Thursday, June 11, 2015

The Declining Church

Much ink has been spilled in recent months celebrating, decrying or denying the recent Pew study that shows in no uncertain terms that the American church is in decline.  The reasons for the shift away from religion, and Christianity in particular, are probably not all that complex.

To some extent, I think that the study is a lot like looking at a distant star through a telescope.  Much of what we are seeing is really just a scene from the past.  It is a reflection of a large segment of people who previously self-identified as Christian because of family history or other reasons, but who never really followed Christ.  For these folks, identifying themselves as Christian was once convenient and costless -- and at times maybe even advantageous.  But, for these same people the label now, if anything, has become a negative.  And so, it was just time to let go of the pretense.  (In November of last year I wrote a blog called "Reflections from Scotland" which you might want to check out).

For others, however, and particularly for the younger generation, the decline in Christian affiliation (and church attendance for that matter) is the direct result, at least in part, of a culture war that has raged for decades.  The fact is that our young people have been inundated with a fundamentally anti-Christian worldview through the media, arts and entertainment, public education and elsewhere.  As a consequence, most young people have adopted a fundamentally secular worldview which will not easily be shaken.

One concern I have is that while the statistics tell us vividly about the reality that young people are opting out of Christianity in increasing numbers, they tell us little about the young people who are staying in church -- at least for now.  It is a generation that is experiencing unprecedented pressure from the increasing disconnect between traditional Christianity and changing American cultural and moral norms.

My suspicion is that many of the young people who do remain in the church have silently, or in some cases not so silently, already abandoned traditional Christian values (and perhaps traditional theology).  It is a generation that I fear increasingly sees Christianity as a buffet from which they can take what they want and leave the rest behind.  It is a generation that finds itself in search of a Jesus more aligned with post-modern America than the one they read about in the Bible. 

Rachel Held Evans may not be a household name, but she just might be a paradigm example of this shift.  This young woman recently left evangelicalism (whatever that means) for the Episcopal Church (coincidentally, the tradition I grew up in).  Explaining her decision to make the move from contemporary worship and the other trappings of many nondenominational churches, Ms. Evans said:

"I felt drawn to the Episcopal Church because it offered some practices I felt were missing in my evangelical experience, like space for silence and reflection, a focus on Christ’s presence at the Communion table as the climax and center of every worship service, opportunities for women in leadership and the inclusion of LGBT people."

I am not at all suggesting that we will see a mass movement of young people out of evangelical churches and into more liberal traditional denominations.  Indeed, the numbers tell us that these traditional denominations are losing people at a greater rate than evangelical churches.  Instead, I think we will continue to see greater numbers of young people just opt out entirely.

So, what is the solution?

First, I would say that since God is in control we should start there.  Like most things, I think it starts with prayer.

Second, if we want to have a real impact on the next generation I think the key word is "authenticity."  Authenticity is far more important, in my opinion, than church production, programs, events and the like.  Those things may draw people in, but loving people will keep them there.  People of all ages need to see a church that is authentically in love with Jesus and authentically in love with people.  They need to see genuine followers of Christ who are, to the very best of their ability, living it out -- and not just talking about it.

Third, the American church these days seems somewhat fixated on some pretty narrow issues -- gay marriage for example.  I personally think there are a number of far more pressing issues for us to deal with.  These include (not necessarily in order of priority -- but maybe in order of priority):  (1) the great challenge of every generation -- which is to disciple believers into becoming genuine followers of Christ;  (2) to continue to focus on reaching the unchurched and the under-churched with the gospel; (3) to reach out to the disenfranchised and hurting world -- to the hungry, the homeless, to those in prison, etc. (4) to support through prayer and in more tangible ways those who are truly persecuted for their faith around the globe; and (5) to eliminate racial tension and division in the American church.

I am sure there are other priorities to add to this list. 

Just my thoughts.

Monday, June 8, 2015

29

Just today I realized that, although June is upon us, I have only posted on this blog twice in all of 2015.  It is not that I lacked the desire to write.  Nor was it a lack of subject matter or writer's block-- there has actually been plenty to capture my attention in 2015. 

Rather, what has been lacking is either the time or motivation in the moment.  It seems like I have been too busy to come up for air most of the year, and when I have had time to write I just couldn't bring myself to do it. 

I sometimes wonder if people are tired of hearing about the struggles my family continues to face in a world where Jonathan is no longer with us.  I know that has dominated my writing over the last year and a half.  How could it not? 

I also wonder if anyone really cares about my perspectives on what it means to be a follower of Christ, the current state of the church or theological matters.  Through it all, Jesus has remained my passion in life -- perhaps more so than ever before.  At the same time, I find myself increasingly frustrated with an American church that seems content with "business as usual" in the face of a world that seems to be unravelling before our very eyes.

In any event, in two days it will be Jonathan's birthday.  He would have been twenty-nine.  It is beyond imagination still how one of the greatest days in our lives could have become so painful and so dark for both Pam and me ... and for Christian, Dani, Tommy and so many others.

I have so many vivid recollections of the first few days of his life -- from the long drive to the hospital, to those magic words from the doctor ("he's was a boy"), to the family and friends who came to see Jonathan for the very first time.  I remember how happy Pam was to be a mom.  I remember feeling overwhelmed by both the joy and weight of fatherhood.

I miss him so much.  When I think about the fact that I will never see him again during my time on this earth it is beyond overwhelming.  It is crushing.

As June 10 approaches, your continuing prayers for our family would be appreciated. 







 

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