Pastor's Blog - September/October 2023

Both Christian and secular publications document the fact that the influence of the Christian faith is on the decline in the United States - as it has been over the past several years. Some writers suggest that the American church is declining in size and influence and following the patterns that have been experienced in western European countries over the past century or so. While American politicians at all levels generally conclude their speeches with "God bless America" and a majority of Americans still say they believe in the virgin birth of Jesus according to some polling data, there is increasing evidence that the people of our country are becoming less religious.

As reported in a recent New York Times article titled "America Is Losing Religious Faith (written by Nicholas Kristoff in the August 23, 2023 issue), "They are drifting away from churches, they are praying less and they are less likely to say religion is very important in their lives. For the first time in Gallup polling, only a minority of adults in the United States belong to a church, synagogoe, or mosque." According to this article, authors Jim Davis and Michael Graham state in their newly published book titled The Great Dechurching, "we are currently experiencing the largest and fastest religious shift in the history of our country...More people have left the church in the last 25 years than all the new people who became Christians from the First Great Awakening, Second Great Awakening, and Billy Graham crusades combined."

This "dechurching," as Davis and Graham write in their book, is impacting most all denominations, including evangelicals like Southern Baptists. In his NYT article, Kristoff continues to be a "pious nation by the standards of the rich world...Pew reports that 63 percent of American adults identify as Christian - but that's down from 78 percent in 2007. And in that same period the percentage of adults who say they have no religion has risen to 29 percent from 16 percent..." Kristoff concludes that if these trends continue, "by the mid-2030's fewer than half of Americans may identify as Christian."

Many local churches are reporting a decline in average worship attendance from pre-pandemic (2019) to post-pandemic (2022) - ranging up to 50 percent declines in average attendance depending on the congregation and location (and there are exceptions). At the same time, some churches report that they are reaching more people than pre-COVID 19 pandemic because of attracting new worship participants via live streaming of services. This is an interesting phenomenon, and only time will reveal the longevity and impact of these trends. 

There are many ideas on the cause of the decline of the church in the United States. Some argue that many denominations have become too liberal and secularized with water-downed theology and compromised moral standards. On the other hand, there are those who rightfully point out that the declines are no longer limited to so-called mainline denominations and have come to include the more evangelical and conservative denominations. It can be argued that possibly a part of the problem is that some congregations and denominations in both the main line tradition and the conservative and evangelical tradition have come to place other pursuits above the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the change of loyalty to political leaders who do not reflect Christian character and values, the pursuit of materialism, the pursuit of political and social influence, the loss of a prophetic voice, the failure to preach the saving power of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world while also failing "to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our God..." (Micah 6:8). Perhaps a part of the problem is that the non-Christian world does not see the church living up to the teachings of Jesus Christ and bringing the Gospel to bear upon all areas of life. Maybe - just maybe - the decline of the size and influence of the church - that is the community of faith of Jesus Christ - is because we are not being effective witnesses for Jesus Christ and the life transformation that He - and only He - brings to the world. 

People need the Lord! Amen! People need us to be the "light of the world and salt of the earth" (Matthew 5:13-16). The United States and the world are waiting for Christ-followers to reach out in love, mercy, and grace and to bring light to the darkness that is so prevalent. 

Pastor’s Blog - July - August 2023

During the months of July and August 2023, I will be sharing a sermon series on the “Seven Deadly Sins.” According to Christian tradition, the seven deadly sins are those behaviors, or feelings, that inspire further sin. They are typically listed as: pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth. While there is no official listing of the seven deadly sins mentioned in the Bible, these seven specific sins are certainly addressed throughout the scriptures and represent a good summary of the sins of humanity. These seven sins are inward attitudes that affect character as well as conduct. Through Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can be delivered from the seven deadly sins.

 Pride is listed as the first of the seven deadly sins. It has been said many times that in essence human pride is at the root of all human sin. Carl Sandburg once wrote, “We all want to play Hamlet.” Another way of saying the same thing is, “Everyone wants to lead the parade.” J. Wallace Hamilton calls it the “drum major instinct.” The drum major struts about as the band marches in unison. The drum major stands out as the leader, and the members of the band, who actually produce the music, march in anonymity. 

 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., on February 4, 1968 (two months before his assassination), delivered his “Drum Major Instinct” sermon at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. In the powerful sermon, Dr. King spoke to his congregation about the negative results of the “drum major instinct,” which he defined as the desire “to be first, to be recognized, and to distinction.” If not controlled, Dr. King pointed out that the “drum major instinct” would become destructive, leading to a feeling that the world is all about “me.” 

 We learn early in life to feel that life should put us first. The first cry of a newborn baby is for attention. As a child grows up, he or she learn “cute and clever ways” to get the spotlight. Children will often disrupt a serious adult conversation in order to become the center of attention. And we all carry this forward, much too often, into our adult lives as we seek social approval and the acclaim of our peers. Even in adult life, many people live by the drum major instinct. For example, some people will not sing in the church unless it is a solo, nor will they serve unless given significant credit.

 The sin of pride is at the root of many of the problems and issues we face. Pride often will cause people to lose their sense of sin. A little girl said to er mother, “When I do it, it is a bad temper. When you do it, it is nerves.” The writer of Proverbs says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

 Pride is what caused the angels to fall and in turn caused Adam to fall. Pride prompted the building of the Tower of Babel. The generation after the great flood declared independence from God. Today pride causes us to spend money for things we do not have for things we do not enjoy – in order to impress people we may not even like. Pride causes us to be blind to our own limitations and causes us to think we are self-sufficient.

 Some people deny that they are sinners in need of Jesus. They are not willing to assume the role of a servant. Do you remember that Jesus – who was the Son of God – took a towel and washed the feet of his disciples including the feet of Judas? But we expect others to wash our feet!

 Love that is based in Jesus Christ is the solution to the sin of pride. As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13:4-5: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” 

 In place of the “seven deadly sins” starting with pride, let us concentrate on the Fruit of the Holy Spirit as enumerated in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control…”

Pastor's Blog - May-June, 2023

One of our deacons and I were recently discussing the passing of time and how quickly it seems time passes as we grow older. We both recalled how it was so different as children and even then, as young
adults as we established our homes, pursued our careers, and raised our children. In those days, we were focused on the tasks at hand day by day and month by month. In retrospect, we agreed that it all passed very quickly and that as we reach senior adult age, it seems that the days, months, and years quickly fade away.

As a child growing up on a farm in Cumberland County, I remember how slow time seemed to pass. From one Christmas to the next Christmas, from one birthday to the next birthday, from the beginning of the school year in the fall to the beginning of summer vacation nine months later, and that long year of waiting until I reached my 16th birthday so I could get my driver's license and gain some supposed independence -- it just seemed that "Father Time" passed so very slowly.

And then I became an adult and over a period of five decades (that makes me feel really old when I put it that way), Cathy and I were married, pursued successful careers, discovered a wonderful community we decided to make our permanent earthly home, dedicated our lives to serving our Lord, became the
loving parents of four wonderful children, experienced the growing up of our children to become adults of their own and all pursuing individual careers, and then the blessed birth of four wonderful grandchildren - one of whom is now married, one who is now a junior in college after only one year of
full-time enrollment, another of whom is now driving, and the youngest of whom will be a freshman in high school this fall. Oh, my, how quickly "Father Time" seems to have passed over these five decades.

This reminds me of the importance of considering time from the perspective of God. The Bible tells us that we are to use our timely wisely because there are so many things in life that will pop up along the way and distract us from the main things of faith, family, friends, and serving God. In 2 Corinthians 6:2, Paul writes: "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." This verse reminds us that today is the day of salvation - the time of God's favor - we must make sure that we have wisely used our time to receive God's gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and that we are living daily for Him in all that we do. That is the most important decision and "good time management" that we can follow. John, the beloved apostle, wrote: "The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever." Are we doing the
will of God each day of this life? John 9:4 reads: "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work." It is urgent that we must be about the work of God each day and making best use of the time that we have. Proverbs 27:1 states: "Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring." We should live each day to the fullest without dwelling on tomorrow - this is the only moment and only day that we are guaranteed. Psalm 90:12 tells us: "Teach us to number our days, that you may gain a heart of wisdom." We never know how many days we may have remaining in this life; therefore, we should make each and day count for our Lord, our family, our friends, and our calling.

The words of 2 Peter 3:8-9 really are strategic for us to consider: "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." Praise be to God that is patient and gracious to us.

In summary, it is evident that God's perspective on time is much different than ours. We are finite beings, bound by time, but God is not. We often lose sight of the passing of time and the need in our lives to live each day as if it were our last - living life to the fullest in Jesus Christ, seeking God's will for our lives, being open to the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit in all things, savoring each moment we have with our family and friends, and in sharing the love of Jesus Christ with others. Living the abundant life (John 10:10b) is the best way we can deal with the passing of time and the changing circumstances that result as time moves forward.

Pastor's Blog - March-April 2023

We are now in the Season of Lent as this pastor's blog for March-April 2023 is prepared. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, which was on February 22 this year, Lent runs for a 40-day period, or approximately six weeks, leading up to Easter/Resurrection Sunday (which is April 9 in 2023). Lent is generally observed as a time of fasting, prayer, repentance, and self-reflection.

While many Baptist congregations have not traditionally observed the season of Lent, there is an increasing number of Baptists who do cite Lent as a special time on the annual church calendar to give closer attention to the closing days of Jesus' earthly ministry as he moved toward his final week (what we call Holy Week which runs from Palm Sunday - April 2 this year - through what some call Holy Saturday or the day before Easter Sunday when the resurrection is celebrated. It has been tradition in many congregations to move quickly to the resurrection and bypass the crucifixion. Certainly, the resurrection is what affirms the deity of Jesus and confirms that he overcame the penalty of sin for us. However, it is very important that we take time, at least on an annual basis, to prayerfully consider that course of events leading up to the arrest and trial of Jesus, his atoning death at Calvary, and the depth of meaning of his passion.

We have Lent devotional guides available. I would also recommend your spending time in the Gospels to read directly about what is recorded regarding Jesus' final days prior to the crucifixion. The Gospel of John, in the second half of that book, presents the final week of Jesus' life in some detail. There are numerous online sources - which I will be glad to share upon request.

As stated in one summary of the meaning of Lent: "The purpose of Lent is to prepare Christians for the joyous celebration of Jesus' resurrection. It is also a time to acknowledge our sinful nature, repent of our sins, and recommit our lives to God. By spending time in prayer and meditation, we can renew our spiritual lives and prepare ourselves to give thanks for the gift of salvation. Lent is also a time to serve others and show God's love by our actions."

Following Lent, we come to the joyous celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. This is the good news and highlight of our faith because Jesus arose from the dead - he is alive - the tomb is empty! This is a life-changing truth, a transformational message, and the permanent solution to our sin problem. Praise be to God that Jesus Christ is alive and that he shall return some day!

COMMENTS ON THE 2023 ASBURY UNIVERSITY REVIVAL:

We have recently witnessed an amazing outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the campus of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky that began among students in a chapel service. I have been impressed, from a distance as a pastor and minister of the Gospel, with the approach that the Asbury administration has taken in protecting the students and not commercializing the time of revival and not allowing some outside groups to come in and take over and potentially manipulate the spirit of revival. Most of us would acknowledge the need for revival and renewal among God's people in this post-pandemic era. We face a "new normal" as has been stated numerous time since March 2020 when the pandemic first became evident. May we pray that the spirit of revival and renewal, which appears to be the "real deal" at Asbury University, is the beginning of a widespread movement of the Holy Spirit among God's people in Kentucky and beyond. "Revive us, O Lord."

Pastor’s Blog – January-February 2023 – Pastor John E. Chowning

We are excited about all that lies ahead in the New Year of 2023. While 2023 will bring its share of challenges and concerns, the dawning of a new year always offers us the opportunity for spiritual renewal and new beginnings in our relationship with our Lord and with our families and friends. The new year reminds us that in Jesus Christ, each day is a new day, and we are renewed in Him as we move through the challenges that come our way. We are forgiven on an ongoing basis of our sins and shortcomings as we come to Him in repentance and prayer and asking forgiveness for the mistakes we have made. God grants us renewal, transformation, and hope for each day that we live in and for Him.

What are some of the things that may be holding you back as we begin 2023? What are the barriers that may be keeping you from having that full relationship with Jesus? Are there unconfessed sins in your life, regrets that you still carry with you from the past, hard feelings that you may hold toward another person? What is it that is keeping you from fully experiencing the joy of your salvation and the full and abundant life that Christ came to provide us here and now as well as the hope of eternity with Him? So many of us grow tired in our daily walk with Christ, and it is because we allow things of this world to take our attention from the call that is on us to live daily for Jesus Christ.

So, as we move forward in 2023, let us commit anew to turn to God for direction, discernment, forgiveness, and leadership. May we allow God to pervade all areas of our lives rather than only allowing Him to influence certain parts of our daily living. This new year can be a time of new beginnings, a time for renewal and rededication, and a time to be about the important work of our Lord. Will you commit to that call upon your life in 2023 and beyond?