Thursday, February 28, 2008
Stephen King, Starbucks, and American Christianity (Part 2 of 4)
[This is an article that I've chosen to break up into several days due to its length.]
Numbers like these should concern us, and rightfully so, but not for the reasons some people might think. Outsiders might accuse someone like me (the pastor of a local Southern Baptist congregation) of fearing that I might lose my audience or, even worse, my financial base. But I must tell you that my concern is far more substantive than that. If almost 8 out of 10 American adults consider themselves Christians while the largest net gains in religious affiliation among American adults were among those who claim no affiliation with any religion or faith tradition, we have bigger issues on our plate than the next Sunday School picnic or stewardship campaign!
Besides the fact that the American Protestant majority—which has been in place since the founding of this nation—is quickly ebbing away, churches are losing their relevance in today’s culture. Some, of course, will argue that this is impossible…but I remind you of the warning Jesus gave in His Sermon on the Mount: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men” (Matthew 5:13).
Now, if we were being true to our spiritual nature and calling, why did a new study of unchurched Americans (conducted by LifeWay Research, in partnership with the North American Mission Board’s Center for Missional Research) find almost 3 out of 4 adults (72%) said they think the church “is full of hypocrites”? Yet, 64% of the respondents said they think “the Christian religion is a relevant and viable religion for today” and 71% of them said they believe Jesus “makes a positive difference in a person’s life.” Also, 78% said they would “be willing to listen” to someone who wanted to share what they believed about Christianity.
So where’s the problem? It seems that unchurched people have a greater problem with the church than with Jesus. 86% of those surveyed said, “I believe I can have a good relationship with God without being involved in church.” Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay research, said about the survey’s findings, “People on the outside see the church as candles, pews and flowers, rather than people living out their love for God by loving others.”
Don’t get me wrong…I don’t think all hope is lost…nothing even close to such doom and gloom. But I am suggesting that we (Christians, churches and denominations) need to conduct serious self-analysis and ask ourselves if all that we’re about and consumed with is really what Jesus died for.
Come on…what did Jesus tell us to do? “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20). This is our mission…but is it what we’re about? I’m afraid we don’t really want to answer that question, but we have to....
To be continued...
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3 comments:
It sounds as if you have correctly coordinated the surveys.
We were told, "not to forsake the gathering together" (sort of like Jesus knew we were going to want to foresake the gathering together). Gathering together forms human support of what the Holy Spirit is teaching us and training us to do. Thus, I see that we don't teach enough on how the Holy Spirit works with our hearts. (One of your recent sermons DID touch on that.)
However, I dare to say that doesn't appear to be the case in the standard church service (excluding your Pastorship). Unfortunately, many members/attendees have been raised in an organized religion in which the "Sunday" purpose was to worship, "acknowledge" (not necessarily repent) of the sins carried on during that week, socialize, and show off their new dress/car. Therefore, the church suffers in accomplishing the Great Commission because of the way that the members were raised; and the fact that "worship" is restricted to a service held in the building.
Furthermore, tithing is an issue to those who love money more than God (or, have materially stretched their income) -- which to me is a different issue. They don't see the sacrifice of hard earned money money (that can buy something that they want) as getting their heart ready for hearing THE WORD.
However, just as a with a Christmas gift, sometimes giving money is the easiest way out of want appears as our responsibility.
Plus, if they are enjoying the fruits of their gift (they are to give more). An air conditioned, cushey pew, with a nursey, and extra-spiritual activities for enjoyment does employ the fruits of their gift. Thus, their life, in turn, needs to be a gift to Jesus.
We live in an evil world and we can never forget its pulls. . . noone's perfect.
Money may buy the best that the world has to offer!
A congregation that pays their pastor well, either wants to hear the truth, or wants to control the pastor. I want to think they want to hear the truth, whether they want to live it or not may be another story.
As least, that's my take. The truth comes out in the heart that has swallowed THE WORD (knowing that God is real and the Bible is
is GOD'S WORD to us (with history lessons that explains the consequences of the error of our ways).
I "think" that the majority have seen God's love and think of God's mercy as having another "out". Thus, I "think" that many congregations no longer "fear" God. Thus, it is hard for them to relay that fear to others.
Fear is the beginning of wisdom.
I've been wanting to reseasch why salt melts snow. I'm sure the answer is in the chemical compounds. Salt may be a flavoring, but it also heals!
My focus in the two days of the article so far is the fact that people are switching in their religions (or faiths) and a larger percentage are choosing to walk away from any affiliation. In trying to think of why, I believe that a main reason comes from the under 30 age range (or maybe under 25) being raised in a more benign attitude about religion (letting them choose and learn for themselves and not instilling the faith belief of the parents, as we don’t want to force a belief on someone. Of course we’ll force hygiene habits, but I digress). I think also, as noted in the second segment of this series, that people do split their “church” from their life, so that it is something that becomes irrelevant or something that can be tossed. I’m waiting to see how the “Starbucks” part of the title will fit into all this. It’s one thing to be connecting with people and sharing my faith (and friendship and interests) with persons outside the church. It would be great if a church, my church, fostered the same connotation that a trip to Starbucks with friends does. That change needs to start with each person, and I need to become what I'm looking for.
Phyllis,
I love your heart and insights...
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