By Ariel E. Gaskill, M.S.
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| Photo by Flavio Gasperini on Unsplash |
- Voddie Baucham
Churches around the country, including The Shepherd’s House International Christian Church (TSHICC), will participate in Back To Church Sunday on September 15th. This day is designated for church congregations to extend an invitation to family, friends, co-workers and neighbors who may not be planted at a local assembly, or who are unchurched altogether. As exciting as this charge is, and as important as it is to shed light on this issue in the Christian community, it begs the question,“Why are people leaving the church in the first place?” The church ought to be a place of refuge and solace. It ought to be viewed as a hospital for the spiritually sick and hurting. But does the 21st century church depict that? Growing up, there was a period of time where my family and I were called away from the church we had attended for a majority of my life. We were led to hold “church service” in the comfort of our home. It was during that time that the idea of church began to change for me. Church is far more than a building with pews and a pulpit. It is a collective experience shared with believers and rooted in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As the culture has shifted, there has been a change in the reverence of church assembly and participation, the importance of attendance and involvement and the spiritual enrichment that is offered. In conversations with fellow millennials, I have heard that their lack of interest in attending or being engaged with the sermons is due to them not feeling connected to the messages being preached, or that the “theatrics” distract from the message, or that “church people” are not accepting of them and are rigid in their approach when trying to speak with them. They would rather not be judged so they choose not to attend at all.
As ambassadors of Christ, we need to work harder to change this narrative. We need to get back to the basics. During Jesus’ time in ministry, He taught by example. He showed us how to love people into the Kingdom. He befriended the outcasts, He was kind to the poor, He healed the sick, and because of that love, lives were saved, hearts were again filled with hope, purpose was revealed and souls were won. As Jesus, the Good Shepherd, did well not to leave any sheep behind. It behooves us as followers of Christ to do the same.
As ambassadors of Christ, we need to work harder to change this narrative. We need to get back to the basics. During Jesus’ time in ministry, He taught by example. He showed us how to love people into the Kingdom. He befriended the outcasts, He was kind to the poor, He healed the sick, and because of that love, lives were saved, hearts were again filled with hope, purpose was revealed and souls were won. As Jesus, the Good Shepherd, did well not to leave any sheep behind. It behooves us as followers of Christ to do the same.
Going forward. May we bear in mind the words of John MacArthur, “Scripture needs no updating, editing, or refining. Whatever time or culture you live in, it is eternally relevant. It needs no help in that regard. It is pure, sinless; inherent truth; it is enduring. It is God’s revelation for every generation.”
