A recent radio news story explained that a poll indicated 75% of Americans claimed to be a Christian, but less than 50% attended any kind of church. 33% said that church was a “poor place to be spiritually nourished.” Blame for the poor rating of churches was said to be the teaching of “experienced-based religion.”

Experienced-based religion is preachers and others bragging about how much God and the Holy Spirit has done for them, trying to make themselves out to be God’s “pet,” or make themselves appear to have an inside connection with God. God has no “pets” (Romans 2:11).

The only connection one can have with God is through Jesus Christ (1Timothy 2:5), and it is not for the purpose of God serving us, but for the purpose of us serving God. The only way that one can be spiritually nourished is by “eating, digesting, and absorbing” the pure, Spirit-inspired word of God. The pure word of God is the Bible, rightly divided and rightly applied (2 Timothy 2:15).

Tens of thousands of people are sincerely seeking spiritual nourishment, but they’re only being fed “fast food.” As a result, they are developing a spiritual flabbiness that satisfies nothing, and brings no glory to God (cf. Ephesians 3:21). — Toby Miller

Find the truth about God and become a New Testament Christian. Find out more about New Testament Christianity by running some Internet searches for “church of Christ” and “churches of Christ.” You may also want to visit http://www.abiblecommentary.com for Bible study information.

Remember, in order to be saved and enjoy all God’s blessings (not the least of which is salvation), a person must have faith (Jn. 8:24), be willing to repent (Lk. 13:3), and after confessing Christ as Lord, the final step is water baptism (Rom. 6:3; 1 Cor. 12:13; 1 Pet. 3:20-21). Bible baptism is by immersion only (“burial,” Rom. 6:4), and once it is done, heaven puts that person “into Christ” (Gal. 3:27; Rom. 6:3). After proper baptism a person has their sins forgiven (Acts 2:38).