The Old-Fashioned, Bible-Saturated Way of Doing Church

It is rare that I quote extensively from other sources in my writing, teaching and preaching. This post will be an extended exception to this general rule. An article came across my desk written by Pastor Gregory Barkman of the Beacon Baptist Church in Burlington, North Carolina. I e-mailed him and received permission to present this article. Please read it carefully and thoughtfully.

"It's finally happening. Church attendance in America, as a percentage of the population, has declined significantly, according to recent polls. That has been the case in Europe for decades, but America remained resilient to this disturbing trend in Western civilization. The United States, it seemed, was still a religious and mostly 'Christian' nation, but now the situation points in a different direction. Liberal, mainline denominations have been in decline for years, but Evangelical churches have enjoyed uninterrupted growth for decades, evoking self-congratulations for being alert to people's 'felt-needs' and being successful in molding and shaping 'church' to appeal to an ever larger segment of America's population. Now, 'success' formulas seem to be less effective, and although there are high profile ministries that are still growing, the general trend manifests decline. All this in spite of the huge emphasis upon 'church growth' techniques and new churches, each committed to pursuing a slightly different success formula, springing up on every corner. What's wrong?

"The current decline follows several decades of rapid change in the way most Evangelicals 'do church.' Apparently, the seeker-friendly, market-driven philosophies produced short-term gain, but long-term loss. Treating church like a product to be 'sold' to consumers has encouraged a shift in the way people view their relationship with churches. More often than not, there is no more commitment to church than there is to a particular grocery store or restaurant. People 'shop' for the church that offers them the biggest return on their investment, and consumer Christians search for the best bargains. In consumer goods, the best bargain is the one that gives you the most product for your money, and in churches, the best bargain is the one that offers you the best experience at the least cost. Cost in church relationships usually boils down to how much is expected in return for your participation. In the market-driven philosophy, virtually no commitment is required, because expectations of commitment might cause some to stay away. After all, there's always another church that offers a similar product with no demands, so why pay a higher price for the services this church offers?

"This consumer attitude is seen in the way many Christians regularly hop from church to church, seldom settling down, and frequently moving to sample what different churches have to offer. Have you noticed that when a new, highly advertised restaurant comes to town, many can't wait to be the first one to try it? Have you noticed how similar that is to a new church, sometimes even franchised from a 'successful' ministry elsewhere in the country, and how many Christians rush to try out this new experience. Not many would equate their actions with a consumer mentality, but that's what it is. Sadly, that's exactly what the church-growth, market-driven philosophy has encouraged. When the Bible says we reap what we sow, it isn't kidding!

A serious approach to doctrine in another casualty to modern trends. Formerly, churches were intent in teaching people Bible doctrine, the more the better. Churches used to believe that their main responsibility was to produce a congregation of knowledgeable, well-taught believers. Not any more. Now, people can attend church for years, and still know next to nothing about the Bible. Recent polls have documented the astonishing ignorance of Evangelical Christians regarding the simplest doctrines, including the Gospel itself. The majority of modern Christians cannot even give a coherent answer to the question, 'What is the Gospel?' This has also been demonstrated in the way people move from church to church, often running the gamut theologically from one extreme to another, seeming to recognize no difference in teaching. Of course, if the church is doing little teaching, there won't be much difference to recognize, will there? Even where some level of doctrine is taught, many Christians apparently pass it off as of little importance. What's really important, it seems, is not what is taught, but how much do I enjoy the experience? Christianity in many cases, is no longer a system of doctrine to be believed, but an experience to be, well, experienced, and a warm, positive feeling to be shared. Has it come to that? So it would appear.

"It's no wonder then, after several decades of churches themselves encouraging people to develop no commitment to Bible doctrine, nor to any particular local congregation, that now, 'Christians' have decided that they really don't need church after all. If I can get my 'needs' met some other way, why attend church? If learning the Bible, and deepening my understanding of sound doctrine is not important, why attend church? If I can enjoy a satisfactory religious experience watching TV, or plugging into the internet, or in some other way, why not choose that option?

"Maybe the old-fashioned, Bible saturated way of 'doing church' wasn't such a bad idea after all. I wonder if it's too late?"

That is an insightful analysis to which I say, "AMEN!"

Our Non-Spontaneous Lord

We tend to spiritualize spontaneity. Something done on the spur-of-the-moment is labeled as being led by the Spirit. Too often, this is simply an excuse for our lack of planning or our lack of preparation.

As we approach our celebration of the cross and the empty tomb, it is a good time to be reminded that the Lord has never done anything spontaneously. Additionally, the Lord has never had anything catch Him by surprise. The Cross is a shining example of God's pre-arranged, sovereign will coming to fruition exactly as He has planned.

First, God takes great care to inform us in the Old Testament that Jesus would become a man and the He would die on the cross:

"Surely, He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows,

yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,

each of us has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on Him the iniquoty of us all."

Isaiah 53:4-6

Second, the Lord reminds us that Satan was not acting independently when he conspired to have Jesus crucified. Rather, Satan was God's pawn doing exactly what God had pre-determined would happen:

"Indeed Herod and Pontus Pilate met together with the Gentiles

and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against

Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed.

They did what Your (God's) power

and will had decided beforehand should happen."

Acts 4:27-28

The Easter season is an appropriate time for every follower of Christ to be reminded to lift our eyes above our circumstances, our struggles and our uncetainties. Instead, we fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, Who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scoring its shame, and sat down at the right had of God (Hebrews 12:2).

With varying degrees of intensity, all of us have at least one current issue providing proof positive that we live in a crumbling, crisis-filled and cruel world.

Take heart, brother and sister in Christ. Our sovereign God took the most evil, despicable act in all of human history - the death of the perfect, sinless God of God - to accomplish our salvation and redemption! Then He rose from the dead and is now applying His glorious salvation to our daily living.

Meditation Is Becoming a Lost Spiritual Discipline

Unfortunately, because of hounding heresy hunters, meditation has become suspect as a spiritual discipline.

Let me explain. There is a troubling movement invading the evangelical church that is often labeled "contemplative prayer." Blending eastern religious practices and new age tactics, this movement uses visualization as a central thrust in contemplative prayer. Followers of Christ should be wary of this movement.

However, some overly zealous heresy hunters now view meditation as suspicious. According to them, meditation runs the risk of entering a gray area that is just too close to contemplative prayer. Therefore, since it might be done improperly, it should not be done at all. This is what happens when the focus is so riveted on the error that our eye is taken off of the truth. We need to be just as vocal against those who are holding meditation hostage as we are of those who are promoting a non-biblical contemplative prayer movement.

Meditation is clearly taught, promoted and encouraged in the Bible as an acceptable and a necessary spiritual discipline for the follower of Christ.

In a small volume by Puritan Thomas Watson, Heaven Taken By Storm, there is an excellent chapter on meditation. What follows is distilled from this chapter.

Here is a working definition of meditation: It is a holy exercise of the mind whereby we bring the truths of God to remembrance, and do seriously ponder them and apply them to ourselves.

Three vital considerations must be at the very core of meditation:

• Meditation is God-centered, Christ-centered and Bible-centered.
• Meditation necessitates that we retire alone, locking ourselves off from distractions and interruptions. Meditation is a work and that cannot be done in a crowd.
• Meditation is a serious thinking about God. It is not a few transient thoughts that are quickly gone, but a fixing and staying of the mind upon heavenly objects.

We are the more to provoke ourselves (discipline, strongly commit) to this duty because:

• Meditation is fiercely opposed by the old nature and the fallen nature that still wars against our life in Christ. You will find many excuses and diversions that will make establishing this discipline extremely difficult.
• Satan does what he can to hinder this duty and discipline. The devil cares not how much we hear if he is certain that we meditate little. Hearing begets knowledge, but meditation begets devotion.

You do not need a handbook to meditate...you simply need your Bible

You do not need to attend a seminar/retreat to meditate...you need a quiet, uninterrupted place and time.

You do not need a certain aptitude to meditate...you need a zeal and desire for the Lord and His will for your life.

The following Scriptures are more that sufficient to get you started in this vitally important discipline:

• Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Joshua 1:8a
• Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:1,2
• I will meditate on all Your works and consider all Your mighty deeds. Psalm 77:12
• Let me understand the teaching of Your precepts; then I will meditate on Your wonders. Psalm 119:27
• I lift up my hands to Your commands, which I love, and I meditate on Your decrees. Psalm 119:48
• I remember the days of long ago I meditate on all Your works and consider what Your hands have done. Psalm 143:5

God commands meditation in His Word. That settles it. It is for all followers of Christ in all generations in all situations. And, as with every other discipline, it is for our good and will allow us to even more fully live to the glory of God.