CHURCH GROWTH IN A SOPHISTICATED SOCIETY
It’s interesting to note that sev eral of our recent presidents have become more openly religious after moving into the White House. This isn’t just good public relations. There is an expression of real need. We all need faith in God through Jesus Christ our Lord. There needs to be a growing, supportive fellowship with people of like faith. The Church is a body of believers with Christ Himself as the Head. No matter what our station in life, we are all needy people. The first important aspect of growth is that we must be a Biblical congregation. The Bible is our source of both spiritual knowledge and faith itself. It is true that “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” An aged, devout Christian put it. “The more I read the Bible, the more I believe the Bible, and the less I understand it.” We can never plumb its depths. It’s like an artesian well, continuing to overflow with life-giving water. How disap pointing when we come across those who through in te llec tu a l pride, known and unconfessed sin, or simp ly blasé sophistication, reject the Water of Life which the Scriptures offer. We teach the Bible, use the Bible, and see it as the basis for all Christian relationships. We want it to challenge the mind as well as the heart. The need for the milk of the Word of God applies to spiritual babies of all ages, whether Sunday school children or soph is tica ted adults. Without embarrassment or compromise, the Bible is basic to the church’s mission and evangelism. The second element basic to prog ress and growth as a congregation is an emphasis upon the Centrality of Jesus Christ. A relevant Christian faith must emphasize p rac tica l, everyday application. Our responsi bility is to exalt Jesus Christ before the eyes of all. Jesus Christ is the fullest revelation of God (Col. 1 :15- 23). Colossians is an Epistle writ- 7
by George Munzing, pastor of Trinity United Presby terian Church, Santa Ana, Calif. S ophisticated by dictionary defini tion means: falsified; adulterat ed; changed from the natural char acter or simplicity; and artificial. It means one whose ideas, tastes, and manners have been altered by edu cation, worldly experience, and the like. It seems that in a sophisticated type of society we find an emphasis on self and the material rather than dependence upon God. The Church can expect an increasingly difficult time. I minister to a congregation that is largely cultured, made up of high ly-educated and comfortably-affiuent people. Its growth patterns are bound to change. I’m confident we’ll con tinue to see significant signs of spir itual growth in the midst of this “Sophisticated Society.”
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