The Changing Face of American Religion: Its True Significance
A commentary by John Ross Schroeder
Good News magazine senior writer, United Kingdom
According to a recent feature article in USA Today, "The U.S.
Religious Landscape Survey released today by the Pew Forum
on Religion & Public Life, documents new peaks, deepening valleys
and fast-running rivers of change in American religion" (February
26).
Several
major things have been happening. Prominent churches including
Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and Lutheran denominations
show moderate declines. Yet Christianity still dominates the religious
scene in the United States with nearly 80% of the adult population
indicating a religious affiliation.
Clearly, "The major Christian
denominations are losing numbers fast. Only
non-denominational Christian churches showed growth, outpacing losses.
Two in three people who say they grew up as a Jehovah's Witness have left
the faith. Any one of 10 people you meet is a former Catholic" (ibid,
emphasis added throughout).
Two days later the lead editorial in USA Today stated
in summary: "44%
of adults [in America] have either switched or dropped religious
affiliation altogether" (February 28).
Observers of religious
trends make much of the faculty of choice in choosing a church.
One source said, "In religion as in coffee, choice is a critical
ingredient." Yet the same source stated with some comfort, "There
is something disquieting about shopping for religion the way one
would pick among lattes at [one of the major coffee house chains]."
Still,
whether to attend church, and which one, are among the most important
decisions one can make in this life. The number of churches to choose
from has never been greater. A dizzying supermarket of "brands" awaits
the potential churchgoer.
A good question is: What do people look
for in a place of worship? Noted pollster George Barna has identified
three important factors: beliefs and doctrines; mutual comfort and
care; the quality of the sermon. In a broad sense, all three find
considerable support in the Scriptures themselves.
To sum up the
overall importance of beliefs and doctrines, the Church is prophetically
described as a group of people "who keep the commandments
of God and
have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 12:17). Barna's
second point is also very important in terms of proper Christian
fellowship. The apostle Paul urged Corinthian members to "have
the same care one for another" (1
Corinthians 12:25).
The quality of the sermon (the third point)
is also supremely important. Church members have a right to expect
certain basic qualities from the leadership of church elders. Perhaps
first and foremost is loyalty to the Judaeo/Christian Bible, including
the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ that He taught the apostles—summed
up in Scripture as "the apostles' doctrine
and fellowship" (Acts 2:42).
In his preaching, each elder must
be "rightly dividing the
word of truth" (2
Timothy 2:15).
Of course, there is a great deal more to consider
in choosing a church. It is a big subject, well worth studying in
much greater detail. That is why the United Church of God has published
two extensively researched booklets that explain the biblical standard
for measuring a church and its core message.
  I highly recommend
both. To receive them simply request or download your free copies
of: The Church Jesus Built and The Gospel of the Kingdom.
|
