over 50% of the population not connected with anyone's church (anyone's!!), while, our churches are slowly dying.'' Honestly, few church members will admit their church is dying because they 'love their church' SO much. It almost seems to me like, ''If I don't admit it, then it's not real.'' Yet, the reality is obvious to everyone else and denial doesn't change a thing.
As someone who works minimally in Emergency response of my community, this is what I have discovered; if a person's life blood is slipping away, no matter how slowly, if some action is not taken, they will die. Generally, physically, we must stop the bleeding and then give a transfusion to rebuild the system. The same is true for the church.
Our association paints a pic. From 2008 - 2018 Baptisms down 32%, Other additions down 37%, Mission Giving down 20%, and as best as I can tell, Worship Attendance is down over 20%. All of this is happening while our population is growing. Does this strike you as it does me?
Add to these truths Jesus' last words and we scratch our heads. The last words a person speaks before they are gone are very significant. It is the most important thing on their heart. Such is the case with Jesus. Combined His last words and hear what He said, ''All authority has been given to me and I'm giving it to you.'' WOW! Did you catch that? Then He continued, ''So as you are going into this world, be my witnesses by making disciples of all people.'' Any questions thus far? He goes on to say, ''Start in Jerusalem (at home), then Judea (neighboring, friendly areas), then go to Samaria (where no one wants to go), and then the rest of the world.'' He has sent His Holy Spirit to us, and what He told us to do (requires of us, orde ...
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