Good Question

Who Are Barack And Michelle Obama?

Read this!

On Being Unaffiliated

In an article entitled, “Is U.S. Religious Landscape Resembling Europe’s?” we find trends in the American faith life that are interesting to say the least. Following are some quotes:

“A massive religious study showing that a large number of Americans are religiously unaffiliated caused pollsters to question whether America is heading down the same religious path as that of Europe – where people may consider hemselves religious but don’t belong to any institution.”

“In future studies, Smith said the group will see if the United States is experiencing the religious “phenomenon” that is already quite common in Europe – “believing without belonging.”

“[For] manypeople in Europe, religion has become deinstitutionalized even though they still have certain religious beliefs,” Smith said. “So one key question is whether the rank of those who believe but do not belong to religious institutions is a trend that is expanding as we go forward.”

Currently about half of Britons say they have no religious affiliation so that is the point of reference here. Islam is by far the fastest growing religion there. Without a doubt Islam is going to become the dominant religion there in time. The same thing is happening in France. Europe is clearly a post-Christian continent.

What does this mean for us? Currently, only about half of Americans consider themselves “Protestant.” Of those, how many are Evangelical I wonder. That also means that the rest of Americans are “something” else. For me, that means they are “lost.” So, you have a lot of Americans who are probably not born again and, to compound the problem, a lot more who will not “belong” to anything, the unaffiliated folks. To answer the question, I believe we are indeed becoming a post-Christian society.

Being a Christian (and I mean a born again, Bible believing, church going kind) is definitely not cool. Living by the “Book” is considered unintelligent and backwards. To believe that God created everything makes you someone who is equated with still believing the earth is flat. God is no longer welcomed in schools, government or the culture at large. The American society is indeed on the slippery slope.

AND, in edition to all this we have this growing “unaffiliated” sector. People that “believe” but will not “belong.” I suppose these are the folks you know who will talk about God when it is “harmless” to do so but don’t really seem to have much interest in Him otherwise. These are the ones that will not go to church because of the hypocrites. I could go on and on. I don’t really believe these folks have a relationship with God. They still need an experience with Him. They may report themselves as unaffiliated but they are really just lost.

BUT here is what is bad about the unaffiliated we are reading about. I speak of those who are born again but think that it is alright to not “not belong.” Not belonging is not right. It is unbiblical. It is not New Testament. It is disobedience. I think it is hurting us.

Sure, I am a Pastor and I would rather see my church filled. I don’t like that some people find every reason possible to miss church or church activities. But one of the reasons America will become post-Christian is that there are not enough soldiers. There are way to many who are AWOL. They don’t like “officers.” They don’t want to march much less fight. To have to “fall-out” with the rest of their unit will not do. This is an army that will eventually lose.

We could see “belonging” in terms of family as well. How in the world can a family be a family if no one wants to “belong?” What kind of family is it that will not get along together? A dysfunctional one to say the least. Who would want to belong to a family like that?

You cannot read the Book of Acts without seeing a church that belonged to each other. They steadfastly continued together “house to house.” They loved each other, worked together, prayed together, worshiped together, and I am sure they did this in spite of each other. The grace and forgiveness that we should be expressing as Christians is predominately a “church” thing. It is where we need it most and where we will learn it best. It is our love for each other that is supposed to be the evidence that we are disciples of Christ to this world.

I for one believe that the self-centered orientation of being unaffiliated is carnal, unscriptural and self-destructive. I am becoming more and more a believer in a “remnant.” These are the ones who cringe when they hear Preachers and such talk about how people don’t come to church because of the church. It’s all our fault we are told. I reject this notion. People don’t come to church because of the flesh. Rebellion is encouraged by these “emergers” and sinner sensitive types.

I say to the “stay at home Christians:” Get over yourself and go to church! Belong to the Body of Christ. Close up ranks and be a son or daughter of God. Die to self and serve your brethren in the Lord. It ain’t about you!

BroJesse