Some say churches of Christ are graying and dying, but are these claims true? While some congregations have a majority of members that are retired, many more are filled with children and young adults. Churches of Christ actually have a larger percentage of young adults than the national average. In fact, we rank #3 among religious groups having the most adults aged 18-29.
Statistician Flavil Yeakley, Jr. confidently says these things about churches of Christ: (1) We are the twelfth-largest religious group in America; (2) we are the sixth-fastest growing church in America; (3) we are fourth in the nation in the total number of congregations; (4) we are fifth in the nation in number of counties in which there is a congregation; (5) we are first in the nation in distribution of congregations: and (6) we are first in the nation in weekly attendance of adherents. In fact, 76 percent of adherents attend regularly, which is higher than most mainline groups.
According to a survey by Barna some years ago, churches of Christ were also first in the percentage of members who contributed to support the church. Let’s not be discouraged. We are not pitiful and dying! The Lord’s church is alive and well! – Phil Sanders (Adapted) (copied from the University church of Christ’s bulletin).
This is encouraging news. While a student we had to read and study a book written by Flavil Yeakley, Jr. It was discouraging to say the least. This book declared that by the turn of the century we would be just holding our own. We would be converting the same number we lost. We would be baptizing as many as were dying. So the above news is encouraging news but we cannot quit.
The church is making a turn around. This is good to see. Yes, we must keep this up. We must continue to strive to teach others God’s Word. We must continue to teach those whom we convert. This is the only way we can get people to stay. We must ground our young people in the truth for when the devil attacks them, they must be ready! So the above news is very encouraging! Let us keep up the good work. Let us keep the devil reeling.
Thanksgiving is just around the corner. I saw on a person’s Facebook page something that I thought was very interesting and very proper. They wanted everyone to list each day something for which they were thankful. This really needs to be done every month not just November. Let us start each day with something different for which we are thankful from now until next year at this time. Let each of us make a list and keep it going and let us see all that we are thankful.
The Bible does teach us to be thankful. Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.” “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Colossians 1:12). “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:7). “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the chihc also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful” (Colossians 3:15). “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18). “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20). “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 4:3-4).
Notice also that God deals with those who are ungrateful. The Gentiles were given up by God because of their ungrateful attitude: “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened” (Romans 1:21). Ten lepers were healed by Jesus but not all came back to thank Him: “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger” (Luke 17:17-18). The children of Israel became ungrateful for all that God had done for them. When they were about to enter the Promise Land, God reminded them of all that He had blessed them, yet they were ungrateful. When they were going into captivity the Prophet Ezekiel reminded them of God’s blessing of silver and gold and what they had done with those blessings. They were unthankful to God for all of His blessings. When they came back from captivity again the prophet Nehemiah reminded them of what God had done for them, yet they were ungrateful. Can we become ungrateful to God for all of His blessings? So let us make this list. Each day list something different for which you are thankful.
Love, Keith
