Friday, June 1, 2012

The Pendulum Swings Back

The pendulum is swinging back, as pendulums inevitably do. For the past thirty years we have seen a swing in faith practices to the megachurches, mostly evangelical congregations independent of denominations. But the past few years have seen a turn away from this trend. Those leaving are disillusioned with how Christianity is practiced, seeing it as too political, too consumed with money, too hypocritical, not focused on helping the gathered grow in faith and the Spirit.

Many have turned away from church entirely, while others continue to seek and search. As Diana Butler Bass observes in her book Christianity After Religion, “All sorts of people – even mature, faithful Christians – are finding conventional religion increasingly less satisfying, are attending church less regularly, and are longing for new expressions of spiritual community.”

This growing group of new seekers are calling themselves, “Spiritual But Not Religious.” They see religion as hidebound, stuck in the past, more concerned with rules and institutions than people or even Jesus. SBNRs don’t want to turn away from faith, they want to find new ways to “do church.” They want to worship and serve in a community that nurtures and nourishes their faith. As Butler Bass puts it, “to say that one is ‘spiritual but not religious’ is often a way of saying, ‘I am dissatisfied with the way things are, and I want to find a new way of connecting with God, my neighbor, and my own life.’” The critical questions have become: How do I grow in faith? How do I follow Christ faithfully? and How do I live my faith?


These are the trends at work around us and they will impact us as a church. It is why our Session has been working with the Rev. Dr. Ed White this year so we can plan for the future amidst a rapidly changing world all around us. Butler Bass teaches us that Church is no longer membership in an institution, but a journey toward the possibility of a relationship with people, a community, a tradition, and of course God in Jesus Christ. We need to be sure we are focused on relationships: building them, nurturing them, and nourishing them.

I have been part of the conversations taking place within the Session, of course. My Wednesday Bible Study group has also been part of this conversation as we have looked at the future of faith, church, and religion. I am hoping to open the conversation further in the Fall by leading a series of Adult Education classes on Sunday morning. Come be part of the conversation as we discern where God is calling us and where the Spirit is leading us – into a future which will assuredly be marked by change!

Grace & peace,
Pastor Skip