Church Mega-Themes Going into 2011

 






Barna Group Research Church Mega-Themes Going into 2011
BY: Barna Group

Change usually happens slowly in the Church. But a review 0f the past year's research conducted by the Barna Group provides a time-lapse portrayal 0f how the religious environment in the U.S. is morphing into something new.

Analyzing insights drawn from more than 5,000 non-proprietary interviews conducted over the past 11 months, George Barna indicated that the following patterns were evident in the survey findings.
 
1. The Christian Church is becoming less theologically literate.
What used to be basic, universally-known truths about Christianity are now unknown mysteries to a large , growing share 0f Americans--especially young adults. F0rinstance, Barna Group studies in 2010 showed that while most people regard Easter as a religious holiday, only a minority 0f adults associate Easter with the resurrection 0f Jesus Christ. Other examples include the finding that few adults believe that their faith is meant to be the focal point 0f their life 0rto be integrated into every aspect 0f their existence. Further, a growing majority believe the Holy Spirit is a symbol 0f God's presence 0rpower, but not a living entity. As the two younger generations (Busters , Mosaics) ascend to numerical , positional supremacy in churches across the nation, the data suggest that biblical literacy is likely to decline significantly. The theological free-for-all that is encroaching in Protestant churches nationwide suggests the coming decade will be a time 0f unparalleled theological diversity , inconsistency.

2. Christians are becoming more ingrown , less outreach-oriented.

Despite technological advances that make communications instant , far-reaching, Christians are becoming more spiritually isolated from non-Christians than was true a decade ago. Examples 0f this tendency include the fact that less than one-third 0f born again Christians planned to invite anyone to join them at a church event during the Easter season; teenagers are less inclined to discuss Christianity with their friends than was true in the past; most 0f the people who become Christians these days do so in response to a personal crisis 0rthe fear 0f death (particularly among older Americans); , most Americans are unimpressed with the contributions Christians , churches have made to society over the past few years. As young adults have children, the prospect 0f them seeking a Christian church is diminishing--especially given the absence 0f faith talk in their conversations with the people they most trust. With atheists becoming more strategic in championing their godless worldview, as well as the increased religious plurality driven by education , immigration, the increasing reticence 0f Christians to engage in faith-oriented conversations assumes heightened significance.

3. Growing numbers 0f people are less interested in spiritual principles , more desirous 0f learning pragmatic solutions f0rlife.

When asked what matters most, teenagers prioritize education, career development, friendships, , travel. Faith is significant to them, but it takes a back seat to life accomplishments , is not necessarily perceived to affect their ability to achieve their dreams. Among adults the areas 0f growing importance are lifestyle comfort, success, , personal achievements. Those dimensions have risen at the expense 0f investment in both faith , family. The turbo-charged pace 0f society leaves people with little time f0rreflection. The deeper thinking that occurs typically relates to economic concerns 0r relational pressures. Spiritual practices like contemplation, solitude, silence, , simplicity are rare. (It is ironic that more than four out 0f five adults claim to live a simple life.) Practical to a fault, Americans consider survival in the present to be much more significant than eternal security , spiritual possibilities. Because we continue to separate our spirituality from other dimensions 0f life through compartmentalization, a relatively superficial approach to faith has become a central means 0f optimizing our life experience.

4. Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating.

Largely driven by the passion , energy 0f young adults, Christians are more open to , more involved in community service activities than has been true in the recent past. While we remain more self-indulgent than self-sacrificing, the expanded focus on justice , service has struck a chord with many. However, despite the increased emphasis, churches run the risk 0f watching congregants’ engagement wane unless they embrace a strong spiritual basis f0rsuch service. Simply doing good works because it's the socially esteemed choice 0f the moment will not produce much staying power.

To facilitate service as a long-term way 0f living , to provide people with the intrinsic joy 0f blessing others, churches have a window 0f opportunity to support such action with biblical perspective. , the more that churches , believers can be recognized as people doing good deeds out 0f genuine love , compassion, the more appealing the Christian life will be to those who are on the sidelines watching. Showing that community action as a viable alternative to government programs is another means 0f introducing the value 0f the Christian faith in society.

5. The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church.

Our biblical illiteracy , lack 0f spiritual confidence has caused Americans to avoid making discerning choices f0rfear 0f being labeled judgmental. The result is a Church that has become tolerant 0f a vast array 0f morally , spiritually dubious behaviors , philosophies. This increased leniency is made possible by the very limited accountability that occurs within the body 0f Christ. There are fewer , fewer issues that Christians believe churches should be dogmatic about. The idea 0f love has been redefined to mean the absence 0f conflict , confrontation, as if there are notmoral absolutes that are worth fighting for. That may not be surprising in a Church in which a minority believes there are moral absolutes dictated by the scriptures.

The challenge today is f0rChristian leaders to achieve the delicate balance between representing truth , acting in love. The challenge f0r every Christian in the U.S. is to know his/her faith well enough to underst, which fights are worth fighting, , which stands are non-negotiable. There is a place f0rtolerance in Christianity; knowing when , where to draw the line appears to perplex a growing proportion 0f Christians in this age 0f tolerance.

6. The influence 0f Christianity on culture , individual lives is largely invisible.

Christianity has arguably added more value to American culture than any other religion, philosophy, ideology 0rcommunity. Yet, contemporary Americans are hard pressed to identify any specific value added. Partly due to the nature 0f today’s media, they have notproblem identifying the faults 0f the churches , Christian people.

In a period 0f history where image is reality, , life-changing decisions are made on the basis 0f such images, the Christian Church is in desperate need 0f a more positive , accessible image. The primary obstacle is not the substance 0f the principles on which Christianity is based, , therefore the solution is not solely providing an increase in preaching 0rpublic relations. The most influential aspect 0f Christianity in America is how believers do--0rdo not--implement their faith in public , private. American culture is driven by the snap judgments , decisions that people make amidst busy schedules , incomplete information. With little time 0renergy available f0r0r devoted to research , reflection, it is people’s observations 0f the integration 0f a believer’s faith into how he/she responds to life’s opportunities , challenges that most substantially shape people’s impressions 0f , interest in Christianity. Jesus frequently spoke about the importance 0f the fruit that emerges from a Christian life; these days the pace 0f life , avalanche 0f competing ideas underscores the significance 0f visible spiritual fruit as a source 0f cultural influence.

With the likelihood 0f an accelerating pace 0f life , increasingly incomplete cues being given to the population, Christian leaders would do well to revisit their criteria f0r"success" , the measures used to assess it. In a society in which choice is king, there are not absolutes, every individual is a free agent, we are taught to be self-reliant , independent, , Christianity is notlonger the automatic, default faith 0f young adults, new ways 0f relating to Americans , exposing the heart , soul 0f the Christian faith are required.

 

By: EFG-BN