I Am A Church Member – Book Review

It’s Throwback Thursday where I either highlight a preacher or missionary of revival either modern or historical. Today I will be reviewing a book that is brand new by Thom S. Rainer called I Am A Church Member.

Thom is president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. He has written more that twenty books and coauthored the NO. ! best seller Simple Church. This book is a much needed book in America. Church membership is on the decline with members selecting a church like they would a country club. There is very little loyalty to a church when issues get tough. In large cities, church hoppers move from church to church with no loyalty at all. They select a church like they select a Bible study. I will go to this church because I like this sermon series, but I can go somewhere else if I get bored.

According to Thom, “Based on our research of 557 churches from 2004 to 2010, nine out of ten churches in America are declining or growing at a pace that is slower than that of their communities. Simply stated, churches are losing ground in their own backyards. Another way of looking at it is generationally. About two-thirds of the Builder generation, those born before 1946, are Christians. But only 15 percent of the Millennials are Christians. The Millennials are the largest generation in America’s history with almost eighty million members. They were born between 1980 and 2000. And we have all but lost that generation” (4-5).

I hope that this statement above alarms you. It is time to ” Blow a trumpet in Zion, And sound an alarm on My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble, For the day of the LORD is coming; Surely it is near” Joel 2:1 (NASB). “When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the LORD your God, and you will be saved from your enemies” Num 10:9 (NKJV). Our enemy is Satan and the day of the Lord is coming soon. Many churches know how to fill a pew, but we are not reaching people spiritually. It is time for churches to unite together and pray for Revival and Spiritual Awakening before it is too late. To learn how to reach this generation for the Lord, please look at my Keys to Revival series.

Lord, we pray for our youth and young people in America. Please forgive us for thinking that we only need to entertain them. We feel we need to water down the gospel because they won’t listen to long teachings, yet this is the group who is taking Chemistry, Physics and going to college. Please forgive the church because we have lacked holiness and have failed to reach the younger generation. The church has no one to blame but itself. We need to become like the church in Ephesus so we can again be the light of the world. Our salt has lost it’s savor. Please, Lord, revive us again. In Jesus Name, Amen.