CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY JUNE 8, 2020
THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION, AMERICA’S LARGEST PROTESTANT DENOMINATION, REPORTS A DROP IN MEMBERSHIP OF 4 PERCENT LAST YEAR FROM 2018. THAT’S THE BIGGEST DECLINE IN A CENTURY. IT IS REFLECTIVE, SAY TOP SBC OFFICIALS, OF THE GROWING SECULARIZATION OF AMERICA, ESPECIALLY AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.
THERE MAY BE A NUMBER OF CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO THIS, BUT AMOUNG THEM I BELIEVE IS THAT WE WHO ARE FOLLOWERS OF JESUS ARE NOT OBEYING HIM FULLY, OR EVEN MOSTLY. WHEN YOUNGER PEOPLE THINK OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, THEY SEE DIVORCING PARENTS, EVEN WITHIN THE CHURCH; THEY SEE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO BE MORE FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP THAN THEY ARE FOR JESUS; THEY DON’T SEE CHRISTIANS LOVING THEIR ENEMIES, PRAYING FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE THEM, VISITING PRISONERS, OR CARING FOR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. THOSE ARE THE COMMANDS OF JESUS.
THE DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS, NOT JUST SOUTHERN BAPTISTS, IS CONTRASTED WITH THE RAPID GROWTH OF ISLAM. ASK YOURSELF WHY AND THEN ASK, “AM I SUFFICIENTLY OBEYING JESUS, OR DO I WANT MORE THAN JESUS, WHICH IS ACTUALLY LESS? I’M CAL THOMAS.
