Sunday Morning Christians

In modern day America, roughly 40% of Americans attend church at least once or almost once a week. However, only 20% of Americans regularly read the Bible.

This problem is not unique to our time. Commenting on the churchgoers of his day, Charles Spurgeon observed,

“Why is it that some Christians, although they hear many sermons, make but slow advances in the divine life? Because they neglect their closets, and do not thoughtfully meditate on God’s Word. They love the wheat, but they do not grind it; they would have the corn, but they will not go forth into the fields to gather it; the fruit hangs upon the tree, but they will not pluck it; the water flows at their feet, but they will not stoop to drink it.”

The biggest crisis facing American Christendom today is a crisis of relationship. Millions of Christians are content to look only to Christian literature and sermons for their spiritual growth, rather than cultivating a deep personal relationship with God.

The history of the Israelites reveals the tragic consequences of drifting from God. First, Israel settled for a superficial relationship with God. Next, they rebelled against God. Finally, future generations of Israelites payed the price. Just as this threefold progression towards apostasy affected the Israelites over 3,000 years ago, so it will affect our families today if we neglect personal time with the Lord.

A Superficial Relationship with God

After recording the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20:18 states,

“And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. And they said unto Moses, speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

Sadly, God’s chosen people were afraid to hear the voice of the one who loved them most. When God spoke directly to them, they revealed that they would rather hear the voice of Moses than hear the voice of God. While “The people stood afar off… Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.”

From a grief-filled heart, God declared to Moses, “Oh that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them and their children for ever! Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee…” (Deuteronomy 5:29-31).

The children of Israel remained content to hear God’s words through Moses their intermediary. Their behavior mirrors that of modern Christians who wish to hear God’s voice through a preacher on Sunday morning but not in their closets every day of the week.

Our relationship with God must run deeper than Sunday morning sermons. Tragically, if we fail to maintain a deep, personal relationship with God, our lives will not eternally impact our families or those around us.

Rebellion Against God

As Asaph recounts in Psalm 78, the Israelites soon forgot God’s works, succumbed to ingratitude, and provoked the very God who had delivered them from Egypt.

After contenting themselves with a superficial relationship with God, the Israelites ultimately rebelled against a God they hardly knew. Numbers 14 records the final step in their insurgency against God. After murmuring about food and water and worshipping a golden calf, they refused to enter the Promised Land.

Previous generations had lived, toiled, and died in slavery to the Egyptians without experiencing freedom. This “stubborn and rebellious generation” openly rebelled. In extreme irony, the generation God did the most for appreciated Him the least.

Until we spend time with God, we will continually rebel against His will to selfishly follows our own lusts. If we neglect our closets, like the Israelites, we will forget who God is and what He has done for us.

Loss of Future Generations

The rebellious generation perished in the Sinai desert. Though their children possessed Canaan, their later descendants ultimately followed in their footsteps.

Judges 2:10 records, “There arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which He had done for Israel.” This generation was lost because their parents disobeyed God’s command to teach their children about the Lord and His works (Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Exodus 10:1-2).

Jugdes describes the vicous cycle of unfaithful and seemingly faithful generations. Israel’s shallow faithfulness was dependant on judges.

“And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of that judge… And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them; they ceased not from their own doings, not from their evil way” (Judges 2:18-19).

Ultimately, the outcome of the battle of our relationship God will determine the fate of our children, our grandchildren, and generations to come. As my father often notes, “the true test of any family is fully seen, not in the children, but in the grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

We cannot expect to raise godly children if we neglect time with God. Christ said, “Without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). Inevitably, future generations will be directly impacted by the depth of our relationship with God.

Rediscovering Real Christianity

Today, God is calling every Christian into a deeper relationship with Him. Like the Israelites, we can fearfully pull back, or, like Moses, we can draw nigh to God. Christ beckons, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

While strong churches are vitally important, churches cannot raise godly families; only faithful parents can. Today, God is calling every father to be a Moses for his family, raising his sons and daughters as Joshuas who will pass the faith on to the next generation.

Will you complacently rely on your parents, friends, or pastor’s faith? Or with Moses, will you cry out to the living God, “Show me thy glory” (Exodus 33:18).

On the results of that choice hang your effectiveness and the spiritual state of future generations.

Question: Why do we sometimes find it easier to listen to a sermon Sunday morning than to spend time with God Monday morning?