It made for a great ad-campaign used by Alka-Seltzer years ago and quickly became a popular catchphrase, as many slogans do in our culture today; but can I just state for the record here...that ‘trying out Jesus’ is not recommended. He’s not some sports car you take out for a spin on a Sunday afternoon to see how you ‘like the feel’ in case you want to purchase it.

Here’s why: ‘trying something out’...does not require any commitment.

There’s a reason Jesus advised us to ‘count the cost’ before you decide to actually follow Him (Luke 14:25-33). Yes...many have been coaxed and encouraged to ‘try Jesus’ and may have ‘come forward’ or ‘raised a hand’ at some point in time, perhaps ‘walked an aisle’ to repeat some ‘prayer’...but many indicators would suggest those actions or attempts at giving Jesus a try...don’t last long. And I point you to the story of the parable of the sower to make my case. (Matt. 13:3-9,18-23)

Yes, it was evident that many people back in the day who saw Jesus multiplying the fishes and loaves and healing multitudes of sick and tormented people...joined the bandwagon and expressed an interest in following Him. But it was only a matter of time before they heard the ‘real gospel’...and decided the price tag was too much; so they turned and walked away (John 6:60-66). It happens more often than you think.

“Friends with benefits”...might be a popular way of getting through life with some relationships (IYKYK)...but it doesn’t work that way with Jesus. You are either all in, or you remain on the ‘outside’ not quite ever grasping what all the chatter and excitement is about (Mark 4:11; Matt. 13:10-11).

Paul wrote in his second letter to Timothy...that ‘perilous times would come in the last days’ as he described the character and ‘bad fruit’ that many would be producing in their lives, yet at the same time...they would have a ‘form of godliness while denying the power...always learning but never coming to the knowledge of the truth’ (2 Tim. 3:1-7).

In Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he warned of a great apostasy that would take place, prior to the ‘Day of the Lord’, admonishing us to let no one deceive us, for that ‘day’ will not come unless the ‘falling away’ comes first...’ (2 Thess. 2:2-3). I know it’s easy and even convenient for church leaders to look at declining ‘memberships’ in their churches, along with the empty seats and just shrug their shoulders and point to that passage as we blame the ‘great falling away’ as to why people just don’t ‘come to church like they use to’.

Granted, there may very well be a large segment of the population who have demonstrated a declining interest in spiritual matters, or attending ‘church as usual’; but I would submit that there is a good reason as to why there are many young, and even old people alike...who are pursuing other ‘routes’ or ‘paths’ seeking fulfillment and/or enlightenment in place of what they were ‘raised in’. ‘Church as usual’....has not ‘worked for them’. And before we get defensive and want to criticize them for drifting away...let’s not forget they grew up with us, and maybe they just were not all that impressed with what they saw? And I ‘get that’.

Now let me explain why many ‘churches’ have failed a generation (or more) of people who are drifting or ‘falling away’ from the faith. Can I offer up one reason as to why it truly is ‘not working’ for so many people? We’ve not been honest with them, (or ourselves in many cases)... and have fallen short in declaring the ‘whole counsel of God’ with people as Paul made sure to do (Acts 20:27). I would go as far in saying that while we may have shown signs of sincere ‘zeal and passion’...it was not according to knowledge (Rom. 10:2). And why are God’s people ‘destroyed’, according to Hosea 4:6? (a lack of knowledge).

Is it possible that our churches have followed the ‘business plans’ of popular retail stores as we pull out ‘all the stops’ in trying to entice people to come through the doors while we tell them of all the perks that come with buying our product? Then, to make the sale even more enticing...we make it ‘easy’ for them to sign on with ‘Zero money down and no interest’ as we lay out a lengthy and manageable payment plans. And many sincere folks actually ‘signed on’ as church buildings began to spring up and expand and budgets grew and crowds flocked to hear the latest trend of messages as all the 'entertaining bells and whistles' were pulled out... to keep people coming back.

But it was only a matter of time, as Jesus explained in that parable of the sower, (sometimes sooner than later -Mark 4:15) before a little tribulation or persecution arose, and having no ‘root’...they ‘withered away’ (6,16-17). Which means no lasting ‘fruit’ was produced in them. Many others became entangled with the ‘thorns’ (7) and their hearts became more preoccupied with the ‘cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things...as they became unfruitful’ (18-19). And we should all know by now how important good, lasting ‘fruit’ is. (Matt. 3:7-10; 7:17-20; Luke 13:6-9)

This should again, remind us of why ‘abiding in Jesus’ is everything (John 15:6). Apart from Him, we can bear no good ‘lasting fruit’ (John 15:4-5,16); and bearing ‘much fruit’ is how God is glorified as we demonstrate that we are truly indeed... ‘His disciples’ (8). And here’s what we don’t hear much about when it comes to ‘selling the gospel’ to a suffering world so desperately in need of genuine peace and transformation in their lives... You can attend church regularly, do ‘great things in the name of the Lord’ ...and still not be ‘abiding in Jesus’ (Matt. 7:21-23). You can manifest spiritual ‘giftings’, have great faith and understand multiple mysteries found in scripture yet still...not be abiding in Jesus. Why one can even unload all their ‘physical’ treasures to feed the poor, perhaps even ‘dying at the stake’...and it profit you nothing... simply because you were not truly abiding in Jesus (1 Cor. 13:1-3).

And yes, one can make a daily practice of reading inspiring words (‘Christian literature) while offering up many prayers to God...and still not be abiding in Him. I would imagine there is one practice we don’t take to heart and do regularly, or often enough, and it is the admonition given by Paul found in 2 Cor. 13:5. I’ll let you read it for yourself and take some time with it today. Perhaps we can continue on here tomorrow...Lord willing.