April 3, 2009 The Journey Continues ...
Pray with me:
Lord, you know how many times I thought I knew ... how to run my life; how to fix their problems, and how you should answer prayer. But each time, through trauma or tragedy, hardship or hard times, you remind me how much I don’t know about your will. Though I may not like it at the time please remind me that you are God and I am not. Ask me questions I can’t answer. Give me answers I can’t comprehend. Remind me that you laid the earth’s foundation. That you speak and the winds obey. That you squeeze the clouds ‘til rain falls. Then, give me the good sense to hold my peace and meditate on what you’ve just said. Amen. (From African Worship, Year B)
Artwork for "The Journey Continues...", Bishop Thomas J. Bickerton's column that appears in the WPAUMC "InterLink."
The news isn’t good. The forecast seems more uncertain than many of us have experienced. No one seems to know how to turn us around to get us back on track. Our most trusted leaders seem to have the right words but not the results.
The issue is not the economy, but another that evokes concern and uncertainty. It’s the state of religion in America.
Researchers at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, polled over 54,000 American adults on religious affiliation.
The new isn’t good:
- The number of people calling themselves Christian is down 10 percent since 1990
- Only 30 percent of married couples had a religious ceremony
- A quarter of those surveyed do not expect to have a religious funeral
- The number of people who say they have no religious affiliation whatsoever has risen from 8.2 percent in 1990 to 15 percent today — over 34 million people!
The forecast seems uncertain, too. Like the economy, many have been speaking words of hope; clinging to the thought that the clouds will surely part and a bright future will emerge. But predictions persist: mostly cloudy with a strong chance of heavy rain.
Some look at these numbers and come up with excuses: growth in diversity, mobility and immigration. Others run from the numbers extolling more focus on spiritual growth rather than raw data. Others looked at the numbers and cast blame on systems, structures, hierarchy, television preachers, or anything else that redirects the attention away from them. “Look at what Jim Bakker did! He’s the problem. Look at what those Catholic priests did! They’re the problem.”
Being overly optimistic or critical does little to solve the problem. To see the reality we are facing with rose colored glasses only widens the gap between the problem and solution. To criticize others for the decline is to deny our role. It’s like my mom used to say to me, “When you point your finger at someone else, remember that you are pointing three fingers back at yourself.”
We have to face some clear realities. Religion, for some, is now an ugly word, and for others, a non-word. The question is what is religion for us in the church?
I have to face the reality that the decline of religion in America has, in large measure, happened during my 32 years of ministry. The decline of mainline denominations, and specifically The United Methodist Church, has happened during our watch.
What will we do?
I believe this can be a great time for the church. When people read articles about the decline of religion and begin to expect nothing from the church, we can surprise the world with ministries of love, grace and justice. When forecasters paint a picture of decline and despair for organized religion, we can mobilize with a fresh approach to ministry that capitalizes on our ability to organize and build relationships. When religion is viewed as irrelevant and out of touch, we can say, “You know, you are absolutely right. We haven’t been all that we could be.”
I heard someone the other day ask the question, “If God were human again, would He come to church?” It’s a pretty good question to ask.
Do you remember Oh God!, the movie? A grocery-store manager (John Denver) is asked by God (George Burns) to spread the Word of God across the land. The reluctant grocer replies, “But I don’t even go to church!’’ And God says, “Neither do I.”
I believe God does come to our churches. He always has. As long as the church exists, God will always be there. That doesn’t mean God is happy with what we do or don’t do. It doesn’t mean that because God is there that we recognize His presence or listen to His direction.
The problem isn’t God. The problem is us.
Will we listen? Will we respond? Will we take negative reports and use them to craft creative solutions? The choice is ours.
Last year, Parade asked several celebrities what kept them going. Robert Downey Jr., a famous actor not immune to problems and struggles, said, “I used to really make fun of optimists, but if all we have is negative world views, we are in trouble. Faith is not a dirty word. And hope is not for fools.”
These are challenging days. Religion isn’t popular. Faith is questioned. Hope is seen as foolish in the midst of grim realities. Remember, as hundreds of companies close their doors, our company has been in business for over 2,000 years. Our business is built on hope in hopeless times, faith in times of faithlessness and joy when none seems to be found. That is our business. It’s what we do best. This is what we have to do to turn around these days of decline and uncertainty.
Friends, these are days of great and wonderful possibility. Rise up! Be the church God intends us to be!
Let’s do it now!
The Journey Continues ...
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