How Shall We Obey?

“If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15).

The church in the United States is declining. The Presbyterian Church (USA)’s membership has declined from 3,500,000 in 1990 to 1,000,000 in 2020. We are not alone. All mainline denominations, United Methodist Churches, the Evangelical Lutherans, the Episcopal church, and Southern Baptists, Assemblies of God are in decline.

In the midst of loss, many are searching for the elusive silver bullet to solve our decline. Leaders go to conferences to learn about innovation, vision casting, and becoming more relevant.

No one is considering the possibility that perhaps the reason why we are in such a decline is because we no longer obey as we once did.

Andrew Root is one of the main speakers at the National Gathering at the Fellowship Community this year that Pastor Brad and I are attending. The Fellowship Community is a gathering for evangelically minded pastors and congregations who are still in the PC(USA).

Andrew Root was asked what he thought was the reason the churches in America are in such decline and he said that the problem has little to do with innovation but with obedience. Root said, “Instead of asking how do we innovate?” churches ought to be asking, “How will we obey Jesus?”

I think Root is spot on. It’s Christ’s church. The key to thriving churches has little to do with our innovations and visions. It has everything to do with Jesus and his church.

So, Little Church and Lakewoodgrace, “How shall we obey Jesus?”