Get You Some Sunday Clothes, Easter’s Comin’!

We are swiftly approaching the High Holy Day for Christians – Easter. It’s the holiday where the resurrection of Christ is celebrated. It’s also the Sunday of the year when folk flock to the local house of worship to “pay their dues”. Sadly that’s what many feel they are doing. Have you heard the story of the local pastor who stood in the pulpit on Easter Sunday and said to the congregation, “Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to our church today. And for so many of you, I would also like to wish you a very Merry Christmas!” It is sad, but true that many only grace the doors of the Lord’s house on those two very important days that mark our faith.


I’m always reminded of Paul’s words to the Church at Rome when he declared in Chapter 12 that “our reasonable service” (KJV), or “our spiritual act of worship” (NIV) is to “offer our bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing unto the Lord.” It goes far deeper than a couple of trips to the church annually with “them Sunday clothes” on.


I read recently an excerpt from Win Arn’s book “Planting Growing Churches” that 80 – 85% of American churches are on the downside of the church life cycle. In other words, they are declining rather than growing. That seems quite different from the Acts 3 report that “the Lord added to their number daily, those who were being saved.”


Arn also reports that 3500 to 4500 churches close each year, resulting in an average of 72 houses of worship in America closing their doors each week. What is going on? Why is this happening? I think the answer is quite simple. Once you define what the church is in reality you can answer the question – it’s people. Remember, the little stanza that I wrote about in my second book, “All Dressed Up And No Place To Go”? – “This is the church, this is the steeple; open the doors and see all the people.” Grandma Phillips taught me that as a kid as she cupped her aged hands to teach us on the back pew just before the preacher came out with his ministry team.


People are the church. People are the problem. We need a revival among the church at large in this nation that results in the rise of evangelism on the part of every one of us. The perpetual plan of God is that the Kingdom of God advance through the proclamation of the gospel. Preach Jesus, reach people, teach them to fulfill God’s plan for their life and His kingdom! Now clothe yourself with the righteousness of Christ and get busy!!! Happy Easter!