Several years ago we were on vacation, and one of our kids was upset with a decision that we had made. In the heat of moment, they blurted out, “I wish I wasn’t part of this family!” It was not one of our finer moments. Without any prompting they apologized and as a family we have chuckled about that episode over the years. That is the funny thing … [Read more...]
The Free-Rider Problem
The Shakers as a religious group originated in England in the 18th century and eventually migrated to the Americas. They were given this name because of their ecstatic behavior in worship services. The group had several problems which brought about its demise. One of the biggest problems was that they required their members to maintain strict … [Read more...]
Stop Dating the Church
When an individual comes to genuine faith in Jesus Christ, they are included in the universal church. But many who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ remain uncommitted to the local, visible church. They would claim a generic love for other believers but have remained casual and uncommitted toward real believers in real time. For many, the local … [Read more...]
Be of Some Good!
There are certainly valid reasons to leave a local church. But in my experience, many people leave a church not because of false teaching, unqualified leadership, or unconfronted sin but because of personal preference. They simply find something that brings them greater perceived benefit. In our current culture, this radical individualism has risen … [Read more...]
Church Membership
Introduction There are many excuses not to join a local church, and avoiding it will save you some headaches, but it is assumed in scripture that we will be banded together in the all-important task of reaching the lost. Reasons to Join a Local Church Church membership reflects the depth of relationship that ought to exist among … [Read more...]