Scripture: Psalms 26: 1—
Title: “Evaluating Christianity”
Introduction: A couple of weeks ago I noticed three sermon tapes laying on the counter in the bookstore with titles of sermons I had preached recently. I thought I would get some copies made of them and listen to them while I was driving back and forth to the hospitals as I made my visits. On my next trip I put one of the tapes into the tape player and began to listen. As the tape played on I began to listen to myself preach. I began to notice things that just didn’t suit me. I was doing some things that bothered me. I listened to all three tapes and when I had finished the last one I must say I had some disappointments concerning my preaching. What I had actually done was “evaluated” my own preaching! I was doing some of the same things that I had criticized others for doing. I was breaking my own rules. I think every one of us should do a self-evaluation of our selves periodically. I believe we can get so caught up in doing things over and over until we think we’ve got it just right! There’s an old saying, “There’s always room for improvement.”
I would like for you to join me this morning as we do an EVALUATION of CHRISTIANITY. For this evaluation to be HELPFUL we must be HONEST.
We’re going to use the Bible as our GUIDELINE. Then we need to take a LOOK at our church. We also need to take a look at our selves.
Before we EVALUATE Christianity we need to Examine Ourselves. The Apostle Paul made this statement in (1 Cor. 11:28) “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” (This was an evaluation to find if a person was spiritually capable of receiving Communion.)
I. A SELF-EXAMINATION. (Evaluating)
a. The first step in a “Self Examination” should be taking a “Good Look” at our self! (James 1:23) “For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:”
How do we stack up in light of the Word of God?
b. Another step in a “Self Examination” is “How do I FEEL?” – (Romans 8:16) “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”
“Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.” (Eph. 4:19)
Have our consciences become desensitized? (Are we NUMB?)
Do we CARE? (Mk. 4:38) “And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
c. Another step in a “Self Examination” is checking our VISION. – (Prov. 29:18) “Where there is no vision, the people perish:”
Without VISION a person is in a place of jeopardy. – A person without VISION has to DEPEND on others, a person without VISION lives a life of DANGER, and a person without VISION is also LIMITED in everything they do!
d. Another step in a “Self Examination” is checking our HEARING – (Rom. 10:17) “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
Hearing is one of the most IMPORTANT parts of our lives because so much DEPENDS on hearing.
Hearing causes our EMOTIONS to be touched, MENTAL PICTURES to be FORMED, APPITIES to be CREATED, and HEARING will PROTECT us. It will cause us to notice things we would not notice without hearing ability.
In the book of Revelation this phrase is used seven times, “hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches;”
e. One of the MOST important parts of a “Self Examination” is checking the HEART! – (Prov. 4:23) “Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.”
A BAD HEART greatly AFFECTS the WHOLE BODY!
(Mt. 12:34 ) “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
(1 John 3:20) “For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.”
f. Last of all in this list of “Self Examination” is the PHYCOLOGICAL examination! – This will deal with our THINKING (our MIND)
(Prov. 23:7) “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:”
II. EVALUATING CHRISTIANITY.
a. Are we, as Christians, RELEVANT to the needs of the NON-CHRIATIAN?
When people with “Felt Needs” come into our churches how are we RESPONDING?
Is our MUSIC and our PREACHING, TEACHING able to relate to the NEEDS of the people attending our churches? (Do they understand our Christian vocabulary?)
A recent survey asked over 10,000 people this question: “What was responsible for your coming to Christ and to the church?”
1. I had a special need – 3%
2. I just walked in – 3%
3. I liked the minister – 6%
4. I visited there – 1%
5. I liked the Bible classes – 5%
6. I attended a gospel meeting – 0.5%
7. I like the programs – 3%
8. A friend or relative invited me – 79%
b. How are we RESPONDING to the “Great Commission?” (Mt. 28:19-20) “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
9 out of 10 American adults (86%) cannot accurately define the meaning of the “Great Commission.” (Barna)
Only 4% of adults could define the “Great Commission,” quote John 3:16, and define “the gospel.” (Barna)
Barely one third of all adults (31%) know the meaning of the expression “the gospel.” (Barna)
c. If we REACH the Non-Christian it will be through the efforts of INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS!
d. Could Christianity have been replaced by RELIGION?
There are a great number of people going to churches.
There are a great number of people that say they are Christians.
But where are the people that are being SAVED?
7 out of 10 adults have no clue what “John 3:16” means.
III. RELEVANT CHRISTIANITY. (Pertinent)
a. Christianity is all about CHRIST and fulfilling the “Great Commission” He left us as His FINAL INSTRUCTIONS to the Church.
b. Displaying the CHARACTERISTICS of Jesus Christ caused the disciples of Jesus to be called “Christians” first at Antioch. (Acts 11:26)
c. LOVE is probably the GREATEST characteristic of Christianity.
Christianity is LOVE in ACTION! Do you agree with this statement?
Love is the lubricant that prevents FRICTION between Christians!
A true Christian is not only commanded to love but also given the power to love.
Love is one of the marks of true Christianity. (“I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ”) (Gal.6:17)
Love is Christianity made visible.
d. Christianity can never be RELEVANT to the world unless it has COMPASSION! (Mt. 9:36) “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.” – Forgiveness – Tenderness – Pity – Feeling – Mercy – Heart – Kindness – Simply put, “Caring.”
e. For Christianity to be RELEVANT it must be “Conspicuous!” – (Mt. 5:16) “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Noticeable – Plain as day – Perceptible – Clear – Discernable – Manifest – Marked – Open. (By the way if you or I are really a Christian it is this way!)
f. For Christianity to be REVELANT to the needs of the people it must have the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (Acts 1:8) “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
We will never overcome the devil and all his demons with our OWN power and ability. We need everything God has got for us!
Power marks true Christianity!
CONCLUSION:
Early in the twentieth century a London newspaper carried an advertisement that read: “Men wanted for hazardous darkness, and constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.” The ad, signed by famous Arctic explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton, brought Inquiries from thousands of men.
Commenting on this in his book Be Faithful, Warren W. Wiersbe said, “If Jesus Christ had advertised for workers, the announcement might have read something like this: ‘Men and women wanted for difficult task of helping to build My church. You will often be misunderstood, even by those working with you. You will face constant attack from an invisible enemy. You may not see the results of your labor, and your full reward will not come till after all your work is completed. It may cost you your home, your ambitions, even your life.’”
Gallup Poll
Fewer than 10 percent of Americans are deeply committed Christians, says pollster George Gallup, who adds that these people “are far, far happier than the rest of the population.”
Committed Christians, Gallup found, are more tolerant than the average American, more involved in charitable activities, and are “absolutely committed to prayer.”
While many more Americans than this 10 percent profess to be Christians, adds Gallup, most actually know little or nothing of Christian beliefs, and act no differently than non-Christians.
“Overall,” says Gallup, “The Sunday School and religious education system in this country is not working.”
Not Found Wanting
Christianity has not been tried and found wanting; it’s been found difficult and not tried.
G.K. Chesterton, quoted in Swindoll, Hand Me Another Brick, Thomas Nelson, 1978, p. 128.
It’s Not What …
It is not what men eat but what they digest that makes them strong;
Not what we gain but what we save that makes us rich;
Not what we read but what we remember that makes us learned;
Not what we preach but what we practice that makes us Christians.
