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Listening
Sep 10, 11:40 AM
Dear Friends,
There are many reasons why fewer people are attending church in the United States but there is little doubt that the trend is following that of Europe. Soon, like them, fewer than 10% of the population will regularly attend a Christian service of worship. Certainly the influence of unrestrained human rationality unleashed in the latter part of the 18th century, commonly called the “Enlightenment,” has exerted a major influence in the way our society thinks, educates, and determines truth. The Enlightenment also was a movement away from centralized authority, both that of government and church. This trend continued through the 20th century and had its greatest manifestation in the 1960’s when an entire generation kicked off all restraints on personal behavior and questioned any and all authority. The children of today are the third generation living in the wake of that revolution. The Enlightenment gave us greater technology and incredible advances in standard of living and health care. It also severely eroded our belief in and dependence upon God.
The church itself bears much of the blame for people no longer wanting to attend its services of worship or participate in its life and ministry. The very way I opened this reflection is telling. I spoke about the decline of the church. I did not speak about the decline of Christian belief or even spirituality in general. The fact is there are many who maintain the core beliefs of the Christian faith but have little regard for the organization of the church. That is a chilling reality. It tells us that people have lost their taste for organized religion and also how radical individualism has robbed people of their understanding of Christian community as an essential component of Christian life.
The church has for centuries been more concerned about its own influence and survival as an organization than the glory of Christ Himself and the lives He wants to redeem. Denominations are giving full attention to maintaining their “market share.” We have been tending to our own business rather than the Father’s. Are we looking for believers or members?
One of the things the church must do is to begin to listen more than it speaks. Listen to
what people are telling us. The things we are most concerned with and fight about are in
reality of little importance to the people around us. People want to know about the
meaning of life. They want to know about God – does God exist and if He does, does He
have a purpose and plan for this life? They want to know what they are doing here and if
it really matters what they do. In a society drowning in broken relationships, they are
seeking connection but have no idea how to do it in a healthy manner. They are sinners
for sure. They are angry and broken and rebellious, but our crusades against
homosexuality and our quest for political power only drive them further away. What they
need from he church right now is this: teach, live and demonstrate the redemptive love of
God in Christ; open the power of the Word to reveal the true nature of God and God’s
plans and purposes for the world.