Dead trees:
I am still bothered by the articles and research that has shown that the church of Christ has shrunk by 58% in the last 30 years, while population has grown by 42%.
I am heartbroken by the fact that we have lost ONE THIRD of our congregations in that time- nearly 6,000 churches.
And I have almost become violently ill when I have shared this with some in the church who have responded with:
Well, “Narrow is the road and few find it!”
Or “Well, “The Bible says there must be divisions to show which of us has God’s approval”.
I want us to think a bit about this verse:
Matt 7:17-20
Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
We have born bad fruit!
And to be honest, we are cutting down our own tree!
We have fought, and complained, and neglected, and debated our way into blind, self-righteous, extinction.
I must say I am truly jealous of some of you.
You tell me of your church (yes, church of Christ) and say how it uplifts you.
You mention how you are being trained and encouraged, and built up in love.
It gives me hope…. But it also makes me jealous- it makes me long for that in a way you long for something you hardly can believe you will ever have.
I had it for about 18 years in my faith, and churches grew and were powerful...
I see it with the brethren in India... but now… for me…. It seems to be just a memory.
And as I look around I constantly have to wonder what type of trees we are growing.
What I see is sad.
I see our youth leaving.
Not because they do NOT want to love God… but because they DO want to love God.
We give them what they hate- rules, authority, and doctrine, which is really very good, and should cause them to have life- But Life…. We give them none of that.
And then we shy away from the things THEY really desire- but WE fear!
Accountability, relationships, honest communication, and open confession.
So they go off to other groups, or leave completely.
NOT because they do not want to love God, but because they do.
They want to serve others.
They want to be involved in a community.
They want to live for a purpose, and have passion.
They want this message of hope to make a difference- for them and for others.
So they go off and tolerate a lack of truth- (usually on baptism, and on forms of worship) because they just do not want to hold in this faith any longer.
And what do we do?
We correct them.
We debate the truth.
We smirk and say- “OH the foolish youth!”
Do we not realize that if we would get off OUR dead butts and live this…
If we would embrace them and treat them as family…
If we would give OUR lives to those around us…
We would not only have them back… but we would have more besides!
We are the ones that have put a stumbling block on their path, because we have been “bumps on logs”
They trip over our lack of action.
They trip over our lack of love,
And over our lack of life.
Mark 9:42
If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck
Our dead weight is making us and them sink to the bottom.
I’m all for truth- without it none of us have hope.
But the truth is-
This is the first and greatest commandment:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Until we learn to watch our life and doctrine closely-
And not just our doctrine-
We will be dead trees with a very very healthy root system.
But no flowers.
No leaves…
And no fruit.
I am heartbroken by the fact that we have lost ONE THIRD of our congregations in that time- nearly 6,000 churches.
And I have almost become violently ill when I have shared this with some in the church who have responded with:
Well, “Narrow is the road and few find it!”
Or “Well, “The Bible says there must be divisions to show which of us has God’s approval”.
I want us to think a bit about this verse:
Matt 7:17-20
Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
We have born bad fruit!
And to be honest, we are cutting down our own tree!
We have fought, and complained, and neglected, and debated our way into blind, self-righteous, extinction.
I must say I am truly jealous of some of you.
You tell me of your church (yes, church of Christ) and say how it uplifts you.
You mention how you are being trained and encouraged, and built up in love.
It gives me hope…. But it also makes me jealous- it makes me long for that in a way you long for something you hardly can believe you will ever have.
I had it for about 18 years in my faith, and churches grew and were powerful...
I see it with the brethren in India... but now… for me…. It seems to be just a memory.
And as I look around I constantly have to wonder what type of trees we are growing.
What I see is sad.
I see our youth leaving.
Not because they do NOT want to love God… but because they DO want to love God.
We give them what they hate- rules, authority, and doctrine, which is really very good, and should cause them to have life- But Life…. We give them none of that.
And then we shy away from the things THEY really desire- but WE fear!
Accountability, relationships, honest communication, and open confession.
So they go off to other groups, or leave completely.
NOT because they do not want to love God, but because they do.
They want to serve others.
They want to be involved in a community.
They want to live for a purpose, and have passion.
They want this message of hope to make a difference- for them and for others.
So they go off and tolerate a lack of truth- (usually on baptism, and on forms of worship) because they just do not want to hold in this faith any longer.
And what do we do?
We correct them.
We debate the truth.
We smirk and say- “OH the foolish youth!”
Do we not realize that if we would get off OUR dead butts and live this…
If we would embrace them and treat them as family…
If we would give OUR lives to those around us…
We would not only have them back… but we would have more besides!
We are the ones that have put a stumbling block on their path, because we have been “bumps on logs”
They trip over our lack of action.
They trip over our lack of love,
And over our lack of life.
Mark 9:42
If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck
Our dead weight is making us and them sink to the bottom.
I’m all for truth- without it none of us have hope.
But the truth is-
This is the first and greatest commandment:
"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.'
And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Until we learn to watch our life and doctrine closely-
And not just our doctrine-
We will be dead trees with a very very healthy root system.
But no flowers.
No leaves…
And no fruit.
I have spent this weekend at a house with more than 100 other people. They call it "Recharge". It is meant especially for young people, but everyone is welcome. People drive from miles and miles to be there, to sing together and listen to deeply spiritual lessons brought by men who are the most spiritually-minded preachers I've ever met. Although some of their weekends are fun-oriented, all have an unmistakably spiritual bent. This particular one is hours and hours of Bible study, and the kids in attendance are obviously there because they hunger and thirst after righteousness.
The church is not dead. I am excited and honored to witness and be a part of (in a supporting role) a spiritual revolution that appears to unite the truths of traditional coC doctrine with the love of God and others demonstrated by liberal and denominational groups.
If you could come to one of the monthly singings and Psalm studies, or to one of the other events that they plan, you would be a witness to an exciting new era of the church. It would do great things for your downtrodden heart to see into the faces and hearts of young people who love the Lord and each other and who are striving to diligently seek God first in their lives. You are welcome to stay in our home, anytime!
Maybe we can get you all to come "re-charge" US.
I'd gladly pay for the expenses out of my own pocket.... they can consider it a "Recharge mission trip"
Good thoughts, above. It is an area that often needs work.