An Eroding Culture (Still Eroding)
An Eroding Culture (Still Eroding)
- Hayden 4-24-16, revised 7-28-20
Last night, in a fit of prayer, I felt led to crack open an old favorite book of mine, Chuck Swindoll’s text “The Church Awakening: An Urgent Call For Renewal.” In a nation that continues to drift further and further away from the moral moorings that were considered at one time common sense, the Church is in desperate need for spiritual renewal. On the back cover of Swindoll’s book, we read this quote, “Postmodernism (there is no absolute truth or reality) began in the academic community, oozed into leadership, then morphed into Congress, public schools, and our homes. Sadly, the slumbering evangelical church has also now slid into the murky waters of a post-Christian swamp.” This is often the result of a church that, rather than seek to draw closer in a holy relationship with God, settles for a shallow, religious form having no power. A church that is more interested in being accepted, and better yet, liked by our politically correct world, escaping the persecution that Jesus said all who live Godly in Christ Jesus would suffer (2 Timothy 3:12).
Some feel that we are in the process of the great “falling away” in the church, spoken of in the Scriptures, as we see denomination after denomination buckle to the pressures of the world to accept more and more behaviors, lifestyles, and faiths as acceptable alternatives to Biblical truths held by the church for the last 20 centuries. Could this be the great falling away linked to the revealing of the anti-Christ spoken of in the Bible? In 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3 we read, “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, that ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;” There has always been societies filled with eroded morality (maybe every society). But now many sectors of the church, after holding to standards of Biblical holiness and truth, are voting (and have voted) to not only affirm alternative faiths and lifestyles as acceptable to God but actually plotting to weave these changes into the church. We need to continue to pray that the church will be renewed in the Holy Spirit, be salt and light for the world, leading people to repentance and forgiveness in Christ rather than allow the world to lead the church into a politically correct social club based on good feelings rather than God’s Word. It is time for the Church to rise up, be bold in Christ, speak truth to counter the deception out to destroy our world, call the church to revival and preach repentance and faith in Jesus to a lost world.
Be blessed even more!!
Pastor Chris
Read more
Faith, Family, Freedom!
C. Hayden 7-8-20
I love the messages that we have been putting up on the Central Christian Church marquis the past several years. They have displayed messages that have been meaningful, relevant to our time and community, and brief enough to be seen by passing vehicles as they glance at our sign while driving to and fro each day. The current offering has been not only one of our briefest sermon, but oh so relevant and meaningful. It reads, “Faith, Family, Freedom”, and that is it. This communication is so simple, yet saying so much.
In these three words, we are able to capture the most important institutions and values of our day. And it is these institutions and values that have come under heavy attack in our country. The first word, FAITH, representing everything we know to be true about God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith also represents our connection with our God as the scripture tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God…” (Hebrews 11:6).
The second word, “Family”, has also been under attack. Forces in our nation and world have been attempting to redefine the family for years, trying to erode the Biblical view of the nuclear family. Now we know that sometimes tragedy and death, sin and selfishness, can cause the creation of non-traditional families. God still loves them and God can still cause those families to thrive. But the ideal, God’s model has always been this: “For this cause a man will leave his mother and father and cleave to his wife and the two will become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5). When we try to downplay God’s model, when end up with a society that is forever redefining God’s Word.
Finally, the word freedom closes our marquis message. One of the most important of values cherished by Americans who often left their country of origin to come to a new land whereby they could freely worship God in “Spirit and Truth” as revealed to their own conscience. And freedom is so important to God, and coincidently, is also under attack! Galatians 5:1 says this, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” We have been set free by Christ so that we might be free in Christ! So as you are driving around Huntington over the next couple months and catch a glimpse of the Church marquis this summer. Don’t let any politician, or anyone else, try to take these things away from you. Remember those three words representing those gifts that God wants all to have, “Faith, Family, Freedom!”
Be blessed even more,
Pastor Chris
Read more
Small Group Greetings!
The “Small Group” gathering that took place Friday, the 12th & the 19th of this June was a great time of food, friends, fellowship, frivolity, and faith! We took time to get to know each other better and forge some ongoing relationships in the Body of Christ. Now this was just the beginning, but a good beginning at that. The participation of CCC members was overwhelming and wonderful! We were able to get to know others from our small Church in a more intimate way while enjoying food and fun in a relaxed, non-regimented atmosphere. Our time together was very refreshing!
This type of gathering is very much the way the early Christians would meet. In Acts 2:46 we read, “So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart…” Believers would meet in the temple courts but also in each other’s homes, sharing the gospel and fellowshipping together, ministering to each other as they had need. Gathering together in fellowship is an important part of exercising our faith. Coming together includes supporting each other in an experience that helps us to grow, gain strength, and learn exactly who God is and how He loves us.
As we fellowship with other Christians in small groups, we also have fellowship with God Himself. In 1 John 1:3, Scripture tells us, “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship [is] with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” And in Matthew 18:20, we read, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” When we gather together in small groups, sharing in food, sharing in conversation, and sharing our faith with each other, God is right there with us, sharing in the ministry of His Holy Spirit.
The next small group gathering will be held July 10th at the Jones’ home and we are looking forward to it. Feel free to join us in this ministry as we once again take time to relax, enjoy the company of believers, and allow the Spirit to move, as only He is able to do.
Be blessed even more,
Pastor Chris
Read more
