New Pew Study

  There is a new Pew study out that I find fascinating.  I find it sad, too--the data describes a country that is increasingly less interested in affiliating with a particular church, a country that is less interested in affirming the Lordship of Jesus Christ over all aspects of life.  The data describes a country in which a large percentage of the population doesn't trust the church and is uninterested in joining one.  The data describes a church community in which less than 40% attend weekly.  While there is much to lament in this study, perhaps there is room to examine ourselves as well.  A study like this provides a window through which we can see how the world sees us--and while it's easy to jump to denial, perhaps this is an opportunity for correction.  Perhaps, this is a chance for the Christian church in America to lead a life worthy of our calling, to live with integrity between what we proclaim and how we choose to live and, in so doing, lead a life so committed to the work of God in the world that the 88% of religiously unaffiliated people who aren't even searching will feel the work of the Holy Spirit within them.

  The starkest numbers of the study are that 20% of all Americans (33% of those under 30) have no religious affiliation.  This is 13 million atheists and 33 million unaffiliated people.  Five years ago, this number was barely over 15%.  88% of these individuals are not searching for a religion.

  Why are they not searching?  We in the church could probably give any number of reasons.  It's easy for me to come up with a list of reasons as long as my arm--from the worship of the individual to the often-selfish focus of the country, but I think it's important to take a portion of this survey seriously--the part where the unaffiliated offer their views on the church.  70% believe of unaffiliated persons believe that the church is too focused on money and power.  67% say the church is too involved with politics and too focused on rules.  They also affirm some things the church is doing--78% say the church strengthens community bonds and 77% believe the church plays an important role in helping the poor and needy.

  Now, we as a church can defend ourselves against some of these views.  But more important than offering a defense that many of the unaffiliated people will not hear, perhaps there is room to examine how we are living, as individuals and as a church, and see if there aren't changes we need to make in order that our lives might be more faithful, that our witness might point more directly to Jesus Christ and the selfless, gracious love he poured out on the cross.  Are we picking up our own cross, or have we set it down to pick up the burdens of success, wealth and power that society tells us we need to carry?  Are we pouring ourselves out in love of God and neighbor, or have we grown accustomed to loving ourselves more than we love others?  Is the church turned inward, rather than outward?

  I find it interesting that, of the 80% of Americans that are affiliated with a religion, only 45% attend worship services weekly.  36% attend monthly or yearly, 18% attend seldom or never (suggesting, at best, a tenuous affiliation), and 1% are not sure how often they attend.  As someone who is paid to attend church on a fairly regular basis, perhaps I don't have room to criticize, but does the unaffiliated person see Christians as a people uncommitted to life within the church, within a congregation?  Do we portray a faith that is worthy of sacrifice, of our lives, or do we paint a picture of church as something dry, boring and easily missed if we can't make it or get a better offer?

  Now, I'm not going to pretend that the church is ever going to be perfect.  God has called, throughout history, imperfect people to take part in imperfect communities.  He uses these broken and sinful gatherings, working through them to make his name great.  In our weakness, his strength and power and majesty and glory is revealed.  The Biblical witness points to religious life being lived out in community, together, with our fellow imperfect travelers on the road of discipleship.  This isn't the place where I'll tackle the spiritual-but-not-religious mindset of which 18% of the country claims--there are many wiser than I who have illustrated the flaws of such thinking.

  I want the best for the church.  I believe that Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ alone, is Lord of life, all of life.  I believe that Christ is the way, the truth and the life.  I believe that submission to his gracious love is the narrow path that leads to life, abundant and eternal.  I believe his death on the cross paid the price for my sins, a price I could never pay, and that his resurrection shattered the bonds of sin and death that held me captive.  Without Christ, I would be destined for hell.

  I desire that the rest of the world come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.  I will not apologize for that.  I hope that this Pew survey is an opportunity for the church to examine herself honestly, that we may, as individuals and congregations, repent of our sins and lead lives that are faithful to our calling.  Perhaps our repentance and reformation might better proclaim to this country a faith that deeply matters, on Sunday as well as Monday-Saturday, and gives us the hope of abundant life not only beyond death, but also here and now.  May we give and love freely, as Christ loves us.