Lessons can be learned from Empty Church

One of the most insightful books of 1996 is The Empty Church by Thomas C. Reeves. A historian and an Episcopalian, Reeves analyzes why seven major mainline denominations in the United States are declining in member-ship: American Baptists, Disciples of Christ,Episcopal, Presbyterian,Evangelical Lutheran, Methodists and United Church of Christ. Since the 1960s, these churches have been in a "serious and unprecedented numerical decline, losing between one-fifth and one-third of their membership (p.10). Reeves cites a 1995 report that the Methodist Church, for example, has lost an average of 1,000 members each week for the last 30 years (p.11).

In this carefully documented work, Reeves says these churches are losing their children, their morale is low and missionary zeal is waning (pp.11, 13). Their seminaries have emphasized "the therapeutic, the trendy, and the easy assimilation of leftist views" (p.18).

According to Reeves, these churches, once the backbone of Protestantism in America, have declined primarily because the leaders, often without agreement of their members, have compromised to accommodate current culture (pp.67, 94). They accept the theory of evolution (p.96) but no longer believe in Bible miracles, even denying the virgin birth and resurrection of Jesus (p.86). They no longer hold to inerrancy of Scripture and have adopted relativism (pp.2-3).

In addition to doctrinal changes, these churches have also changed moral views to match our secular society. Leaders no longer consider adultery to be wrong and accept homosexuality, feminism and abortion (19). In 1993, for example, a woman, an Episcopal priest, "displayed a condom during an Easter season service and said that if Jesus were to return he would want everyone to be free to enjoy sex, in whatsoever form that might be" (p. 27).

These mainline churches have also declined because they are not evangelistic. Their support of missionaries is down. They make little effort to gain new members (p.13). They have so blended into the culture, in fact, that they have lost "their distinctiveness and much of their reason for being" (p.130).

Reeves believes these churches are headed for eventual oblivion if they do not change (p. 174). His formula for their revival is three-fold. "The first and most critical step in halting the slide of the mainline churches is the restoration of their commitment to orthodox theology" (p. 175). By this he means a return to belief in the Trinity, the miraculous, the bodily resurrection of Christ and other fundamental elements of the faith (pp, 175-76). "Above all, sermons should teach the faith" (p.199).

The second step for recovery, Reeves says, is a return to belief in absolutes and high moral standards, He quotes George Gallup as saying people "want their churches to help them learn how to put their faith into practice; to shed light on the irnportnt moral issues ofidie day; to help them learn how to serve others better and to be better parents" (p.187).

Reeves' third step for dying churches is a return to evangelism (p.188) by doorknocking, telephoning, media, educational programs, outreach to families and to youth (pp.188-94).

Referencing Dean Kelly's book, Why Conservative Churches Are Growing, Reeves says empty churches should become both exclusive and strict. In strong churches, members must give "absolute and unswerving allegiance; be willing to work, suffer, and die for it; abandon all competing activities, allegiances, and responsibilities in its favor; tell its Good News tirelessly and unself-consciously" (p.185).

The lessons are quite obvious for churches of Christ. We must stand fmn on biblical truth in doctrine and morality both because they are right and because such a stand will eventually win more members. We must teach firmly what we believe and why. We must increase evangelistic outreach within our communities. (This book revue was published in a 1997 edition of The Christian Chronicle by STAFFORD NORTH, Oklahaoma city

Cor. 9:16 For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

David E. Parks
dave@wcofc.org

Last updated Friday, March 30, 2007 12:00 PM


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