Being a Christian while Being Less Religious

I read another article last week on the spiritual state of America.  The article was published by Pew Research, an organization that I view as having a finger on the pulse of our country.  The reported noted that while fewer people are affiliating with churches, as a county we are becoming more spiritual.  While on the surface it might seem like a contradiction, it is in fact a reality.  To understand that requires looking at the meaning of the two words.

Religion involves being concerned about church things.  One’s behavior gives signs of being religious.  Being religious means a person is exhibiting outward signs.  “She is obviously a religious person because she goes to church every Sunday.”  “He must be very religious because he has a Bible on his desk.”

Spirituality relates to things of the spirit or soul, as opposed to physical or earthly things.  “Her contemplative nature leads me to believe she is more spiritual than most of her friends.”  “He has a spiritual nature that allows him to stay calm and think clearly in spite of the circumstance.”

One of my contentions about most Christian communities is that the members are very good at the outward signs, but fall short when it comes to living lives of discipleship.  I must admit to falling into that trap myself sometimes.  If the pattern is observed over a period of time, we run the risk of being viewed as hypocritical; only giving the outward signs of being religious.   In short that is why so few young folks do not want to associate with the churches we claim to be part of.  In their minds we are; “Long on words but short on action.”

As I think about it, being more spiritual might not be the answer either.  I am part of a worship community that meets every Sunday in the fine arts building at a Lutheran school.  The parking lot is usually full, but only because we share it with the Buddhist Center next store. The people who live and visit there might be perceived as being "spiritual."  I also find it curious that many of the people who gather there on Sunday are young adults.  Many Millennials are spiritual seekers.  The unfortunate thing, from my perspective, is that they are finding their needs met in places other than in Christian worship communities.  

We can take offense at this, but the in actuality we need to being taking it to heart.  Our actions toward the people who are lost and broken will speak volumes to the world.  Our attitude toward the lost and broken allows others to see Jesus in us.  I see that as the only way we might reverse the trend.

In actuality, it might mean being a little less religious and spiritual, and walking more in the steps of Jesus as loving and compassionate disciples.

POWERBALL MANIA

Our nation has been thrown into a frenzy these last few days.  One item, more than any other, has been dominating the news.  I suppose I should be pleased that it is not another mass shooting, or even the presidential campaigns.  It is the Powerball Lottery that has captured much of our attention;“A billion dollar prize.”  I have tried my best to ignore it, but the reality is greed has won out.  The lottery is part of our culture, so it is here to stay.  I cannot help but reflect on the message of St. Paul to Timothy.

“Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction … and pierced themselves with many pangs”

(1 Timothy 6:9–10).

My anti-lottery sentiment is pretty deeply rooted.  We were living in the Chicago area when the State of Illinois introduced the lottery as a way to boost state income.  My teammate at the time, Pastor Bill Huener, was quick to label it a “poor tax.”  He was not hesitant to talk about his objections and he openly discouraged church members from participating.  His rational was based on the passage above. 

I have only one experience at possessing a lottery ticket.  During those days it was not uncommon for gas stations to reward you for your purchase by giving you a free gift.  Sometimes it was glassware, or a box of detergent.  I purchase gas one evening and was presented with a lottery ticket as a way of saying thanks.  In this case, it was “thanks for the guilt.”   I quite frankly was relieved when the numbers did not produce a winner.  

I feel the same way about casino gambling.  I realize that many people consider it to be entertainment, but the reality is most people are gambling in hope of hitting it big.  I have only been to Las Vegas once.  I was speaking at an educator conference, and could not get out of town fast enough.  It all seemed pretty sleazy to me.  I have not been back and probably will not venture across the border to visit one of those fancy casinos in Oklahoma either. 

I have to wonder what kind of a message we are sending to the next generation.  I do not see the future in buying a lottery ticket in hopes of becoming a millionaire.  I certainly do not want my children, grandchildren or other young folks I hold dear to chase false hope.  In my mind we all need to learn to live with a lot less and give away a lot more.  I think that is what Jesus calls us to do, and he backed it up by laying down His life.  Believing in the reality of a risen Savior is much better than any lottery jackpot. 

Remember: The things of this world will either break, wear out or get stolen.  The love of Jesus is forever.  

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy,

and thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 

where moths and vermin do not destroy and where thieves do not break in a steall.

For where your heart is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21 

Millennials Picks Labor Unions over Religion

Pew Research is widely respected as an organization that has its pulse on American culture.   A report that they release this past week caught my attention.  I can even go as far as saying it is some of the most disturbing research that I have seen in recent years.  On the surface it paints Millennials in a positive light.  Overall they have a more positive perspective on American institutions than do any other generational groups.  It is the one institution that they do not hold in the highest regard that troubles me.

The staff at Pew Research identified eight major institutions, from small businesses and large corporations to banks and the national news media.  The church and religious institutions, along with labor unions, were on the list.  Individuals from the four generational groups Millennials, Generation X, Baby Boomers and The Silent Generation were surveyed.  The surprising thing is that with every case, Millennials held a higher regard for the institutions than any generational group.  The lone exception was the church, where every other generational group held religious institutions in higher esteem.

Overall, church and religious organizations finished somewhere in the middle, a fact disturbing in itself.  Small business, colleges and technology companies got the most positive reviews.  National news media and the entertainment industry were viewed as having the least positive influence.  The sad reality is that today’s young people have a more favorable view of labor unions (57%), than the church (55%).  Members of Generation X (62%) and Baby Boomers (67%) saw religious institutions in a more positive light.  At that, about one third of Americans do not view the church as an institution that has a positive effect on our country. 

I am not surprised by the statistics.  As I have shared in the past; many teens and young adults turned their backs on the church long ago.  Still we face a challenge: What steps to take to reverse the trend?   The challenge comes in changing the perception that the church is self-serving, resistant to change in culture and, worst of all, not very accepting of those who are in need of grace and forgiveness.  Changing the perception on all those issues is a tall order, and I must add I do not see the institutional church all that anxious to change.  National church leaders are often more interested in turf protection than they are being Jesus to the broken and lost.

The sad fact is that most Millennials would rather give money to feed starving children in Africa or provide housing for the homeless, than to support a local church – even if they might attend that church once in a while.  In their minds Apple and Microsoft can be trusted more to make have a positive impact on our culture.

I personally do not see this as an institutional problem, but more a discipleship issue.  To be perfectly honest, most Christians do not come off all that different from the rest of society.  We are called to unconditionally love all those who are lost and broken, and often we are viewed as judgmental rather than loving and forgiving.  The change must begin with me.  We can only change the perception one individual at a time.

Keeping 2016 in Perspective

Our God, our help in ages past,

Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast,

and our eternal home.

We turned the page on a new year last night.  2016!  I probably need to get use to that. The old adage is "Another Day, Another Dollar."  I like to think the same thing applies as we turn the page on another year.  Time rolls on and God's blessings remain the one constant.

I could not help but ponder the third line of the hymn above last Saturday night, as kept an eye on the weather.  As it was the storm changed directions and the tornadoes touched down south and east of us.  Probably appropriate that the weather was major story in the DFW area to end the year, considering we set an all-time record for rain and flooding in 2015.  It was not just the weather that made news last year.  There was much that was unsettling.  There were more mass shootings and terrorist attacks.  Racial tensions again heightened and there was a new theme: Black Lives Matter.  

As we head into 2016, we anticipate an election year, and I for one do not feel comfortable with any of the front-running candidates.  The economy seems to again be in a state of flux.  We continue to live with the threat of homeland terrorist.  Internationally there continues to be strife in the Middle East and hunger and health are still an issue in Africa and other part of the world.  We can also anticipate a continued shift in the moral climate. Same-sex marriage is legal and Caitlyn Jenner has become a role model for a new generation.  What is to come in 2016?  Could things get even worse?

When it comes to the world around me I can pass it off as it is what it is.  But I can also say the same thing about God: He is who he is.  The years role on and our God remains the one constant.  I might age and my life situation might change, but my God remains the same.  I mess up: He forgives.  I continue to live under God's grace, and in the end that is all that matter.   

In our complex and changing world, it is our responsibility to live each day confidently and boldly. That should always be our testimony and witness. Complaining about the way things are will not win us friends among the younger generation.  I also think it is offensive to God.  Remember Jesus' words, "In this world you will have trouble.  Take heart!  I have overcome the wold."  (John 16:33)  The way we convey our hope and faith through our actions will always speak louder than our words.

Our God, our help in ages past,

our hope for years to come;

be thou our guide while troubles last,

and our eternal home.