We are living in a generation of sobering contradictions. On the one hand, we are seeing phenomenal growth in the global Christian community. The reports of conversions to Christ in recent years sound a lot like the growth of the early church in the book of Acts. On the other hand, there is reliable evidence that many of these positive spiritual life decisions are being undermined by statistics that reveal shallow commitment in too many professed believers.
Millions are coming to Christ in Russia, China and Africa. The Great Awakening Tour claims that their worldwide crusades have resulted in nearly one million people making decisions since 2007. One denomination reported 2.5 million decisions for Christ in 2008. The international organization called Media Ministry recorded an astonishing 10 million decisions for Christ in 2009 alone! One ministry, Christ for the Nations, has documented an incredible 45 million salvation decisions worldwide in just six years. Exciting to say the least!
Yet, with all the excitement about the growth of the contemporary Church, we must not ignore some glaring inconsistencies. I learned from a 20/20 report just last week that 74% of men and 62% of women would have an affair if they were sure they would not be caught. I just about fainted. I know that this number has to include some folks who are professing Christians. In October 2003 the Barna group found that 45% of those who profess to be born-again Christians believed that gambling is morally acceptable. 49% believed that ‘living with someone of the opposite sex without being married’ was morally okay. One third of those professing to be born again thought it was okay to kill a baby while it is still in the womb. [Article: “Morality Continues to Decay”] In 2009, the Barna Group found that among individuals who describe themselves as Christian, close to half believe that Satan does not exist, one-third contend that Jesus sinned while He was on the earth, two-fifths say they do not have a responsibility to share the Christian faith with others, and one quarter dismiss the idea that the Bible is accurate in all of the principles it teaches. [Article: “Christianity Is No Longer America’s Default Faith”] I cannot begin to tell you the disastrous outcomes of such a flawed theology!
All this to say… The Bible speaks of ‘having a form of godliness, but denying the power of it.” We are seeing this manifested in our generation… people who have made a decision for Christ, but have never really made Jesus the Lord of their lives. To these Jesus would ask a rhetorical question… “Why do you call me Lord and do not do the things I say?”
Pray with me… “Father in heaven, we grieve over the disconnect between the belief and the behavior of some of your people. We are to be holy as you are holy. Our character should reflect Your character. As Your children, we are to think, look and act like our Father. Give us the will to be, from the inside out, the faithful image of our Lord. In His name, amen.”
Blessings,
Pastor Ken
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