THE FUTURE OF PRIMITIVISM—IS IT RELEVANT IN THE 21ST CENTURY? PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY IS THE REMEDY FOR THE SICKNESS OF MODERN CHRISTIANITY

THE TRAUMA OF MODERN DENOMINATIONALISM “If the Episcopal Church denies what is clearly taught in Scripture about important matters like sexual behavior, why expect its leaders to have any convictions about anything, including directions to heaven? How can anyone be sure, if the guidebook is so full of errors? . . . But the same book that speaks against what we used to call ‘fornication’ before such words died along with the accompanying doctrines, also speaks against the ‘sin’ of homosexual practice. . . . “The Episcopal Church isn’t the only denomination having trouble deciding what it believes. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has voted to ‘receive’ a policy paper on sex-inclusive language for the Trinity. Instead of the traditional (and biblical) Father, Son and Holy Spirit, these liberal Presbyterians will consider using “Mother, Child and Womb,” or “Rock, Redeemer, Friend,” among others. Seeking only to be “relevant,” they face condemnation from the God they are supposed to represent, whose attitude about such things is anything but ‘inclusive.’” Cal Thomas, “Why Liberal Religions are Fading,” FloridaTimes-Union, June 23, 2006, B-7

“Believers OK With Many Paths, USA Today, June 24, 2008, D1 “Religion today in the USA is a salad bar where people heap on upbeat beliefs they like and often leave the veggies—like strict doctrine—behind.”

INTRODUCING CHRISTIANITY L-I-T-E “We just wanted a larger spirit to guide our daughter, but we didn’t want to get specific. I wanted all her bases covered. . . . The couple grew up Presbyterian, but now ‘we just do Christianity L-I-T-E.” SALAD BOWL FAITH MAKING IT EASY

WHY BE BAPTIZED? Cathy Lynn Grossman, “Rite of Baptism Trickles Away,” USA Today, April 13, 2006, p. D 1, 2

BAPTISMS DECLINING “This Easter, . . . Statistics find Americans slowly drifting away from the ancient baptismal ritual.” Sharp declines reported in the number of baptisms by Roman Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, Southern Baptists What’s going on?

REJECTION OF MODERN DENOMINATIONALISM “Churches in the ’90s began actively courting church-wary people. These ‘seeker’ churches often de-emphasized strict theology and practice, and gave a less prominent role to baptisms.” REJECTION OF DENOMINATIONALISM AND THEOLOGY REJECTION OF MEANINGLESS SYMBOLIC RITUALS SOUNDS REASONABLE TO ME

BAD NEWS FROM THE BARNA GROUP ABOUT “CHRISTIANS” "... Christians spend seven times as much time on entertainment as they do on spiritual activities." "Desiring to have a close, personal relationship with God ranks just sixth among the 21 life goals tested, trailing such desires as 'living a comfortable lifestyle.'" "In a representative nationwide survey among born again adults, none of the individuals interviewed said that the single, most important goal in their life is to be a committed follower of Jesus Christ."

Episcopal Church 1830—1,250,000 1930—1,939,000 1940—2,172,000 1960—3,444,000 1980—2,860,000 2002—2,320,000

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1906—1,443,000 1926—4,080,000 (Union of Northern and Southern) 1965—11,000,000 (Evangelical United Brethren) 1983—9,405,000 1991—8,785,000 1998—8,496,000 2005—7,989,000 Membership decreased 1.05 percent in 2005. Earlier this spring, a GCFA report released in April, “The State of Our Connection,” noted that U.S. membership had decreased by 0.81 percent, to about 8.07 million in 2004. Membership had declined annually since the formation of the denomination in 1968. Church attendance in 2005 was 3.34 million, the lowest level in reported history, according to GCFA. Attendance had decreased by 1.63 percent from 2004 to 2005.

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 1906—890,000 1946—1,700,000 1965—2,000,000 1980—1,100,000 2003—770,000

Presbyterian Church (USA) 1830—173,000 1906—1,127,000 1940—1,971,000 1958—4,134,000 1990—4,500,000 2003—3,241,000

CHURCH OF CHRIST STATISTICS 1980 – 1,239,039 members in Churches of Christ in the U.S. 1990 – 1,280,178 members (+41,139, +3.32% increase since 1980) US Population growth 1980-1990 = +9.78% 2000 – 1,262,445 members (-17,733, -1.39% decline since 1990) US Population growth 1990-2000 = +13.15% Projected CofC growth based on U.S. population growth 1990-2000 = 168,343 Actual CofC growth = -17,733 (-1.39%) Difference = -186,076 http://mattdabbs.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/church-of-christ-statistics-growth-in-light-of-larger-population-trends/

VERY BAD NEWS FROM THE BARNA GROUP Although 2/3 of all teenagers say they know all the basic teachings... of the Christian faith, 2/3 reject the existence of Satan, 3/5 reject the existence of the Holy Spirit, and 1/2 believe that Jesus sinned.... "A minority of born again adults (44%) and an even smaller proportion of born again teenagers (9%) are certain of the existence of absolute moral truth. "Large proportions of the lay leaders in Christian churches hold a range of unbiblical religious views regarding the holiness of Christ, the reality of Satan, the existence of the Holy Spirit, the reality of the resurrection, and the means to salvation."

WHY CHURCHES GROW/DECLINE—SHRINKING MAINLINE PROTESTANT DENOMINATIONS: EXPLORING THE REASONS Benton Johnson, Dean R. Hoge and Donald A. Luidens, “Mainline Churches: The Real Reason for Decline,” First Things, March, 1993, pp. 13-18

WHAT MAKES PEOPLE REMAIN FAITHFUL? 1. Not making the church socially and politically relevant Support social and political reforms—feminism and gay rights?? Providing for young people’s social and recreational needs?? 2. Not having ministers/church leaders who are charismatic and scholarly

THE CENTRAL QUESTION: WHAT MAKES PEOPLE REMAIN FAITHFUL? 1. “In our study, the best predictor of church participation turned out to be belief—orthodox Christian belief. . . . Virtually all our baby boomers who believe this are active members of a church.”

FINDING THE WAY BACK TO PRIMITIVE CHRISTIANITY: TWO STEPS Thomas Oden [Drew University], The Rebirth of Orthodoxy: Signs of New Life in Christianity (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 2003). A return to “classic Christianity” based on a willingness to “think with the early church about the sacred text.” A return to “Christian tradition as defined by the sacred texts of scripture, the ecumenical councils of the first five centuries, and the teachings of the ‘fathers of the first millennium.’”

TWO STEPS TO FINDING THE WAY Thomas Oden [Drew University], The Rebirth of Orthodoxy: Signs of New Life in Christianity (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 2003). 2. Learning “to say ‘no’ to false doctrine.” “There is an avid new interest in setting boundaries for Christian teaching.”

HOW CAN WE HELP OUR CHILDREN? “Given the reluctance of so many baby boomers to talk about religion or to instill their own views in their children, the prospects that their offspring will make a serious Christian commitment are even dimmer than their own prospects turned out to be.” WHAT VALUES HAVE YOU INSTILLED IN YOUR CHILDREN?

TWO STEPS TO FINDING THE WAY 1. A Return to New Testament (Not 1st Millennium) Teaching and Practice 2. Setting Boundaries and Saying “NO” READY TO FOLLOW THIS PATH? THE PRINCIPLE DEMANDS CONSISTENT ACTION

Finding the Way to Restore Vitality to Protestant Churches Jane Lampman, “A Return to Primitive Christianity in a Modern Age,” Christian Science Monitor, March 6, 2003. “As many seekers have set off in recent years to pursue spirituality outside the bounds of organized religion, another trend has quietly emerged within and across Christian denominations: a return to orthodoxy. . . . It is perhaps most visible in the least expected place—the liberal mainline churches—where many ‘renewal’ groups are taking an assertive stance, seeking to replace what they consider secularized theology and political activism with biblical authority and evangelical fervor.

A RENEWED EMPHASIS ON CONGREGATIONALISM Congregationalism Works “It’s a major power for our society. We don’t know exactly how many congregations there are nationwide, but even if you take a conservative number of 300,000, then there are 300, 000 groups that assume that it’s their responsibility to help people.” Ram Cnaan, The Invisible Caring Hand : American Congregations and the Provision of Welfare (NYU Press, 2002) CONGREGATIONALISM SURVIVES IN THE 21ST CENTURY

GOOD NEWS FROM THE BARNA GROUP In the last four years, " there has been a rise in the proportion of adults who read the Bible...“ "Half of all unchurched and non-Christian adults admit that they are seeking meaning and purpose in their life - providing a meaningful entry point for evangelizers."

FINDING RELEVANCE IN MODERN SOCIETY LOOKING AT THE PRIMITIVE MODEL FOR BUILDING CHURCHES

BUILDING NEW TESTAMENT CHURCHES ACTS 14:21-23 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. 23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

ACTS 14:21—TEACH GOD’S WORD And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch,

ACTS 14:21—MAKING DISCIPLES AMERICAN STANDARD VERSION 21And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, and to Iconium, and to Antioch, (ASV)

ACTS 14:22—CALLING TO TRIBULATION 22Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

ACTS 14:23—GATHERING IN CONGREGATIONS 23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

ACTS 14:23—GETTING SERIOUS 23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.

ACTS 14:23—TRUSTING GOD 23And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.