I have had a number of serious, highly committed lay Christians tell me that they either have or have considered just skipping the old standby patriotic worship services at church.
Why?
A recent experience provided me with some possible reasons.
Why?
A recent experience provided me with some possible reasons.
- A church service devoid of the Gospel, where the life-changing Good News is not found in any recognizable form.
- A worship service where some of our revered historical figures of highly questionable Christian character and commitment are used to tout the faith of our founders. Jefferson and Franklin are secure in their deservedly high standing in regards to our national origins but are hardly good examples of faith and morality.
- A church service where historical quotations about God, civil religion at its best, are provided in quantity but where the Word of God is barely heard, not read, not preached upon, and not used in worship.
- A church service with virtually every known cliche about America returning to God, every tired complaint about the moral state of our nation, and all that without the one thing that can help our country - individual redemption by the blood of Christ.
- A service where Jesus makes only a cameo appearance.
- A church service where an invitation is extended to be saved but with the jaw-dropping phrase added that listeners may become like our Founding Fathers.
...I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes...
