Three young men who say they are atheists decided to ‘sample’ and report on several churches in their town. One of these men said, “There is something other than teaching that is appealing to people. We didn’t see a lot of doctrine. . . . The appeal was mostly the community. The content in most churches isn’t nearly as important as the packaging.” The three atheists offered this explanation for why thousands of people in their area attend church each Sunday: The attraction stems more from a person’s Christian identity than from what the religion teaches.

Their experience agrees with the observation of author A. W. Tozer, who said, “Increasing numbers of [Christians] are becoming ashamed to be found unequivocally on the side of truth. They say they believe, but their beliefs have been so diluted as to be impossible of clear definition.”

The apostle Paul knew whom he believed and he instructed young pastor Timothy to “hold fast” to the truth he had been taught (2 Tim. 1:12-13). We too need to hold tightly to our beliefs based on the unfailing, God breathed Bible. What we believe about God is more crucial than any feeling we get by being in church. Tozer calls us to stand “firm on the Word of God that lives and abides forever.”

Author

Anne Cetas

Topics

Our Daily Bread