Pundits ask the question, almost sardonically:

WHAT HAPPENED TO FAITH IN AMERICA?

Why the rise, they ask of the NONES, the APATHETICS. What happened to Religion? And the church? And tradition, and religious holidays and meanings – WHAT HAPPENED!

One reason they offer is that America is following the economic grow taken by Europe centuries ago. The Industrial Revolution in Europe, if not before, brought about the increase in wealth and economic prosperity. Lifestyles increased. Goods were readily available and luxury goods became more prevalent. Basic needs were met and the human population had time, leisure time to ENJOY LIFE. It seemed that the more secular enjoyment the less religious participation. The more pleasure, the less Religion. The more pleasure, the less the NEED for Religion. Money, too much of it corrupted the church in some significant ways. That was not lost on those who eventually became the unaffiliated, the APATHETICS. Religion was used only when it was useful. But it became less and less necessary and it seemed to become more ritual rather than faith based. It began to have less substance, less meaning, becoming what the new NONES now think of as irrelevant or at least not compelling and necessary. Why go to church Sunday when there was a good football game to be had.

Other studies have shown that:

“The practice of Religion and affiliation was always tenuous!”

That is, the lack of value and necessity were never fully expressed by those either apathetic or in part or altogether unaffiliated. It was simply socially convenient to acknowledge continued affiliation no matter how real or vital. Consequently, so called statistics were doctored and consequently failed to disclose the true facts. That of course continues to exist today where hypocrisy reins and so many simply do not state the truth and the whole truth about their religious beliefs or the lack thereof.

And yet another reason is that the Christian church has become polarized. Liberals and progressives have left in droves which means that in so many cases only conservatives remain. Protestant denominations continue to splinter and divide, and small groups band together united behind their own theological versions of truth. There is in some cases some very significant division and disagreement within the Catholic Church itself. It seems not fully unified as it once was and of course ridden by the scandal of pedophile Priests. Some of Judaism has become highly secularized and at least some of the religious practice has become obsolete or abandoned. What remains in these once great Religions becomes all the more unappealing and irrelevant to the new NONES and APATHETICS. The secular culture constantly and consistently criticizes and mocks the miraculous. That is especially so with regard to Christian tenets such as the Resurrection, the virgin birth and much more. Much of the Old Testament seems to be regarded in many circles as stories only, old fashioned perhaps even fictional and in today’s modern and secular society, irrelevant. As this polarization continues, theological camps harden, positions become more extreme so that to the moderate or even the searcher, there comes a constant wave of theological put–off and off they go, confirmed in their belief that Religion, the church becomes more irrelevant and meaningless by the day.

Listen to these staggering facts. In 1976, mainline Protestants made up 30% of the country. Now they represent:

TEN PERCENT.

And, predict the pollsters, within a decade, before the year 2030, mainline Protestants will represent FIVE PERCENT of the total American population. Can you believe that?


This polarization which so deeply affects Religion in America perhaps comes at least in part from the American world of politics. We are indeed, America is, one deeply polarized and divided country. There is little or no dialogue but only argumentation, put–down. We do not discuss issues but we pontificate on right and wrong. We care nothing about political compromise even where it is justifiable but only the self-interest of political parties and political philosophies. Politics seems to be a matter of winning or losing and never compromising. And so with the churches. Some matters of course cannot be compromised and never should be. But other issues, theological and otherwise can and should be discussed in order to make certain that truth, all of it occurs for the benefit of all. That seems to happen nowhere in American politics or theology. And especially RELIGION!  

One factor is certainly part of the equation. People are spending less time connected to, affiliated with or attending their churches and the services offered. Much less time. In the American past, a congregant would buy and large worship Sunday morning, perhaps even Sunday school before, and perhaps attend a Sunday evening service, attend very special services during the week and perhaps even a prayer meeting or Bible study on a Wednesday night. Now it seems that churches are fortunate in so many cases if worshipers attend even a traditional Sunday morning service.

Studies also show that the young who begin their lives without Religion very often do not turn to it. Statistics seem to show that about two thirds of those who grow up in homes without a religious affiliation remain unaffiliated perhaps for the rest of their lives. It is as though if Religion is irrelevant at home, then it is irrelevant for any and all purposes. Therefore, there is another addition to the NONES.

And more alarming statistics about RELIGION IN AMERICA. Church leaders say that even in the last decade they’ve seen a startling drop in the involvement and engagement of people in the life of Religion. People, they say and especially their congregations, are spending less time reading the Bible. This once sacred and central book now becomes itself marginalized, and often irrelevant and by no means the repository of absolute and eternal truth. So, say the NONES, why bother to read it?

And, people are spending less time even PRAYING. That is, except of course when there is an urgent need which requires the help and intervention of the Almighty, if even then. Prayer itself seems unanswered, itself irrelevant to the Almighty so why bother. There really is for the APATHETIC no reason to pray and no result to be obtained. The concept of divine fellowship is foreign. Prayer seems to be more and more for the weak and the intellectually incapable. So that, there exists yet another hurdle for Religion and the church with regard to any kind of accommodation with the NONES.

And the competition for time and attention goes on. The activities available to children and teens in schools and in society generally are staggering. They are fun, entertaining and attractive. The young and even their parents would rather participate in social activities including and especially sports than in any church activities. It seems difficult and dull to sit in a pew for one hour or more when one could be tailgating in preparation for an NFL football game. That places an additional burden upon the church to offer more services and move outside the faith and Religion to get and keep attention. Consequently, what they are and what they offer is watered down and becomes even more irrelevant. But even so, those who have abandoned Religion and the church seem to indicate that they’ve merely stopped following the rituals that make up Religion but have retained their spirituality, whatever that is and whatever that means.

But the answer to these problems seems to me to be rather clear. It is not now and never has been about Religion. It is about relationship. Faith is not a matter of ritual but the realization of the reality of the person of Jesus Christ. The answer is not a thing, more and better ritual but the confrontation with the person:

THE CARPENTER OF NAZARETH

THE CHRIST OF GLORY

The church today, Religion today continues to move away from that PERSON and more into a program. IT tries to convert when only the Holy Spirit can. It attempts to draw men and women to it when only the power of the living Christ can do that. It attempts to increase the influence of CULTURE while at the same time withdrawing step by step from the CHRIST. Small wonder it is doomed to failure.

It is all about the MAN and the MESSAGE. It is about confrontation and conversion. It is NOT about ritual, services, secular involvement with the community but involvement with every person at the deepest possible human and emotional level. The answer for the Christian church, Protestant, Catholic and any and all denominations is simply:

JESUS CHRIST.

You don’t hear that today. The witness of the real Gospel, the true Gospel becomes less and less. But where it is to be found, it continues to be powerful. Those churches, that RELIGION which emphasizes the love of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, and a pardoned life more abundant are thriving, growing by leaps and bounds because they understand the true nature and purpose of the Gospel and they offer that to all who seek. The power of that Gospel attracts like no other Religion or ritual can. And that, and that alone is THE ANSWER.

The NONES, the APATHETICS simply do not hear that message as they should. If I were they, I would have little or no interest in Religion as well. For it seems empty, shallow, riddled with inconsistencies and compromises. There is nothing of power or dynamic, there is nothing life changing, there seems little or nothing worth giving time, effort much less money to. The NONES are winning because Jesus is losing. So, back to basics church if you want to survive. Or perhaps better stated, back to basics if you would intend to fulfill your mission, your purpose and your God–given calling to present the true and unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ. Otherwise, down and down she continues to go, this church does, RELIGION does and up and up come the NONES and the APATHETICS and perhaps rightly so. The church may come and go, Religion may come and go but Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of Glory LIVES FOREVER!