• 69% of people believe in God,
• 77% pray outside of religious services
• 75% believe that it is a parent’s responsibility to give children a religious upbringing.
Yet, 24% of people say they are “religious, not spiritual” and 45% of people who consider themselves religious do not participate in organized religion. Wow, how the landscape of religious life has changed. There is not an expectation of being a part of a church, there is no longer the fear of God that once dominated religious belief—So what does this mean as we “rethink church”?
Let’s just talk:
• Are these statistics surprising to you?
• Does your local community of friends and relatives reflect this information?
• What does this mean for the local church?
There are people in my own family who say the same things—church just isn’t relevant anymore. They believe in God and are comfortable practicing their faith in their own way. I am really interested in what you think—so let’s just talk!
Sounds like the stats are saying that 13.2 out of every 100 people go to church or some organized religion. And is that saying Christian? Whether it is or not, I see that the younger people (20-somethings) want something real and personal with truth and "meat", not something traditional and unrelated to them personally.
ReplyDeleteWorship that goes to the bone---that's what our bishop says we need--but too many times we fall really short. What would that look like, I am curious?
ReplyDeleteI'd suggest worship that goes to the bone starts with outreach that goes to the bone. That would mean more outreach efforts like KDO which allow ways for people to experience the church and God without obligation to Sunday worship. More "doors of entry" are needed to tap into the 45% who consider themselves religious but don’t participate in organized religion.
ReplyDeleteA conversation between Shug and Celie from "The Color Purple" by Alice Walker:
ReplyDeleteYou telling me God love you, and you ain't never done nothing for him? I mean, not go to church, sing in the choir, feed the preacher and all like that?
But if God love me, Celie, I don't have to do all that. Unless I want to. There's a lot of other things I can do that I speck God likes.
Like what? I ast.
Oh, she say. I can lay back and just admire stuff. Be happy. Have a good time.
Well, this sound like blasphemy sure nuff.
She say, Celie, tell the truth, have you ever found God in church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show. Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God.
Some folks didn't have him to share, I said.
(First Harvest edition 2003. Page 193)
I have been blessed in that I have encountered God at church. But I have encountered Him outside of church as well. If no one had ever shared Him with me during a worship service, I might not be sitting in the pew on Sunday, either.