What has happened to our churches today? Less than 75 years ago, people could recite Bible verses and knew the stories of the Bible from growing up in Sunday school—the story of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, and the accounts of Elijah and Elisha. But today, if you ask someone, “Do you know the story of ____?” you often receive puzzled looks. This shift occurs when the church stops gathering at the table with our families to share spiritual food, both in our homes and in our churches.
What do I mean by this? We have traded the truth of Scripture for a moralistic, therapeutic message that often obscures the truth of the Gospel, replacing it with teachings aimed at building self-esteem and improving our self-image. Yet God is calling us to deny these very things.
In Hebrews 5:11-12, the author addresses the readers:
“11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food.”
We have become dull of hearing—hearing what? I propose that we are dull of hearing the word of God, and because of this, our faith has diminished (Romans 10:17). Our lack of engagement has left us ill-equipped, and as a result, we have passed little of substance to our children, teaching only what is “bad” and what is “good,” and encouraging them to be successful and live prosperous lives.
So what do we do now? This is not the first time this has happened in history; it is a cyclical pattern. We find ourselves waxing and waning in our effectiveness regarding our calling in Jesus. To be effective, we need to recognize the state of our families and churches and purpose in our hearts to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16).
Consider meditating on this portion of Scripture and resolve to put it into practice for the sake of your relationship with God, your family, and your church:
2 Peter 1: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
I never grew up in church and my parents never talked about it. My Christian walk has been all over the place. My wife and I “attended” church in the past but looking back, we never learned anything from sitting there on Sundays.
The Bible app has helped me grow since I always have it with me, I have daily reading, Bible plans, videos, devotionals and so many other options to dive into God’s word.
Men’s group has been very encouraging to me too. I love how we have grown in numbers, but mostly thankful for the spiritual growth.
I have to agree with jason on this one. I also did not grow up in church very far from it. My parents did not grow up in church. My father does not believe in God. He often gives my mom a guild trip if she wants to go to church. But God always finds a way Into your heart if you’re willing. I was sixteen when I first experienced God Where He took a bad situation and made it good. I say good because within that situation I was exposed to church. At a young age it was a place for me to go and hang out. Fast forward today It is cultivated and relationship with Christ I never could have imagined. Finding the right church is priceless. Finding that family that place you belong. Finding the people that are like minded. I’m not a bible scholar by any means but I have friends that are.”Nick” I have learned so much over the past four years and even moremore of the past two. I may not know the bible by heart. But I don’t believe that that matters.The thief on the cross didn’t know the Bible and was not able to recite them and God still loved him anyway. I am no better than a thief Hanging on the cross.I know with all my heart God loves me.
Luke 15:20 says, “And he arose and came to his father. But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him”.
“Thank you, father for continuing to work on my heart to work in me and through me. So that those around me may see you Christ in me. I think you for the people you’ve placed in my life and
the doors you have closed and doors you have to open. Thank you….
I can relate to my brother’s and this text, as I did not grow up in the church as well. I didn’t learn about the Bible until I met my lovely wife who helped me see how much I didn’t know. She encouraged me to start reading the Bible and I didn’t start until I was probably 24 years old. The first book I read was proverbs and it absolutely changed my life. I probably read proverbs four or five more times before I moved on to another book. It is probably still my favorite book of the entire Bible. God‘s word absolutely changed my life once I started reading it. Thank God for sending me my lovely wife who Influenced me to start seeking the God who I only thought I knew.