LOVE JESUS, HATE CHURCH?

From the book "Love Jesus, Hate Church":

"During the past 10 years, approximately 50 million Christians left the church. In fact, the percentage of American adults who attend religious services has dropped from 49% to less than 32%. And more recent studies have shown that the problem of the decline in church attendance is actually getting much worse. In addition, a recent USA Today/Gallop poll reported that almost half of all Americans appear to be alienated from any form of organized religion. If the current trend continues, most Americans will not call themselves religious in just a few years.

"Of the roughly 140 million Americans who do make their way to church on any given weekend, an amazing 74% are not engaged in their church at all.Moreover, a study from the Barna Institute concluded that by the end of the next decade, up to 40% of all church-attending Christians will be worshipping God, serving others, studying the Bible, etc., outside of a congregational church setting. Clearly, the data indicates that church isn’t working."

Why? I'll let you know more as I read the book. In the meantime visit the website www.lovejesushatechurch.com for more info and three sample chapters.

Bumper Sticker Culture

I just finsihed reading an excellent book titled Lord Save Us from Your Followers by Dan Merchant. I found the book both convicting and moving. Maybe that wasn't so much the book as it was the Holy Spirit. None-the-less Merchant "speaks the truth in love" and presents important ideas about grace, love, communication and cultural engagement that should be considered by all who call themself Christian.

Here is just one passage from the book:

"A bumber sticker is, quite possibly, the weakest, most strident form of communication possible

--because of its one-way nature. In this information age, communication styles are more influential than ever. I've identified four primary ways that have (seemingly) become accepted ways we communicate our ideas, both through the media and in person.

• Myopia--our communication conveys our point of view exlusively. While our facts may be acurate, we lack context and, ultimately, understanding by ignoring information that doesn't put forward our agenda.


• Hyperbole--our communication again conveys our point of view, but e exagerate the facts and distort the available information to create an intellecually dishonest and, possibly, more persuasive case for our agenda.


• Hysteria--our communication conveys our point of view in an emotional and aggressive manner based primarily on our feelings, what we want to be true, and our blind desire to be right and see our agenda come to fruition.


• Truth--our communication conveys as balanced a review of the facts as possible, including the weaknesses of our position and the strengths of the other's. The goal of communication is the illumination of reality, and, in this case, our agenda considers the well-being of all people, not just those who agree with us..."

In a nutshell, the book advocates active listening and sincere grace as the forum for bringing people closer to Christ. I highly recommend this read.