Comments on Recent Pew Report

Many of you have already heard about the latest report from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. The forum surveyed 35,000 U. S. adults. This report has some disturbing news for the Christian community. The most disturbing result of this survey is that seven out of ten Americans who profess to follow one specific faith believe that there is more than one way to get to heaven.

One observer stated that the problem with Americans and religion is not that they don’t believe anything, but that they believe everything. He went on to state that America’s faith is “3000 miles wide and 3 inches deep.” (Michael Lindsay, a sociologist at Rice University in Houston quoted in Christianity Today)

We have even had a national political candidate this week state that America is no longer a Christian nation, but a nation of multiple religions. He sems to believe that to be a good thing.
We claim to be a people of the book, yet how do we hold up this claim when so many within the church seem to embrace ideas that are contrary to the book. This should not be a grey area. It is clear in the Bible, Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.

Following is a summary of some of the other results of the survey:
Of the 35,000 U.S. adults surveyed,
92 percent believe in God
79 percent believe in miracles
68 percent believe in angels and demons
58 percent pray daily (outside of religious services)
39 percent attend religious services at least once a week
39 percent meditate at least once a week
35 percent say they read Scripture at least once a week; 45 percent say they seldom read Scripture
34 percent have experienced or witnessed a divine healing of illness or injury
31 percent say their prayers are answered at least once a month; 19 percent say their prayers are answered at least once a week
14 percent cite religious beliefs as the main influence on their political thinking

We need to be concerned that while 92 percent say they believe in God only 39 percent attend church at least once per week. We need to be concerned that only 35 percent say they read the Bible at least once per week. An even greater concern is that 45 percent seldom read the Bible. We also should be alarmed that only 14 percent allow religious beliefs to influence their political thinking.

Where do you stand in these statistics? Do you fall in the 70 percent that discount Christ’s words that He is the only way? I pray not. Perhaps you fall in the 61 percent that are lax in church attendance. I pray that you will consider coming more often. Do you fall in the 45 percent that seldom read the Bible? If so, I encourage you to read the Bible more – It is the primary way that God speaks to us as His people. Do you fall in the 86 percent that vote without thinking of religious convictions? I pray that as you consider the upcoming elections that you will seek God’s will in your decision above all other considerations.

Practical Praise

When I think of the sacrifice that God made for me on the cross, my only response can be to offer Him praise. Charles Spurgeon, one of the great preachers of the nineteenth century, wrote the following in his book The Practice of Praise:

“We cannot, however we may resolve, praise God more and more if, as we grow older, we allow this world to take up our thoughts…You will find it small gain if you gain in this world, but lose in praising God. As we grow older, it is wise to concentrate more and more of our energies upon the one thing, the only thing worth living for — the praise of God.”

This is what church is all about. It is not about you and it is not about me. It is not about what you think and it is not about what I think. The purpose of the true Church of Jesus Christ is to worship and praise the triune God and to share the great gift that God has given us to a lost and dying world. Paul wrote in his letters to the early church that we are “strangers and aliens in this world.” Too often we get so caught up in living in the world that we forget that we are not a part of it. When we let the mindset of the world influence our thinking, then the body of Christ suffers because we think and act like the world.

One of my favorite scenes in the movie “Facing the Giants” is when the coach is alone with God at his wits end. He promises to praise God when things are good and to praise God when things are bad. While this is just a movie, it is filled with truth. Praise is an attitude of the heart. Praise is a reflection of the soul. Praise is determined by our will. Praise is a function of the mind that God gave you. Praise is a choice and a privilege. The Bible tells us that if we do not lift our praise that the very rocks will cry out. While creation may praise God, we are the ones given the ability to use words. Let us constantly be reminded of this as we lift up a song of praise.

Read the text of the hymn: “Man of Sorrows, What a Name.”

Man of sorrows what a name
For the Son of God who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim
Hallelujah what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude
In my place condemned He stood
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah what a Savior!

Guilty vile and helpless we
Spotless Lamb of God was He
Full atonement can it be
Hallelujah what a Savior!

Lifted up was He to die
It is finished was His cry
Now in heaven exalted high
Hallelujah what a Savior!

When He comes our glorious King
All His ransomed home to bring
Then anew this song we'll sing
Hallelujah what a Savior!

'Til next time!

Welcome to my Blog

Well, today I am going to join the vast internet blogging community. On this blog, I hope to share some thoughts on music and worship.

Welcome to my blog as we journey together.