To Know Christ and to Make Him Known

In a recent survey of Americans’ religious beliefs (Pew Research, Jan. 2026), 54% believe in God, 44% say they pray daily or more, and 52% believe in heaven and hell. We would want those percentages to be higher, but we can find some encouragement here. Now for the discouraging statistics in this survey. Only 25% say they attend religious services weekly or more, with 49% saying they seldom or never attend religious services. Ouch! What can we learn from this? What are the reasons behind not wanting to attend church? Here are some thoughts.

You could say that the Bible is all about restoring man’s relationship with God and with others. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” The “Law and the Prophets” is another way to say all of God’s Word (at least the O.T., which is all they had in Jesus’ day). Jesus also said in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” He didn’t say they would know we are disciples because we are theologically right, though we should be. He didn’t say it was because of miracles, being wealthy, or being disease-free. Jesus said they would know that we are His disciples by our love. It’s relational.

How do people perceive the church today? Are we known by our love for God and for our love for one another, or are we known for fighting among ourselves, for church splits, and for focusing on our differences instead of loving one another as Christ loved us and gave His life for us? CBCs purpose statement is, “To Know Christ and Make Him Known.” We could say it this way, “To Love Christ and Love Others,” for without love we cannot truly know Him or make Him known.

Pastor Phil Newby