Sunday Morning Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

January 19, 2003

1. We know that true disciples of Christ will always be a minority. Matthew 7:13-14 says, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (NKJV)

2. However, there are a great many people in this country who profess to be believers in Christ. Some persist in calling America a "Christian nation." Religious surveys show that large majorities claim that "religious faith is very important." Those same people usually describe themselves as "deeply spiritual."

3. However, there is evidence which casts doubt on those claims. According to the Barna research organization, 43% of Americans attend religious services during a typical week. Thus a sizeable number of people claim to be deeply spiritual, but don't "go to church" regularly. 25% of adults attend "Sunday School" classes in a typical week. That's up from 19% in 2001, but still shows that a great many people see no connection between being "deeply spiritual" and meeting with others to study the Bible.

4. These observations are true concerning the population as a whole, but what about members of the Lord's church? Does our practice live up to our profession? Do we "walk the walk" as well as we "talk the talk"? Let's examine some key areas in the survey and compare the result with New Testament teachings. Then you can examine yourselves and see whether or not there is a contradiction between your commitment to Christ and the way you're actually living.

I. GIVING

A. Barna found that less than one out of ten regular churchgoers gives 10% of more of his income to the church.

B. New Testament students will observe that Christians are not commanded to tithe (give 10%). Tithing was a part of the Law of Moses [e.g., Numbers 18:26] but the New Testament simply teaches us to give as we have been prospered [1 Corinthians 16:1-2 (KJV) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.]

C. An individual's giving can be measured only against the standard of what he can afford. Giving is a private matter. [Matthew 6:3 (NASB) "But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing"] I don't have the right to demand to see your tax returns and contribution checks so I can calculate what percentage of income you have been giving. However, you have the information to evaluate how well you are performing your commitment.

1. Imagine that your family's annual income is 520 times (52 weeks x 10 times) the amount your family contributed to the work of the church this morning. If you gave $10, that's $5200 to live on for the year. If you gave $50, that's $26,000. Some of you would be well above the curve; others might be considerably below the 10% mark.

2. We repeat: the New Testament does not command us to tithe. However, we live in the age of "better things." We have a better covenant. A better high priest. A better sacrifice. A better hope [Hebrews 7:19 (NKJV) for the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.] Should our giving be proportionately less than the giving of the Israelites who lived under an inferior covenant?

II. FAITHFULNESS

A. Mr. Barna's research shows that a majority of teenagers attend church services today, but only 1/3 is likely to do so when they become adults. This attrition rate has long been evident in churches of Christ as well as the larger religious world. We lose too many of our children as they grow into adulthood.

B. Parents have a responsibility to bring up their children in the "training and admonition of the Lord" [Ephesians 6:4, NKJV]. Several translations say the discipline and instruction of the Lord. We are to instruct our children in the truth of God's word. Then we are to discipline them -- train them -- to be sure that their practice conforms to what we've preached to them.

C. The problems often come when children become adults . . . so they are no longer under their parents' control. Dad and Mom can't make them attend church services any more. There has to be something within them which drives them to faithfulness. Adult children won't be successful operation on the faith of their parents . . . they must develop their own faith and commitment to God.

1. The challenge for teenage Christians is to prepare themselves for that stage of independence. There is a great sense of freedom in being "on your own" with no one telling you what you have to do.

2. All freedom needs to be used responsibly. You are never free from your obligations to God. You are always accountable to Him [Romans 14:12 (NKJV) So then each of us shall give account of himself to God.]

3. The crown of life is promised to everyone who is faithful until death [Revelation 2:10 (NKJV) "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.] Most of our young people old enough to do so have made the commitment to be baptized and become Christians. Young disciples. . . it is up to you to be mature enough to keep that commitment. . . to stay faithful . . . not just now, but five, ten, twenty, thirty years in the future. Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV) says, "Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life."

III. TERRORISM

A. September 11, 2001 was a monumental day in our history. Our vulnerability to terrorism was made abundantly clear as those airlines crashed into the Pentagon and the World Trade Centers. After 9/11 a wave of patriotism swept the country. Flags were flying everywhere. Religious fervor swung upwards sharply. Everybody seemed to be praying. Attendance are church services surged. Many thought a time of religious revival and renewed commitment to God was at hand.

B. However, as the Barna people conducted surveys during 2002, they found disappointing results. Church attendance, Bible study, prayer, and serving the needy were going on at about the same levels as before September 11. Giving levels actually decreased in 2002 . . . perhaps attributable to a faltering economy.

C. We have only a few points of comparison to September 11, 2001 as a day of national calamity. But individuals have times of personal disasters . . . such as near-death experiences where people turn to God in moments of crises. They pray prayers such as "Oh, God, if you will only help me through this trouble, I will be faithful to you all my life." Usually such prayers last only a day or two longer than the time of adversity. When life returns to normal, promises to God tend to be forgotten.

D. Christians need to take our commitment seriously.

1. When we hear the gospel, believe in Christ, repent of our sins, and are baptized into Christ to wash away our sins, we undertake a new life. Old things are passed away. All things have become new [2 Corinthians 5:17]. We've put off the old man and put on the new man [Colossians 3:9-10 (NKJV) Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,]

2. We've titled this sermon "The Commitment Contradiction" because our practice often contradicts our promises. We fall short when it comes to living the Christian life consistently through good times and bad times. That needs to change. We need to be people whose behavior is becoming to the gospel of Christ [Philippians 1:27 (NKJV) Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,]

CONCLUSION