New Poll Reveals Problems in Christianity

[StillStanding]

A new poll by Lifeway Research found 72% of 18-29 year olds call themselves spiritual, but not religious. And while 65% called themselves Christian, they rarely pray, read the bible or go to church.

Less than half say that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation! Only 15% attend church on a weekly basis.

Is this the end of the church world as we know it? Has the "Oprah" effect successfully made Christianity just another technique for self-improvement? Are we entering the age of "buffet" church, where one picks and chooses teachings that doesn't necessarily call for any change in their life?

Where are we headed?

[Twisp]

It sounds to me that this is a natural pendulum process. We have the previous generation that went to the extremes on many religious beliefs, and now the next generation is going to the other extreme.

I do believe that there is a buffet mentality out there, but not anymore so than there has been.

Here is the link, if anyone wants to read the article

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ith27_ST_N.htm

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Twisp

It sounds to me that this is a natural pendulum process. We have the previous generation that went to the extremes on many religious beliefs, and now the next generation is going to the other extreme.

I do believe that there is a buffet mentality out there, but not anymore so than there has been.

Here is the link, if anyone wants to read the article

http://www.usatoday.com/news/religio...ith27_ST_N.htm

I don't know! Only 15% of that generation attending church on a regular basis in the US will eventually cause the closing of many churches. It seems the direction is only one way. Of course, I would love to see it change directions.

This has also effected Apostolic churches, as fewer and fewer young men and women are feeling the call to the ministry to reach their generation. Even then, many are not anxious to follow the traditional holiness teachings.

Will we see a watering down of controversial beliefs in order to retain those that still are attending?

[Aquila]

I believe that with this data and data regarding trends in the current adult population we can conclude that the traditional church has failed our society. Also, the traditional structure of church isn’t working in our society either. People long for fellowship and connection. In our world with all our technology it seems like people are “connected” but in reality our society is full of very lonely people. Church for most doesn’t facilitate the spiritual fellowship people need. In today’s church people attend 3 or more scheduled meetings a week. In each meeting we come into the lobby and shake hands and talk for 10 minutes or so. Then we herd ourselves into a sanctuary where we sit facing forward looking at the back of the head of the person in front of us. To the left and to the right are rows of noses. The music plays and we get lost in our own little world of worship. The church puts forward a plea for offerings to sustain the operation. Then we hear a little more music and song. After this the pastor steps up to the podium and delivers a “sermon”. The sermon is expected to be full of interesting tidbits of information, peppered with humor, and some sort of life application wherewith we can feel we’ve somehow gained something from the service. Then there is an altar call or time of prayer and some music. After this we shake hands for 15 or 20 minutes and go out to Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner. By the next morning what we heard is now stale. We dressed up and looked okay but now the real world begins and by Monday afternoon…too many of us have lost our Christianity.

Most people don’t know this but our modern church structure isn’t biblical. In fact the order of service was imposed by the Catholic Church with the Eucharist being central theme. The Reformers changed the order of service a little, placing the “sermon” as the central theme of the service. From there it has been modified and tweaked per each congregation’s alleged needs.

How were church gatherings conducted in biblical times? Glad someone asked.

First, they didn’t meet in grand auditoriums. They simply met in homes, public structures already in existence, the markets, and outdoors. The majority of teaching and fellowship took place in homes. For nearly 300 years not a single church building was built anywhere, not even in places where Christianity was not persecuted. Here’s how the home meetings went…

I Corinthian s14:26-40 (NIV)
26What then shall we say, brothers? When you come together, everyone has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. All of these must be done for the strengthening of the church. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, two—or at the most three—should speak, one at a time, and someone must interpret. 28If there is no interpreter, the speaker should keep quiet in the church and speak to himself and God.
29Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said. 30And if a revelation comes to someone who is sitting down, the first speaker should stop. 31For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged. 32The spirits of prophets are subject to the control of prophets. 33For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.
As in all the congregations of the saints, 34women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. 35If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.
36Did the word of God originate with you? Or are you the only people it has reached? 37If anybody thinks he is a prophet or spiritually gifted, let him acknowledge that what I am writing to you is the Lord's command. 38If he ignores this, he himself will be ignored.
39Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. 40But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way.

You’ll notice that in this smaller meetings everyone was allowed to bring a hymn, instruction, revelation, tongue, or interpretation. However, all these things must be for the edification of the church. If anyone had an utterance in tongues only two or at most three were to speak and then one must interpret. If there isn’t an interpreter present that person is to simply offer personal prayer between himself and the Lord. Two or three anointed teachers should preach and teach Scripture. All others attending should weigh carefully what is taught. If someone attending get’s a revelation or insight, or has something to share on the passage(s) being taught, whoever is currently speaking is to stop speaking and allow the dear brother with the insight to speak. This is so that EVERYONE must prophesy and share what they know about Jesus and the Scriptures. But we are to remember, the spirits of the prophets are subject to the guiding control of the prophets guiding the meeting. Because God is not a God of disorder but of peace. If women have questions they should remain silent in the gathering. Because they are not supposed to interrupt the teaching with many questions. For this reason they should ask their own husbands their spiritual questions when they get back home. Because it is disgraceful for a woman to interrupt the meeting and sidetrack the teaching of the elders. If anyone thinks they are a prophet or are spiritually gifted, they should know that this is the Lord’s commandment regarding how meeting should be held. If any man ignores this and disrespects the meeting, he is to be ignored. Therefore all should desire to prophesy, and we shouldn’t forbid speaking in tongues. Everything is to simply be conducted in an orderly way.

The Apostolic church of the Bible spread like wild fire through the homes of the Roman Empire. These smaller participatory meetings allowed individuals to exercise their spiritual gifts and callings, in addition to allowing discussion and sharing among all the saints. Not to mention…they broke bread and had the Lord’s Supper regularly together.

I think this is what people are not getting in modern church. It’s more of a religious social club. Real deep sharing and participation aren’t present. People are lulled into a spiritual sleep and become passive observers who assume that the “ministry” is the primary means of reaching our world and cultivating spirituality.

I believe that if more traditional church instituted smaller care groups during the week or if more home missions burdened preachers would start networks of house churches…we’d see more Americans believing. But our institutional church systems will suffer.

Oh well… those are my thoughts.

[edjen01]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

I don't know! Only 15% of that generation attending church on a regular basis in the US will eventually cause the closing of many churches. It seems the direction is only one way. Of course, I would love to see it change directions.

This has also effected Apostolic churches, as fewer and fewer young men and women are feeling the call to the ministry to reach their generation. Even then, many are not anxious to follow the traditional holiness teachings.

Will we see a watering down of controversial beliefs in order to retain those that still are attending?

personally...i'm fine with churches closing. If a community does not think a business has value...it goes under...if a community can find no value in a particular church...let it go.

i thought our call to minister came from God...not a church...must be my mistake.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by edjen01

personally...i'm fine with churches closing. If a community does not think a business has value...it goes under...if a community can find no value in a particular church...let it go.

i thought our call to minister came from God...not a church...must be my mistake.

Do you feel that God is just calling less and less men and women? Or..are less and less willing to heed the call?

[Pragmatist]

I think God is calling fewer people to minister as pastor of a church and more people to minister right where they are.

[NotforSale]

Originally Posted by Mr. Steinway

Do you feel that God is just calling less and less men and women? Or..are less and less willing to heed the call?

It's apparent and proven, History repeats itself. Man cycles in everything. We rise and fall with ideas and our searching’s concerning God and Faith. This has happened since the beginning.

Once the cycle goes the direction of what many feel is the "Bad Direction", hitting rock bottom, someone will find the Law that is lost, and Man will try it again. Everyone will get excited and dance and repent, doing things like they’ve never been done before. Then when the Revelation loses its vigor because one promise after another is broken, and the "Idea" didn't pan out as dictated or guaranteed, that Generation will drift away into another realm of exploration.

I don't really think this a bad. It's just who we are. We've always been this way. At least we're consistent.

This is why I believe the Mercy of God is needed for all time. Children born into a certain era didn’t have one ounce of say in the matter; no choice. If you or I were born in the Dark Ages, tough. If you were born during the time of a great uprising to feel and seek God, count your blessing. Either way, the season which a man or woman is born is not left up to them. Poor, rich, blind, powerful, or powerless, life is unfair in the material and physical circumstances that we will inherit when we take our first breath.

Much of this fall or change has to do with Spiritual Pride. We make bold claims and deride past peoples who didn’t stand a chance, leaving them for the pit of Hell. Our arrogance strangles the life out of us, and so, the Church becomes a dry and empty place because Mercy has abated into nothing but a word. Our attempts at Faith reach into a void where the well no longer satisfies and people feel it’s time to move on. No sense in trying to squeeze blood out of a turnip.

Sometimes we just have to hang on for the ride! Stop trying so hard.