Rev Dr Rowland Croucher the Pastor's Pastor in his highly acclaimed John Mark Ministries web site for Ministers, Missions and Church workers and confirmed by Barna the Christian polster organisation – say there are 'more followers of Christ' in our suburbs who do no attend a church than do.
In other words, Christian people who have a commitment of some form 'to the Lord', are deserting the brick and motor of church life and the reasons are myriad. Certainly church politics (and they are just as dirty as corporate or political) is a major factor. Moreover, many of these non-church attending Christians give money to mission agencies.
Another reason is an overt emphasis on social issues rather than core solid evangelical theology and clear historical evidence of this has been the Uniting Church since 1977. Moreover not two weeks ago another survey demonstrated that the fastest growing churches have modern Gospel music and sound conservative literal bible believing congregations. One hardly required a survey to reveal that. It is self evidence.
What we therefore have is this dichotomy, more followers of Jesus are not attending a church than do, and those that do, the growing congregations are big on modern Gospel music and believe the bible, word for word.
Brexit and Trump
Many are saying that the political world is following suit, and the evidence is overwhelming as the ordinary people of Britain and the ordinary people of America have voted with their feet – back to basics.
The same as western Christianity. Forget the liturgy, forget the radical progressive ideology disguised as theology, forget the lefties in their elitist 'we know better' ridiculous carry-on squarely hoodwinked with political correctness – it's back to the bible.
Oh no, good grief, having to commit and believe all that stuff about repentance, take up your cross and follow Him .... who believes this anymore – well it seems a huge crowd of believers. This is where I believe Christmas community programs have such an important part to play.
Community Christmas
We live in Tweed Heads, two hundred metres from Gold Coast's Coolangatta (Queensland) and worship at a church in Tugun, the suburb immediately adjacent to Coolangatta (Gold Coast airport).
This congregation committed to serving the Tugun community's Christmas celebration on Sunday 3 December. The Tugun Christmas had junior choirs singing carols and the rest of it. A section of the roads were closed off, and a very large number of church volunteers signed up to help out – they were doing pedestrian control, serving, wheel chair helps and many other roles.
It represented thousands upon thousands of local communities around the nation that did something similar, where ordinary people, those non-church believers turn up in their droves, sing the carols, enjoy the bible readings, loves the prayers and the nation rejoices.
The day after Tugun, in our congregation, a mix of young families and oldies with three church services times, the President of the Tugun Christmas Festival attended to thank the congregation and spoke voluminously in gratitude and thankfulness. He too was one of those non-church believers, a businessman whose business depends on weekend trade.
Where do we go with this ?
One thing is for certain, like when Elijah claimed he was the only one – rubbish said the Lord, there are 7,000 you know nothing about! A few years ago my neighbour, a young doctor came over for a chat from time to time and tell of the many miracles he saw in the emergency department (as people prayed). I'd listen but say nothing. I wanted to be seen as a friend, not a bible basher.
He and his wife moved away and some months later he saw me and told me he was now a believer as a doctor friend led to to Christ. He told me that I never badgered him, just listened, and the door to his heart was never closed. He said this was the miracle factor in his ultimate decision.
This man was part of the Christian community that Rev Dr Rowland Croucher and the Barna report spoke of. They are our neighbours and friends, work mates, in sports and social groups with us.
Be encouraged – merry Christmas
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html