Will the Church recognize, adjust, and repent?
I. On Recognition…
Check out the graph and look at the steep climb of what we call “spiritual refugees” or sociologist Ryan Burge calls “religious nones”. In 2018, it was at 22.5%. Now it’s at 30%. Last year, Gallup released a new stat about church attendance, “47% of Americans belong to a house of worship.” It’s the first time it’s been below 50% in 80 years of Gallup research.
Some people view this as troubling and scary. Conversations over the past few years with professing Christians reveal they are viewing spiritual refugees from a posture of fear. They see so many leaving the Church and their stomach sinks. They refer to spiritual refugees as “lost” or drop hints of fear related to spiritual refugees eternal life at stake. They don’t recognize how much fear has gripped their hearts, minds, and faith.
The most shocking part of this lack of recognition: I rarely, if ever, hear any of them accept responsibility for this cultural phenomenon.
Seeds and Water recognizes this is a wonderful opportunity to love spiritual refugees. Many of them have had the courage to leave harmful legalism, toxic beliefs, traumatizing sexism, and even abuse. Some of them have been forcefully ostracized or gently shunned from their church communities and religious families.
They don’t need our fear and judgment. They deserve and need our unconditional love, which we have in Christ.
II. On Adjustment:
Many churches and Christians don’t understand the need to radically adjust their mission in such a time as this. Churches are still hung up on attracting people to Sundays, pastor as celebrity, polished sermons, and consumer experiences. American Christians and churches need to discover and experiment with some fresh missional movements. For an inspiring perspective on mission, check out this article on Michael Frost, one of my greatest influences over the years.
III. On Repentance
The Church has to repent…of so many sins.
Biblicism (the worship of the Bible as inerrant and infallible). One of the most toxic, recently invented perspectives and this idolatry has a deep hold in evangelical churches.
Patriarchy and Sexism - where you find only male pastors and elders, you will find a much higher rate of mistreatment, bullying, and abuse.
Participating in political and culture wars in sermons and belief statements.
For example, there are 6 direct references in the Bible about homosexuality. There are over 2000 verses about protecting the poor and the oppressed (Tony Campolo). Many churches talk more about sexuality than they do the poor and oppressed. The church has lost her way on this topic and we need to repent.
What other sins? There is so much dark that needs exposed to the light and forgiveness of Christ.
I will continue to hope and pray for Christians: that we will recognize, adjust, and repent.
And Seeds and Water will continue to meet people, one at a time, and do our best to support, encourage, and love them unconditionally as they wrestle with pain, doubt, and hard questions.