CHURCH ATTENDANCE IS DECLINING Faith in Jesus is growing in some ways Non-church going population in Europe & U.S. also growing “no religious preference” selected more in America on surveys Source: signs-great-decline-religion-america-gallup-graphs-church/ Source: The Reason for God by Timothy Keller

COLLEGE & RELIGION Religion generally not talked about casually Many of my peers actually detest religion I am a Christian yet I agree

WHY THE CHURCH DECLINE & DETESTING? I argue that churches aren’t being “killed” by low attendance but are committing “suicide” themselves by turning Jesus into pragmatic religion.

RELIGION DEFINITION Religion - what one must do, or behave like, in order to gain right standing with God and/or achieve salvation. Can apply to all religions but focusing on those that stem from belief in Jesus

PRAGMATICS IS WHAT PREACHERS KNOW Easy to read 10 commandments Labeled sins & advocated behaviors in the Bible So “Jesus is like this, so do that”

DANGEROUS ASSUMPTION Preaching just rules dangerously assumes all know & understand true nature of God & Gospel By passing understanding= moralistic religion without foundation for behavior

“DO THIS, DO THAT” Moralistic deism “Do this, do that” “Think this, think that” “Don’t do this or that” This does not transform people But Jesus changed everything?

DON’T KNOW CHRIST, CAN’T HOLD TO CHRIST STANDARD Those who do not know Christ cannot be held to the standard of Christ! Can’t force Christ’s teachings down throat Can only come to understand after understand meaning of Christ & the cross

RELIGION PASSED THROUGH HISTORY Passed through families Tradition Sometimes picked up to add meaning Often not questioned Mythic worldview Busy/Indifferent “Just believe”

COLLAPSING & NOT COMPELLING This religion is what my peers & others see Not compelling Collapse in faith: After tragedy After Questioning Smart skeptic

WHITE-KNUCKLING RELIGION Leave when white-knuckling only leads to despair “I was good, God! This is how you repay me?!”

“JUST BELIEVE.” If I get news, need a lot more than rules & “just believe”

YOUTH GROUP ISN’T THE ISSUE Kids aren’t leaving because not fun Grow up & leave because only told rules Why?? …Because “God says so.”

“BECAUSE GOD SAYS SO” Not quite compelling to those outside of Christ Compels to go pick rules from other religions like better

FORCED & INCONSISTENT Feels forced Inconsistent with Jesus Followers gave up everything

WHY IS JESUS BETTER? Why is Jesus better? Must be answered or makes no sense Yet acquiring this faith in Jesus requires more than intellectual acceptance Rather need full heart conversion How?

BY PREACHING THE GOSPEL ↑ How hearts are transformed 360˚! “ HEY, Jesus is better than everything you own and everyone you know so if you lost everything you may be down for some time but you’d still have a fullness of joy in your heart and life because you have Jesus” What?.....

YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE ANYTHING Don’t have to make Jesus “cool” Stay true to Gospel message Compelling to man’s deepest desires

DOESN’T MEAN ALL WILL ACCEPT Faith comes by hearing the Gospel “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing the word of Christ.” –Romans 10:17 Doesn’t mean all ready to accept But Christians must step up to preach AND live out Gospel

SO HOW DO CHURCHES STOP PRAGMATIC SUICIDE? Preach the Gospel Relate all topics back to Gospel Live out the Gospel Emphasize the Gospel Over rule following

SOURCES Religion News Service. Great Decline of Religion in America america-gallup-graphs-church/ The Reason for God by Timothy Keller