"They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ."--Phil.2:21.ESV
A few months ago, a ministry colleague told me: "Approximately 30% of the Desoto County population is churched, and 70% is unchurched."
People are forthcoming in their claims and reasons for rarely/never darkening the door of any local church: They've been wounded by the church, they find church services uninteresting, they complain that churches are always asking for money,etc. There could be an element of truth to some of these allegations.
Underlying all of this, however, is one simple, basic truth: For whatever reason, the unchurched person is insufficiently motivated to attend any church.
Barring certain exceptions (such as a relentless work schedule on Sunday), the obvious truth is: The unchurched don't want to become churched.
People do what they are motivated to do. Given the glut of churches in Desoto County, a genuinely motivated person could find a congregation that doesn't wound people, a church that doesn't continually harass people to give more money, and so forth. But, they lack the motivation---the interest--- to become involved with a church.
Paul wrote about a commonplace self-centeredness in his era: "They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." In two millennia, things haven't changed much. Plenty of people today seem to be more interested in their own accumulation of material stuff than in the glorious truths of Jesus Christ. Numerous individuals constantly obsess about their own career advancement, their own leisure activities and time-consuming hobbies, but Jesus' honor and beauty and glory seldom enter into their thinking. The prospect of gathering together with other people in order to thank God for His Son is repugnant to them.
Thanks be to God that He saves some people. He saves His people, though, so they can focus on the Savior given to them. When people truly understand Who Jesus is, and all that He has done for His people, they will WANT to praise Him and thank Him---even in the presence of other believers outside the pale of their comfortable family unit. And: They will not find Jesus to be greedy or spiteful--- or uninteresting.
Paul phrased things well when he wrote to the Church in Colosse: " As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."--Col.2:6-7 (KJV)
A few months ago, a ministry colleague told me: "Approximately 30% of the Desoto County population is churched, and 70% is unchurched."
People are forthcoming in their claims and reasons for rarely/never darkening the door of any local church: They've been wounded by the church, they find church services uninteresting, they complain that churches are always asking for money,etc. There could be an element of truth to some of these allegations.
Underlying all of this, however, is one simple, basic truth: For whatever reason, the unchurched person is insufficiently motivated to attend any church.
Barring certain exceptions (such as a relentless work schedule on Sunday), the obvious truth is: The unchurched don't want to become churched.
People do what they are motivated to do. Given the glut of churches in Desoto County, a genuinely motivated person could find a congregation that doesn't wound people, a church that doesn't continually harass people to give more money, and so forth. But, they lack the motivation---the interest--- to become involved with a church.
Paul wrote about a commonplace self-centeredness in his era: "They all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ." In two millennia, things haven't changed much. Plenty of people today seem to be more interested in their own accumulation of material stuff than in the glorious truths of Jesus Christ. Numerous individuals constantly obsess about their own career advancement, their own leisure activities and time-consuming hobbies, but Jesus' honor and beauty and glory seldom enter into their thinking. The prospect of gathering together with other people in order to thank God for His Son is repugnant to them.
Thanks be to God that He saves some people. He saves His people, though, so they can focus on the Savior given to them. When people truly understand Who Jesus is, and all that He has done for His people, they will WANT to praise Him and thank Him---even in the presence of other believers outside the pale of their comfortable family unit. And: They will not find Jesus to be greedy or spiteful--- or uninteresting.
Paul phrased things well when he wrote to the Church in Colosse: " As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."--Col.2:6-7 (KJV)
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