Teleios

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Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Baptism and Young Christians – What do they choose?

Welcome back to my blog. Thank you for visiting today. We started several weeks ago an exciting series on exploring compelling research findings from Teleios! A list of our compelling findings is on our website (www.teleiosresearch.com).

Teleios recently completed a survey of visitors to the Instagram account, GodsHolyScriptures. 189 individuals participated, of whom 61% were <18 years, 74% evangelicals and 50% from the southeast or Midwest USA. In total 86% believed that they were saved by grace alone and 40% believed they could not lose their salvation.

We asked about baptism history, method and significance. The results validated my experience discussing baptism with younger people: they often appear confused over the significance of baptism and what scripture says about it.

Here are the top 4 answers regarding method of baptism and some associated meanings:

Ø Immersed as an adult (32%) - Strong differences in the rite of baptism exist across denominations. Unsurprisingly, immersion baptism, which perhaps most closely represents the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit, is preferred strongly by Baptists. They believe generally the rite should be performed after salvation when the convert is old enough to decide responsibly.

Many Christians believe it symbolizes primarily a commitment to God by the new believer which was true also in or survey (20%).

Ø Sprinkled as a child (23%) - This form of baptism is preferred by several traditional denominations and is generally believed to convey either:

· Forgiveness of the sin nature, and prior sins, allowing for a fresh start and working towards salvation, combined with grace (Catholic viewpoint)

· Salvation in infants too young to make a decision for Christ. This protection lasts to the time of the age of responsibility (Presbyterian viewpoint).

· Commitment by parents to raise a child in a Godly manner leaving the responsibility to the child to believe and be baptized as an adult (various individual churches).

Ø Never been baptized (19%) - Although this group might be seen by Christians as disobedient, the epistles, which contain the injunctions to the church, do not command water baptism. Water baptism is seen as an example at least once (Acts 8), and maybe more early in the book of Acts (speculative). In Scripture, It was performed in almost exclusively among early Jewish Christians early in the church.

Of course, salvation itself is by grace alone with no added works required (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Ø Spiritually baptized by the Holy Spirit at Salvation (15%). This choice is closest to the meaning of baptism in the Epistles. The apostle Paul explained that spiritual baptism ‘identified’ us (βαπτιζω, baptizoo) in the death and life of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Baptism represents the regeneration by the spirit to a new person who can serve our Lord. This regeneration appears to occur at salvation accompanied by the sealing of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:2-9, Colossians 2:11-13, Ephesians 2:4-7). Indeed, 68% of the participants in our survey believed baptism represented the regeneration of the Holy Spirit in their lives (Titus 3:5).

The rite of baptism is a very controversial topic and often elicits strong emotions from people who believe one way or another. I have tried comment in a scripturally based and transcultural manner. Christians are free to participate in water baptism out of faith, by the method they choose, to demonstrate their commitment to our blessed Savior.

Join us again next week as we continue to look at the fascinating results of Teleios research and what they tell us about the truth of scripture and our Christian culture.

WC Stewart

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Top 3 contributions to wellbeing by church leadership

Welcome back to my blog. Thank you for visiting today. Several weeks ago we started an exciting series on the research findings from Teleios! A list of all our compelling findings can be found on our website (www.teleiosresearch.com).

Teleios recently completed a survey of visitors to the Instagram account, Instapray. We had 884 participants, mostly all comprised of youth (<18 years) as well as millennials (18-34 years), 77% evangelicals and 43% ex-US. We asked them regarding their Christian walk, and how church affected their wellbeing.

Last week, we discussed the positive effect on wellbeing by the church and its members on young evangelicals; especially through prayer, assisting the Christian walk and praise.

This week let's discuss the influence of church leadership on wellbeing. Interestingly, the effect of church leadership on wellbeing did not differ statistically among the international regions represented in our survey: the USA, Canada, Asia and commonwealth countries (P>0.05).

How did church leadership best help wellbeing among young evangelicals?

1. Bible-based teaching and preaching (75%) – Overwhelmingly, this criterion was selected by participants. It is heartening to see such an important cornerstone of church function chosen by young evangelicals.

We know that the teaching of God's vibrant word is a vital function of the church. Such teaching occurs not only in the Sunday sermon, but in Sunday school, small groups, discipleship relationships and self-study. Certainly, great results can be anticipated in our lives by knowing His scripture by which the church greatly assists us (1 Timothy 3:2, 4:6, 12, 16, 2 Timothy 2:2, 25-26).

2. Encouraging Bible based speech (51%) - This choice was a most pleasant surprise for second place. This topic is often an under stressed in church life. The Bible wisely indicates our speech should be primarily for the hearer, to meet their needs, and not for ourselves (Ephesians 4:29, 5:17-18, Colossians 3:16-17, 4:6).

3. Powerful biblical vision for the church (44%) - Participants also nicely perceived that church leadership actually helps their wellbeing by directing the church in Biblically based goals! How wonderful is that!

The church may have some attendees, which we have shown through Teleios research, that seek an alternative self-focused agenda. The church leadership’s role is to stay close to biblical goals and keep the church directed to serve God with the accompanying fruit in individual member’s lives as well as the community.

Indeed, the church functions not to meet its own institutional needs primarily but to outreach to the world as well as to equip its members to go out and impact the community for the gospel and the common good (Matthew 28:20, 1 Timothy 2:1, Galatians 6:10, 1 Thessalonians 3:12, 5:15).

See more information from this survey at the Teleios website at www.teleiosresearch.com.

I marvel at these survey results that demonstrate, across the world, the precious unity provided by the Bible and promoted by the Holy Spirit among young evangelicals. Surely, we have a great God who preserves and expands His word across generations for the benefit of all who hear.

Join us again next week as we continue to explore Teleios research and the benefits of what scripture tells us.

WC Stewart

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Top 5 contributors to wellbeing among youth and millennials

Welcome back to my blog. Thank you for visiting today. We started recently a series on discovering exciting research findings from Teleios! You can access the results of all Teleios’ compelling findings on our website (www.teleiosresearch.com).

Teleios recently completed a survey of visitors to the Instagram account, Instapray, mostly all comprised of youth (<18 years) and millennials (18-34 years) and 77% self-identified evangelicals. We had 884 participants and asked them questions about their Christian lifestyle, and how church affected their wellbeing.

Amazingly, the church’s influence on wellbeing did not differ between youth and millennials (P=0.09).

What helped wellbeing the most? Participants could select up to 3 choices from a list of 12 items. Please find more complete results on our website, http://stage.teleiosresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/DTS3-data.pdf.

Well this is encouraging!

1. Prayer (59%) – Prayer is a cornerstone of our Christian walk allowing us to come directly before God, unafraid and give our petitions to him for ourselves and others. By prayer also we praise God and thank Him (Hebrews10:20-22, Philippians 4:6). The assembled church might assist prayer by acting as a guide to our supplications to God, a more expansive prayer experience and promoting prayer in our lives.

2. Spiritual growth (56%) – Participants generally recognized the church helps them in their Christian lives and helps them become mature believers.

3. Praise and worship (54%) – Praise of our gracious God for His righteous character and actions is essential for a healthy Christian Life. Praise allows us to remind ourselves that God’s thoughts and goals are greater than ours. God deserves our praise (Hebrews 13:15, Psalms 147-150)

But there is still room for growth …

4. Emotional support (38%) – This finding is heartening in that young believers look to the church, perhaps specifically to the church leadership or their trusted Christian friends and colleagues, to help them through life with sympathy and advice. Access for young Christians, desiring support from believing peers, is an important function of the church.

5. Comfortable and pleasing worship surroundings (35%) – I suspect that this finding is important not just in young people but for many older congregants as well. Indeed, a beautiful church, often combined with stirring music and liturgy combine to create an awe inspiring and encouraging ambiance.

Nonetheless, as Christians, we are commanded to take our Christian lifestyle beyond the mountaintop experience of a church service, or a faith-based conference, and practice our faith on a daily basis. Over time, scripture tells us that we should become confident in our relationship with God through knowledge and understanding; emotionally stable, making correct decisions between right and wrong, as well as teaching others (Hebrews 5:11-14, Colossians 1:27-2:3, 3:16-17, Ephesians 5:15-19).

Our Christian walk comprises generally of: prayer, praise, bible-based fellowship, learning scripture and teaching others scripture and the gospel (Acts 2:42,47). These practices promote our growth by the power of the Spirit to the maturity God desires for us (Galatians5:22, Ephesians 5:18).

The above list from our survey is encouraging in the emphasis of spiritual growth, prayer and praise in young church attendees. However, the amazing finding is that Christian youth have the same desires for their church experience as the millennial generation. It appears the Holy Spirit has used parents as well as church members, leaders and teachers to help form the next generation of believers to carry forth God's great work. Thanks be to God!

Please join me next week as we continue to explore the church and wellbeing. Thank you for reading my blog. Today I pray for each one of you blog readers.

WC Stewart

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

God loves those depressed

Welcome back to my blog. Thank you for visiting today.

We recently started a series on Teleios’ exciting research findings! A list of our and others’ findings is on our website (www.teleiosresearch.com).

Religion recently has been associated with good wellbeing in the medical literature (1,2). However, can religion help those who are mentally distressed?

Teleios recently reviewed the medical literature to examine the influence of religion on depression. Our study showed that religion in First World countries had a positive impact on:

· Depressed individuals generally;

· Preventing depression in the physically diseased and their relatives (caregivers);

· Otherwise healthy subjects.

How can these positive findings regarding religion and depression be explained? We do not know for certain, however all the studies were performed in First World Christian countries. Christianity is unique among world religions in that access to God and salvation is through a gift of grace through faith alone and not by works.

Consequently, the Christian religion may have advantages in depressed people for the following reasons:

· God’s love - Having a proper view of God as loving and allowing acceptance and access by prayer by faith alone through Christ’s gracious death on the cross for our sins (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 10:20-22). Therefore, even if a person feels badly about themselves for having depression or because of their past actions, knowing God's acceptance might help allay these feelings.

· Hope - Christianity provides an eternal hope. Regardless of how a person might suffer with depression on earth there is a greater hope in heaven (Ephesians 1:13-14).

· Socialization – A caring and giving church might provide relief for depression by community service, positive social interactions and the encouragement of unified worship.

Despite the above speculation little research is available which specifically evaluates the elements of religious structure which might help depressed patients. MacIlvaine and Stewart and their coworkers have observed that Christianity generally assists wellbeing in both healthy and diseased populations (1-3). They especially noted that the more a person practiced and were knowledgeable about their faith, the better their wellbeing. This practice included: religious attendance, prayer, socialization at church, church or community service, speaking about their faith and Bible education, as well as basic knowledge about salvation (Acts 2:42,47)

Their findings are consistent with the findings presented above that an earnest and knowledgeable practice of Christianity helped depression such as: church attendance, general religiosity, spiritual beliefs, desire for spiritual growth, born-again experience and social support. In contrast, patients who limited the scope of their religious practice, or believed in an ungracious God (religious strain) experienced a lessor, or in some cases, a negative benefit.

This review suggests that Christianity might help patients with depression or symptoms of depression from a broad spectrum of demographic backgrounds. More research is needed to fully understand the effect of religion on depressed patients as well as the differences among religions and their influence on suffering patients.

Thank you for reading my blog. Please join me again next week as we discuss even more benefits of Biblical belief!

WC Stewart