Are Churches Still Relevant to Today’s Youth?
This is the question of the hour, isn’t it? Are churches relevant to newer generations? We have a problem! Read the statistics in this article (found linked to in Dee’s blog)
We need to realize that there is a problem! What is going on that so many of our young people are growing up and leaving the Lord? Is it because churches have not changed to accommodate changing culture?
Ezekiel had a ministry to a nation full of “dry bones.” Let’s look at this passage a try to draw some application from it. Ezekiel 37.
In verses 1-3 we have God giving Ezekiel a tour of a valley. In this valley he sees many very dry bones. The LORD brings a very good question: “Can these bones live?” We have a similar situation with us today. What can we do about this problem? Are our churches dead and dry and generations coming that are dead and falling away? I know this isn’t the case for EVERY church but the statistics are telling us that it is happening. As Ezekiel is presented with a problem, so are we.
In the verses to follow, God gives Ezekiel the solution and gives him the words. Notice that the words were very decidedly THE LORD’S words. Ezekiel just quoted them! Those words explained what GOD was going to do and they came true. AS HE WAS STILL SPEAKING the bones began coming back together! Having preached before, I can only imagine the distraction!
Either way, the chapter continues and as it does we find the LORD commanding Ezekiel to preach to the winds and tell them to give the men breath. Can you imagine being there to see such a sight?!?
Verse 11 is where the LORD begins to apply the miracle to the situation at hand:
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Sound familiar? Before you begin telling me that this was a specific prophesy meant for a specific fulfillment for the nation of Israel, let me save you time by telling you that I understand that. I just would like to pull some application from it.
Notice that the words are the LORD’S words. Notice that the power is the LORD’S power performing the miracle. Notice that Ezekiel is ONLY OBEYING the LORD’S commands. Here’s how I see what happened: The preaching of God’s Word through His obedient servant brought the promised power to perform the promised miracle!
If there is something missing in today’s churches, it is NOT compromise! We have enough of that going around! If there is something missing it is NOT the adoption of the WORLD’S methods! This can and most likely will bring many people out – we know this because it is being done all around our nation and the world! If our children are seeing the church people as hypocritical, it is BECAUSE of compromise and acceptance of the world! If they don’t see a difference, why would they continue? They are looking for something REAL!
If there is something missing, it is the POWER OF GOD and HIS BLESSING!! What do we need to bring that back? Let me quote myself: “The preaching of God’s Word through His obedient servant brought the promised power to perform the promised miracle!” We need to PREACH HIS WORD in OBEDIENCE TO THAT WORD!!!
SEE ALSO 1 CORINTHIANS 1:18-31
Feel free to comment, argue, defend, and add to any of this! I look forward to your thoughts!
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