In almost every church across our great nation the members are concerned with a declining membership. Even in evangelical churches with their big numbers the decline is evident. Just look at the financial crisis of the Televangelical Groups. As to the number of people "saved" on a weekly basis, the membership growth doesn't change that much. More and more people, who profess Christianity as their faith, are opting to no longer worship in organized churches.
Why are they staying away? They are tired of the constant bickering between Christians. They do not feel comfortable with theology of the 1800's. Even the contemporary worship services tend to be years behind them. Church programs modeled after those of the 1950's are of no interest to those in a fast paced computer driven world. We in the church are kidding ourselves if we believe we are establishing a church for tomorrow that will be bigger than the one our parents left us.
What can be done? Let's follow the example of the first century church. Go to where the people are and establish means of teaching and worship that reflects theological tradition as well as the converts life situation and setting. That early church had to meet in secret in many places. It mingled Jews and Gentiles as well as men and women. It was conducted with and without music and musical instruments. The greater issue was the idea of a resurrected Christ. How were his followers to proceed. They struggled with all of this while trying to understand a life governed by a living God.
A living God who taught there are only two great commandments - "Love God above all things and your neighbor as yourself." A God who commanded them to do nothing till they received the Holy Spirit and baptism of fire a sanctification process. Today's vast majority, who shun traditional churches, want to know what it means to have a living God direct their lives and the life of the church. They want that living God to come into their lives as they really are today.
The churches that reach these people address some important elements of tradition. For instance since the late 1600's church school was the center of our public education. In the late 1800's when public education begin to take hold the church school programs were reduced.
Held on Sunday primarily for convenience they became known as Sunday School. The majority of people were farmers and Sunday was their church day all day long.
Now many churches across the land are once again meeting people at their convenience for church school. Because today's workers are no longer farmers, but busy hard working members of the information society, Sunday's are more precious in regards to family time.
Surveys have shown a majority of them work five and a half days a week. If they regularly attend worship and church school on Sunday they have very little time to re-create with family or themselves. They live stress filled lives, where time is a precious commodity.
Where can God meet them so they may experience the peace and love of a living God? One solution is to move church school to a different day and worship earlier on Sunday. Here is what happens when you do that: attendance at church school goes up and the people have an extra day to relax and experience the peace of God.
Why does attendance go up at school? First all of these churches provide a catered supper on School Nights. It is served right after the work day and just before school. Busy mothers don't have to worry about preparing a dinner, so they are anxious for every member of the family to attend. And church school is usually only forty five minutes to a hour long just as it was on Sunday mornings. Tired people are usually on their way home by 7:30 pm.
Why does attendance go up on Sundays? The early services allows the people to leave refreshed in God with a whole new day before them to re-create their lives. A win win situation for all. It is works! Let 2012 not be a time of ending or dying, but a time to reboot or reset the Church for a new era of reforming the church to today’s world in the image God intended.
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