Resolving Conflict in the Family of God

In the words of CS Lewis... "Everyone says that forgiveness is a wonderful idea, until [you have] something to forgive [of someone who’s offended you]."

You may know from first-hand experience that conflict among Christians is damaging and costly. But just how costly is it? That may be one of the hardest questions you’ll ever attempt to answer. It is difficult to quantify the spiritual cost of conflict. How do you measure the pain, suffering, and diminished witness caused by Christians who fight one another? The mental and physical energy such conflict requires takes away from virtually everything good that could be accomplished for the Lord’s Kingdom, if not for the infighting, bickering and sometimes outright hostility and attacks.

The Apostle Paul was not stranger to conflict. He experienced it personally and he no doubt struggled with the emotional toll it took on his fellow Christians who got caught up in such behavior. He knew the solution, and wrote a letter to a man named Philemon about just such matters. His theme and focal point in the letter to Philemon is all about compassion and forgiveness.

The situation that prompted Paul’s letter is most interesting... a runaway slave. The Book of Philemon is a plea for compassion, forgiveness... grace. Most runaway slaves, if caught, faced harsh punishment and sometimes even death. Paul hoped Philemon who was a Christian man, would become a living illustration of the grace Onesimus had already received through the blood of Jesus Christ. Through his short letter, we can learn how to personally show grace in our own stressful relationships.

Here’s the story... the slave Onesimus robbed his master, Philemon, and ran away, making his way to Rome and to Paul. Onesimus was still the property of Philemon, and Paul wrote his letter to smooth the way for his return to his master. Through Paul’s witnessing to him, Onesimus become a Christian (see Philemon verse 10) and Paul wanted Philemon to accept Onesimus as a “brother in Christ” and not merely as a slave.

Some important insights are gains in these key verses:

Philemon 6: "I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ."

Philemon 16: "…no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord."

Philemon 18: "If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me."

Perhaps nowhere in the New Testament is the distinction between law and grace so beautifully portrayed. Both Roman law and the Mosaic Law of the Old Testament gave Philemon the right to punish a runaway slave who was considered property. But the covenant of grace through the Lord Jesus allowed both master and slave to fellowship in love on an equal basis as members in the body of Christ.

Paul had warned slave owners long before this incident, that they had a responsibility towards their slaves, to treat them as human beings, with love and compassion, the same way God views them. In Philemon, Paul was careful not to condemn slavery, for it was a deeply institutionalized part of all cultures in the Mediterranean world of that time. So he presented Onesimus as a Christian brother instead of a slave. When an owner can refer to a slave as a brother, the slave has reached a position in which the legal title of slave is meaningless. The early church did not attack slavery directly but it laid the foundation for a new relationship between owner and slave. Paul attempted to unite both Philemon and Onesimus with Christian love, compassion and forgiveness so that emancipation would become necessary. Only after exposure to the light of the gospel could the institution of slavery be obliterated. So what can we learn about conflict among brothers from Paul’s message to Philemon?

Think about these “three” things...

Work Out Conflict In Christ-Centered Community. Remember the ties that bind. (read Philemon 1–7) Paul’s letter to Philemon is a message of forgiveness, second chances, and mercy; a message about “equality in Christ” and the power of the gospel to transcend social boundaries... a heartfelt message about grace.

Only God Can Change Our Hearts. God is the only healer. (read Philemon 8–20) As humans we are limited in our capacity to effect change in our relationships. We can say all the right things and model all the right perspectives, but unless God empowers the change, we may as well try to catch and bottle the wind.

The Time to Reconcile Is Always Now. Bless others as you have been blessed. (read Philemon 17–25) The apostle Paul was mediating a rift between two believers, and we clearly see that he sets a high premium on face-to-face reconciliation. The time for reconciliation with a Christian brother is always now, never – after all the festering of wounds have dug a hole in your heart and planted the seeds of bitterness.

I think it’s important to note that of those individual’s who received a letter (epistle) from Paul, Philemon is the only one who was not a leader in the church. He was not an elder, or deacon, not even a teacher. Both Timothy and Titus for example who also received important letters from Paul were elders of the church. What great awe inspiring love is being demonstrated by Paul to Philemon, just a plain joe. Paul, an Apostle, was willing to stand-in-the-gap of potential conflict between Philemon and Onesimus, in every way... even willing to make financial restitution if needed.

Think about conflicts you've had or may even be embroiled in right now... Jesus "stood-in-the-gap" paying the price for our sin by dying on the Cross. He died full of love, compassion and forgiveness for that brother or sister who just happens to be "in the body of Christ" that you're bickering with... and he died for you too! What do suppose he thinks about fighting among those who have been cleansed by his blood?

Take a few minutes today... and read the book of Philemon. It’s a refreshing look at the fragile nature of human relationships, even those solidly anchored in Christ.

The letter to Philemon is vibrant with truths we often overlook. It’s not about church doctrine, but about our capacity for personal growth by unconditionally extending loving, compassionate, genuine forgiveness to our brothers in Christ when confronted with conflict.

Savoring Letters from a GREAT Friend

For hundreds, if not a few thousand years, or at least since pens and paper became commonplace, people who wanted to get in touch with other people separated by distance had only one way to do it: they wrote letters, the only means of long-distance communication. Think about that... in all the history of humanity, not until the early 20th century did other forms of communication come into use.

Where would the world be today if not for letters? For starters we wouldn't have most of the New Testament—it was letters! The Apostle Paul, with plenty of Divine inspiration from God, was a tireless letter writer. No internet... no email... no televised broadcasts... just pen and paper, a message to deliver, a story to tell, all making for inspirational letters to fellow believers.

So throughout human history people have been writing letters to one another. There is nothing quite as encouraging as receiving a letter from a good friend. Alas, it seems to be a lost art. When was the last time you actually sat down and wrote a letter? When did you last receive a good old fashioned paper letter from a friend? For most of us it’s probably been awhile. Letter writing has been eclipsed by new technologies, email mostly, social media, instant messaging, Twitter, etc., yet there is nothing quite so valuable or revealing as receiving a letter from someone you know. Letters get saved... for ages and ages, because they mean something to us.

That’s true for us, and it was true for the early church. Letters were a powerful form of communication to the new Christians. God used men to write letters, to communicate His will, His commands and His expectations for believers and all humanity. Some of the best advice for Christian living in the first century came to believers in the form of letters. The technical name for these letters is epistles. An epistle was a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually an elegant and formal letter.

The Epistle genre of letter-writing was common in the ancient world, often taught as part of the scribal-school writing curriculum. The New Testament epistles came primarily from the apostle Paul, but Peter, John, James, and Jude also wrote them, as well as an unknown person in the case of Hebrews.

The epistles have a wealth of wisdom and counsel we need to regularly examine. Keeping in mind that they are letters will help us know how to study them. How do you read a letter from a loved one? You sit down and read the entire letter at one sitting. Most of the epistles can be read in their entirety in far less time than it takes to watch a television show or football game.

Once you have completed reading a “letter from a friend” what do you do next? If it’s from a loved one, often you will reread certain parts to get the full meaning or to savor some of the encouragements. We can do the same thing with an epistle, for it’s a deeply personal “letter from God.” For example, Paul wrote in one of his letters, “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” (Phil. 1:9).

In studying the epistles, keep these suggestions in mind as you consider the wisdom and counsel presented: The body of the text begins with a brief statement introducing the main topic of the entire letter. In contrast to modern letters, epistles usually named the author at the very beginning, followed by the recipient.. (see Philippians 1:1 for an example of this). If a scribe was involved in the actual penning of an epistle, he may be named at the end of the letter (see Romans 16:22). In the absence of a postal system, the courier or person who delivered the letter on Paul’s behalf, may also be named (see Ephesians 6:21-22).

After the names of the author and recipient, Pauline epistles often open with the greeting, "Grace and peace to you." Grace was a common Hellenistic greeting, while "peace" (shalom) was the common Jewish greeting. This reflected Paul's dual identity in Jewish faith and Hellenistic culture. There may also be a word of thanks to the audience, a prayer or wish for good health.

To English readers, the epistles may appear more formalized than originally read in the first century, due to the process of translation. The writer, especially Paul, sought to establish an intimate connection similar to a face-to-face presence. In doing this, Paul hoped to revive dormant friendships, making his epistle a substitute for his actual presence. All the authors created similar intimacies with their intended audiences. Letters written to a group of people, which include most of the New Testament epistles, were not read individually, but read aloud to the entire assembled congregation. They would read the letters every time they assembled... over and over and over.

When you read one of the epistles, try pour yourself into the setting to grasp the tone of the letter. Some of the letters are encouraging. Some, like 1 and 2 Corinthians, are almost sarcastic in tone (see 2 Cor. 12:11–13 for an example). It is very important to sense the tone by reading the entire letter. The writers under “Divine inspiration” purposefully created a “tone” that would grab attention and prompt the hearer to respond with life changes.

Always consider what the writer himself does, is doing and says to do. Many times the writers of the epistles will begin by stating what they are doing. Think about these many examples: Paul... I thank God (Rom. 1:8); I mention you in my prayers (Rom. 1:9); I rejoice in suffering (Col. 1:24). Each epistle writer offers similar personal examples of their own experiences of Christian living as encouragement to their listeners.

Very important... what truths are those personal actions or feelings based on? If we read carefully, we find that the actions or feelings of the writers are based on solid truths not emotional experiences: Paul said... I am eager to preach, and I am not ashamed of the gospel. Why? It is the power of God (Rom. 1:15–16); He continues... I thank God, making prayer with joy. Why? Because I’m sure God will finish what he has started (Phil. 1:3–6); We comfort. Why? Because we’ve been comforted by God (2 Cor. 1:3–4); Paul counseled all believers to be holy. Why? Because God is holy (1 Pet. 1:15).

God provided excellent examples for all believers to imitate and emulate. Who better to mimic than any one of the New Testament writers? So always consider what the writer condemns, either directly or by implication. As we read any of the epistles, we ’ll hear either specific statements or implied rejections of certain behaviors. Some examples: Suppressing the truth (Rom. 1:18); Not honoring God as God or giving thanks (Rom. 1:21); Thinking futilely (Eph. 4:17); Grumbling or questioning (Phil. 2:14); Minds set on earthly things (Phil. 3:19); Malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, slander (1 Pet. 2:1). We can never go wrong by closing imitating the life and character of the writers of the New Testament.

What does the writer desire for us? Remember... he’s writing a “love letter” to us from God, so think of what you hear and read in that context. God loves us and only wants the best for us, even though sometimes we don’t like the changes we must make to be in alignment with His will for our lives. Often these desires for believers will be expressed in the form of a prayer; other times it’s just in a statement: For example... Don’t seek only your good, but also your neighbor’s (1 Cor. 10:24); Know the hope to which he has called you (Eph. 1:18); Walk in the light as he is in the light (1 John 1:7).

When you read any part of the Bible, always look carefully for the truths about God that are revealed. For example: God is light (1 John 1:5); He is before all things (Col. 1:17); God is rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4). These truths connect us to God. They build on our trust and faith in His promises. We gain strength and perseverance for our walk with Him in the light through the many travails of a dark world.

If we follow the admonitions and actions of any of the faithful writers of the Epistles they become our actions. What they based their hope and actions upon becomes our basis for an active vibrant living hope. What they condemned becomes what we must avoid in our lives. What the Epistle writers prayed for and desired to see in people is what we must look at as our life priorities.

What better way to adsorb into our lives the counsel and wisdom of the Epistles, than to read them over and over. They are personal letters from our GREATEST friend... God Himself.

Lean on Proverbs for Successful Living

Webster’s Dictionary defines a proverb as a short, pithy saying, expressing a well-known truth or fact.

There are all kinds of proverbs, derived from most all cultures in the world. There are Chinese, African, Irish and of course English proverbs among others. Some are serious and some are just humorous but often do suggest a serious thought: You’ve probably heard these... A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush... A camel is a horse designed by a committee... A cat has nine lives... Once you pour the water out of the bucket it's hard to get it back in it. How about this one... Better die with honor than live with shame. Some proverbs are associated with the people who wrote them, such as Confucius and Sophocles. But no proverbs of man can match the wisdom and practical counsel contained in the proverbs of God.

The Bible Book of Proverbs is without question one of the world’s greatest resources of wisdom. The wisdom of God given to humanity. Throughout Proverbs, wisdom, or the wise person, is compared and contrasted with foolishness or the fool. 'Fool' in Proverbs indicates one who is lacking in morality and uninterested in correction, not one who is merely silly or playful. Wisdom is held up as something worth effort to attain and the reader is told that it starts with the person of God.

The purpose for Proverbs in the Bible is given in its introduction. Proverbs 1:2–6: “for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young—let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”

All true wisdom comes from God, so what we get in Proverbs is personal advice from God about how to look at His world. It is genuine, earthy advice about how to deal with such things as scoffers, loose women, and a good wife.

There are such practical helps as the soft answer (Prov. 15:1), the things God hates (Prov. 6:16–19), and some solid warnings and promises. That really is the heart of what God wants to say to us in Proverbs. He wants to expand our vision—to seat us in the heavenly places (Eph. 2:6)—so we see the world from his perspective. But woven throughout these warnings and blessings are some assurances we can rest in. For example, consider Proverbs 30:5–6: “Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.” Because of human nature, we need to note that warning and the consequences of ignoring it.

Or consider these statements in Proverbs 5:18–21: “May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth. A loving doe, a graceful deer—may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love. Why be captivated, my son, by an adulteress? Why embrace the bosom of another man’s wife? For a man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths.”

The wise thing to do leaps out at us. Rejoice in the wife of your youth, be infatuated with the one whom God has given you. Yet here, too, is a warning to not be infatuated with a loose woman. The last verse shows that God knows what your particular path is. He sees everything you think and do.

Because there are so many warnings and encouragements in each chapter of Proverbs, it is better to take shorter portions and ask God to share his wisdom with you. These five basic questions will help you get a deeper understanding of the wisdom from Proverbs and how to apply practical Godly wisdom in your everyday life:

1. What predicaments are described? For example, the writer talks about ruffians encouraging one of God’s people to ambush others (Prov. 1), the value of seeking wisdom (Prov. 2), dealing with loose women (Prov. 2, 5), diligence (Prov. 6), and belittling a neighbor (Prov. 11). Determine the situation the writer is discussing and ask God to prepare you for these types of encounters:

2. What can I learn about people? The writer mentions such people as scoffers (Prov. 9:7–8), a good wife (Prov. 12:4), and a hot-tempered man (Prov. 15:18). Look at what kind of person is being described, and ask God how you can best be prepared to deal with those you may encounter.

3. What principle can I learn about the right way to live? God wants us to understand what we should do and the blessings which result. Ask God to transform you by the renewing your mind, so you are not conformed to the world but instead see things from his perspective (Rom. 12:1–2).

4. What can I learn about what is foolish or harmful? Observe what you should avoid doing and the problems that result. Many times these will be contrasted in succeeding lines or verses, such as Proverbs 20:3: “It is to a man’s honor to avoid strife …” That is the positive side, but right after that comes, “but every fool is quick to quarrel.” In that same chapter we read, “Do not say, ‘I’ll pay you back for this wrong!’ Wait for the LORD, and he will deliver you” (Prov. 20:22).

5. What promises of assurance do I find? What God has said to do and not to do is grounded in his promise of help. Such assurances can be found in Proverbs 2:6—the Lord gives wisdom; Proverbs 3:26—the Lord will be your confidence; Proverbs 8:17—God loves those who love him; Proverbs 11:19—he who is steadfast in righteousness will live. What truths about God or life can a believer trust in? That is the rest that God
wants you to have in these promises.

I hope you’re like me, the longer I live the more I want to be around and listen to wise people. Proverbs teaches us that we become like those with whom we associate. Be careful in the choice of your closest friends in life. The secret to life’s success is found in our choices. The way to success is to trust in the Lord with all your heart (3:6-8). Life can never be understood except in our relationship to Christ.

God must be at the center of a life well lived.

The Maelstom of September 11th

Not that you needed reminding, but Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the tragic events that took place on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.

Across the USA and around the world, memorials will be held, many prayers said and tears shed. For the past several weeks, the media has drawn our collective attention to those tragic events. We’ve watched special tributes on television and read newspaper accounts of lives forever changed by the events of that day. So comprehensive and wide-spread was the tragedy of that day, that it soon became clear the events were of such global magnitude that they would be referred to as simply... “9/11” and everyone the world over would know.

The world changed that day. The world is a more dangerous place. The USA and the world entered a new phase of crisis. Terrorism took on new meaning and form and wicked people continue to find ways to inject pain and suffering into the human experience. The world faced uncertainty after September 11th and not much has changed ten years later. We’ve adapted and learned to live in “crisis” a feeling that will likely not end without Divine intervention.

Is there any comfort to be found? Is there any formula for lasting peace and security? God’s Word says much about times of crisis. In fact, the New Testament was written during a period of world crisis. Jesus lived in a period of uncertainty. He preached in a world prone to hatred and violence. His Church was born facing an adversarial culture in a world that was violent, dangerous and without compassion.

The message of Christ... the Gospel and the inspired writings of the New Testament brought comfort to the early Christians who faced some terrible experiences. God’s Word is still powerful... it can bring comfort to those searching for answers in today’s violent and dangerous world.

The Bible points to a time when tragedies like 9/11 will be no more. It’s a message God wants every human to hear. It’s hard to imagine a world without pain and suffering and evil, but it’s in our future. It’s coming... it’s a real trustworthy promise of our Lord and Savior... our God. Here’s what he says about a future when life will be very different...

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4

No more terrorism. No more violence... no more evil and wickedness... no more death... no more sadness... no more tears and sorrow.

Who wouldn’t want to live in a world like that? I would think everyone would long for such peace and security. Just imagine what your life could be like in such a world. Is it beyond our ability to imagine the goodness and joy that will surely abound for all humanity who earnestly take hold of such a magnificent promise? Is it just a fantasy? When you look across the world today with all its problems, it can seem a bit far-fetched. Remember... God made this promise. He has never failed to deliver on every single promise made to humankind. He allowed His own Son, Jesus the Messiah to willingly endure the cross and death to validate and authenticate every promise He has ever made.

Christians, followers of Christ, firmly hold this promise of God and look eagerly forward to the time when it becomes our living reality. In a world consumed by hate, violence and death, Christians have an opportunity to bring a message of hope and life to the world.



The tragic events of 9/11 have marked our generation forever, just as Pearl Harbor marked a previous generation. My hope is that Christians will see this Sunday’s memorial of the 10th anniversary of 9/11 as a new beginning, a time for renewal and commitment to sharing our faith in the eternal promises of God with family, friends and even adversaries. As Christians, we have the privilege to preach and teach the truths of eternal peace as only found in the promises of God. We can encourage, edify and strengthen fellow believers to take on the issues of life in an uncertain world.



Every year that passes... a new generation comes along. Young adults, teenagers and even our youngest children, need to be encouraged to hang on firmly to the anchor that Christ represents in their lives. The responsibility of preparing our families for hard times, won’t be getting any easier as our evil world continues its journey to prophetic destiny.

So we Christians have a message of hope, of peace and everlasting security the world needs to hear. It must be declared boldly and loudly, so that the hope found in Christ overshadows the messages of doom and despair. The hope for today, for tomorrow and for all eternity is found in Jesus Christ.

In this time of remembrance, I close this special 9/11 Renovations message with the prayer that Max Lucado wrote for America Prays, a national prayer vigil that was held on Saturday, September 14, 2001:



"Dear Lord, We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, 'What a horrible dream.'



"But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream; and, dear Father, we are sad.



"There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost its priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor; and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only 3 years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)



"We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried; our innocence is buried, as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better, but we didn't.



"So we come to You. We don't ask You for help; we beg You for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what You can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories; and now we plead, 'Do it again, Lord. Do it again.'



"Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord. Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.



"And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.



"You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.



"Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, You saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced. By dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.



"But You did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, You rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.



"We thank You, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank You for these hours of unity.



"We thank You for these hours of prayer. The enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before You; and he has no idea what You can do.



"Let Your mercy be upon our president, vice president, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.



"And look kindly upon your Church. For 2,000 years You've used it to heal a hurting world. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.



"Through Christ, Amen."

Five major emerging trends for churches in America

Guest Commentary by Dr. Thom Rainer, LifeWay Christian Resources

Discerning future trends can be difficult if not risky. If we miss a trend, we risk missing opportunities because we had our resources directed elsewhere. I am thus careful when I do trend projections. I am especially careful when I am projecting trends that will have a direct impact on the churches in America.

The basis for the trends
The trends that follow were not created in a vacuum. Most of the information is based on studies we have done at LifeWay Research. But much of this research provides us information and facts about today's realities. It does not offer certitude for future trends. The process is analogous to weather forecasting. We can see all the ingredients that will likely cause a specific outcome. But those factors can change, so we can never say that we are 100 percent certain.

Five major trends
Because most of the research that is the basis for these trends was related to American demographics, we must not extend the projections beyond our nation's borders. Nevertheless, it is possible that some of the research could have implications beyond American churches.

Our nation will see the emergence of the largest generational mission field in more than a century. According to our current research, the Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, will have a very low Christian representation. Our estimates now are that only 15 percent are Christian. With a huge population of nearly 80 million, that means that nearly 70 million young people are not Christians.

The dominant attitude of this huge generation toward Christianity will be largely indifferent. Only 13 percent of the Millennials rank any type of spiritual matter as important to their lives. They are not angry at churches and Christians. They simply ignore us because they do not deem us as meaningful or relevant.

Senior adult ministries in churches will experience steep declines. As the large Baby Boomer generation moves into their older years, they will resist any suggestion that they are senior adults, no matter how senior they may be. Unfortunately, many churches are slow to adapt to new realities. If they do senior adult ministry the way they've always done it, it will be headed for failure.

The large Boomer generation will become more receptive to the gospel. Our data is anecdotal for now, but we are seeing indications that the Boomers may actually become more interested in spiritual matters in general and Christianity specifically. If so, this trend will be counter to other trends where adults tend to become less receptive to the gospel as they age. The Baby Boomers have tried it all and found no joy. They may likely turn to the hope of the gospel.

Family will be a key value for both of the large generations. For the Millennials, family is their most important value. Nearly eight out of ten of the Millennials ranked family as the important issue in their lives. They told us that they had healthy relationships with their parents who, for the most part, are Baby Boomers. Some churches say they are family friendly, but few actually demonstrate that value. Churches that reach both of these generations will make significant changes to become the type of churches that foster healthy family relationships.

The opportunity to respond
We believe these trends may indeed become reality. They admittedly do focus only on two generations, but these two groups are the largest two generations in America's history. They cannot be ignored.

Trend projecting is a meaningless exercise if it fails to engender action. Ultimately each local church must determine where God is leading the congregation. In the case of the five trends noted here, the opportunities seem significant. May the response of Christians and churches be nothing less than radical obedience. Dr. Thom Rainer
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Editor Haught’s Perspective: Radical obedience to the Great Commission is what God is expecting of devoted Christians. Preaching and teaching the Gospel to unbelievers. I also hear the word “family” emphasized in Dr. Rainer’s projections. This mission field, represented in the casual spirituality of baby boomers and the almost total unbelief, or at the very least "indifference" of the millennial generation, is everywhere around us including more than likely members of our own families – sons and daughters, moms and dads and even our grand parents. NOW is the time. The generations alive today must hear the gospel message from believers... unbelievers are our responsibility. Believers must aggressively and vigorously proclaim Christ while there is yet time to do so. It’s urgent work... let’s get busy doing what God has commanded and let’s start in the kitchen, the family room... with our own families. (Matthew 28:19-20)
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Guest commentary and insights provided by Dr. Thom S. Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources. Prior to LifeWay, he served at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary for twelve years where he was the founding dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. He is the author of twenty-two books, including Simple Life, Simple Church, Raising Dad, and Essential Church. His latest book is The Millennials.