Evangelical Label Sermon

Imagine that it is hot day and you are at a barbeque. Your host asks if you would like something to drink. You reply, “why yes, I will have a coke.” Your host returns with this. 4-6 coke bottles – each a different variety and says, “drink up”.

What is the first thing you will do? Skim the labels and choose attributes of the one that best appeals to you.

I am sad to report that that is exactly how most people in America determine how they will serve the Lord. They skim the denominational labels and then choose the attributes of the one that best appeals to them.

·       Church A offers services on Saturday evenings, I’ll join that one so I can golf on Sunday mornings.

·       Church B says women can’t wear makeup or cut their hair, I guess that one’s not for me.

·       Church C has contemporary music, and I like to sing hymns.

·       The prophet at church D attends the 11 am service, if I go there, we’d have to attend the 9 am service or everyone will know my business.

·       The pastor at church E wears blue jeans and sips a coke when he preaches. A lot of teens attend his church…

In this modern day of technology, provided the church has a website, you can even shop for a church on the internet.

Did I say shop for a church? Yep. That’s what choosing a church has become today. Shopping around for the place that has what you want.

So, after you find one that looks appealing, the next step is to ride by and check it out. If it looks ok, you’ll need to attend a service to see if it’s the right church for you.

After service, on the way home, you run thru your church check list.

·       Did someone greet me at the front door?

·       Were the bathrooms clean?

·       Was the music too loud?

·       Did the preacher talk to long?

·       Did my kids have fun in Sunday School?

Ok, if it met all your criteria; maybe you’ll come back. If it didn’t; you’ll go on to the next place.

Going on to the next place is a very American thing to do.  In fact it is so American, that we actually have a term to describe a person who goes from church to church, and never putting down roots. It’s called church hopping. You hop from church to church staying only as long as you are comfortable before moving on.

Paul warns the church about these people he refers to them as

14 infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Ephesisans 4:14

There have been many books and articles written about how to attract people to your church.

·       There are books on marketing the church,

·       books on children’s ministry,

·       books on men’s ministry,

·       books on out reach programs,

·       books on how to pastor specific age groups,

·       books on how to launch a missions program

Then of course there is the cell church, the one that has a cell/study & worship group for every taste.

·       So if you like to quilt

·       Or like to swim

·       Or run in marathons

·       Or go to movies

·       Or shoot pool on Thursday evenings they have a group for you.

And if you don’t like any of those choices, that’s ok, they’ll start a group with your interests.

The important thing is getting people in the door. My experience with churches that offer programs for every whim is that getting in the door isn’t a big challenge, but keeping them inside, getting them to service, getting them to Bible study, discipling them is. The entrance to many of those churches becomes a revolving door. For every on that enters another one leaves.

Now my pastor colleagues all say the same thing when we have this church building discussion. “Didn’t Paul say we’re supposed to meet people where they are?” Aren’t we supposed to be all things to all men?”

Actually what he said was 1 Cor 10:32

32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God 33 even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

In other words, Paul is saying meet them where they are, but don’t keep them there. Grow them up: teach them, and lead them to salvation. They need to know who God is. They need right relationship with Him. They need salvation from their sins.

Invariably, people ask me what kind of church I attend? 

What denomination are we?

My standard response is that we are a non-denominational, evangelical, Christian church.

So what does that mean? What is this label we wear?

Non-denominational means that we are not affiliated with a denomination. We as a church do not pay tithes or dues to a parent church the way the way Catholics send money to the diocese or they way the Lutherans send money to the Synod.

Now you would think Christian in our label would be self explanatory. It would define us as followers of Jesus Christ.

But since the Mormon church labels themselves as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, the label Christian doesn’t insure following Christ.

Just as with the example of different types of Coca~Colas, a more precise label is needed. We could have chosen the label “born again Christian”. "

Born again Christians" are defined as people

·       who said they have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ

·       that is still important in their life today

·       and who also indicated they believe that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior.

Sounds good? And we do fit into that category, However just like you can have Diet Coke or Diet Coke with Lime the label evangelical Christian is a better fit. "

Evangelicals" are Christians

·       who meet the born again criteria (described above)

plus seven other conditions.

·       Those include saying their faith is very important in their life today;

·       believing they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Jesus Christ with non-Christians;

·       believing that Satan exists;

·       believing that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works;

·       believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth;

·       asserting that the Bible is accurate in all that it teaches;

·       and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.

When you look at what is taught in this church, you will agree that we are a non-denominational, evangelical, Christian church. The label is important. What you believe, what you profess is important.

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: Romans 1:16



I believe everyone knows who George Gallup is. He founded the organization that takes the pulse of national opinion.

The Gallup Group takes and publishes poll results and lobbies in Washington for a number of causes based on public opinion.

There is another George, George Barna who does the same thing regarding issues that effect the Christian church. I’ve subscribed to his newsletter for a number of years. I recently reviewed the results of a March 2007 survey regarding the beliefs & practices of the Christian Church today.

·       83% of Americans identified as Christians

·       Only 49% of these individuals described themselves as absolutely committed to Christianity.

But the reality is what they say, is not what they believe. So what does that American Christian believe?

·       Only 66% of American Christians believe that God is the all-powerful, all-knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today.

Wait a minute, aren’t those the names of God? Almighty, All Powerful, Creator of the Universe, Eternal, God Most High

·       37% of Americans believe that Jesus sinned

I guess haven’t read Hebrews 4:15

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

·       Only 24% believe Satan is a real spiritual being

·       29% of American Christians share their faith to other people

And what does it say in Matt 28?

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

So it really shouldn’t surprise us that

·       only 42% of all American Christians believed that the Bible is accurate in all the principles it teaches.          

What does surprise me is

·       Of those who profess to be born again Christians 45% or 40 million born again American Christians do not believe that the Bible is accurate.

It’s no wonder then why 40 million born again Christians:

·       don’t get healed,

·       and don’t get delivered,

·       and don’t have peace,

·       and are unemployed or under employed,

·       are in jail or hospice

They don’t believe the promises of God.

You can’t have it both ways. You can’t profess a strong faith in God and reject his son, or his word. You can’t have one foot in the biblical camp and one foot in the world. This half hearted belief system has the American Christian Church headed for ruin.

It is time for us in the evangelical church to take a stand for truth. We cannot allow the Word of God to become diluted by denying its power.

2 Tim 3:16 tell us,

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

It is our responsibility, saints of God, to know what the Word of God says. On Thursday of this week you will finish reading the book of Proverbs. And that is a major accomplishment.

BUT will you have amassed all the knowledge, understanding and wisdom God wants you to have? Of course not; because not all the answers to life’s questions can be answered in 31 Proverbs. That’s why God gave us the rest of the book.

Let me encourage you to continue reading the word.

Continue meditating on what you have read, and look for opportunities to share what you have learned with others so that they may come to know the truth.