The Southern Baptist Church In Decline

There has been a lot of money spent and time expended, especially by those who are Southern Baptists, to find the reason for the decline of most of our churches in the United States.  Surveys have been completed.  Investigations done.  Reports issued.  Lots of data have been gathered, but overall the issue is not being resolved.

I believe we could have saved numerous dollars and countless hours by simply being honest with ourselves.  I was brought to this conclusion by a couple of pictures that graced the past 2 Senior Adult Sunday School Curriculum Guides from Lifeway.  One of them is included in this post.  It is a picture of an assumed “christian” couple who are spending their remaining years enjoying themselves by lounging, sipping a cold drink and laughing.  The other had two senior adult men out playing golf.

You might say, “What’s the big deal?”

This is the big deal.  These two pictures communicate the attitude of our churches today.  Most Christians are far removed from any idea of sacrificing their lives for the Gospel.  We are much more content living out our “American Dream”.  We pass this down to our kids and then sit back, complain and wonder why they are self-absorbed and consumed with getting and having.

The Sunday School is the main discipleship program of most Southern Baptist churches and our Senior Adult curriculum is communicating that the goal of a “christian” life is getting yourself to the point that you can lounge around and go play golf.  This is the goal of life when most people have more time and money than they ever have had in their lives?  What about using that time and money to serve others? and then teaching the generations that follow to do the same?

We know exactly what is wrong, but we don’t want to admit it.

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