Vol.15 No.6

STAYAWAY SAINTS

A growing number of US Christians are staying away from church to practice their faith alone. One research group says 13 million “born-again Christians” remain non-churchgoers. Yet, spiritual interest “is at an all-time high,” as the social impact of The Passion of the Christ showed. Charisma and Christian Life, February 2005.

If spirituality is really increasing, why is church attendance slipping? One possibility is the rise of religious television networks. Why get dressed up and go to church when you can sit in your lounge wear and watch a dozen church programs every day of the week?

However, a careful analysis of what passes for religious programming reveals that the Bible is rarely opened and viewers become increasingly passive and easy to manipulate. Not hardly the picture of those earnestly contending for the faith once delivered to the saints. Television church cannot possibly provide for the growth Christians make when they nurture one another in a church setting. The witness of the church as the visible body of Christ languishes, because a community doesn’t see a connected group seeking to identify with one another. And children raised to view religion as just another show receive a low concept of commitment to God.

One sign of the last days is that people will have “a form of godliness,” but deny “the power thereof.” 2 Timothy 3:1, 5. If you’re in this situation, seek earnestly for a Bible-believing fellowship and join them in searching the Word, so your faith may be encouraged.