by Mary Wakefield Buxton –
URBANNA —
The Rev. Leonard Edloe’s recent good pastor’s column asked a question that deserves honest thought. According to Gallup polls, the number of members of Christian churches plummeted from 70 percent in 1999 to 50 percent in 2018, and on down to 47 percent in 2020, the first time in Gallup’s polling history that fewer than half of Americans belonged to a house of worship. Why is Christian church membership dwindling in the United States?
The following are possible reasons. Is it because times and values are changing and that Christianity is no longer seen as providing viable answers to what concerns people? Or is it simply COVID-19 that shut down attendance for fear of spreading a dangerous and contagious disease?
Is it because Christian churches have moved into the once taboo area of politics? In a nation that has always professed belief in separation of the church and state, have too many preachers crossed the line using the pulpit to sell Caesar’s agenda?
Was it a turn-off when Vice President Kamala Harris sent video appeals throughout churches in Virginia before our last election to ask members to vote for her choice of candidates?
Or is it that fewer people believe biblical stories anymore beyond figurative interpretation? Have Darwin’s theory of evolution and other scientific theories that explain the creation of the universes and development of life taught today in Science classes spelled the end to belief in what once was accepted as truth?
Has religion lost its appeal because people have seen the obvious hypocrisy from many who have claimed to be Christians? For example, the world-wide scandals within the church of abuse of children?
Have gender and sexual issues created such uncomfortable feelings that former members of congregations choose to stay home from church? Do people no longer believe in life after death beyond concepts of genetic, chemical or natural transformation of matter?” Is there no longer a belief in heaven or hell so dramatically described in many forms of magnificent art and literature as in Milton’s Paradise or Dante’s Inferno?”
Is it that we live in a world today where both parents probably work and when Sunday rolls around parents are simply too tired to round up the children and head for church?
Or is it that those who believe in God have experienced a changing definition of the nature of God and how to pay homage to Him? Or perhaps, people no longer believe that God will help us but — but maybe government will?
I was raised in a non-religious family, but I followed my sister Alice to Sunday school and church at First Congregational Church of Vermilion, Ohio. I married an Episcopalian and my children were raised in that church.
I grew fond of Episcopalian priests, especially the brilliant theologian Bishop Spong but have admired many clergy from all faiths: John Boddie, Scott Krejci who buried my father, Paul Andersen, John Upton, Chauncey Mann, Sherman Holmes, Don Reid — the list is long. We are very fortunate in Middlesex County to have so much inspirational Christian leadership.
I’m concerned about our society’s loss of traditional values such as respect for matrimony, life of the unborn and the rise of crime, drug use, poverty and homelessness. All of which has led to the breakdown of the family so devastating to children.
Is the drop of church membership correlated to these negative trends?
I have also noticed in my lifetime we have evolved into a “me, myself and I” society. One wonders if we care much about others anymore?
Here’s a test question to pose to history classes at Middlesex High School and Christchurch School:
“Would you risk your life on the beaches of Normandy and scale the cliffs against rampant Nazi machine gunfire like the ‘Greatest Generation’ did in order to free Europe from Nazi control?” Or have we become so involved with ourselves that Americans will no longer sacrifice themselves to come to the aid of others?
The late Rev. John Boddie described his feelings of God as “inkling” from within. But does church attendance in today’s society grow such beautiful sensation or … douse the flame?
Inklings are highly individualized. Like each writer has different messages and each artist paints different interpretations of the world — so is an individual’s inkling of God.
Government, church, society all attempt to conform individuals. It’s my view human beings will not and cannot be conformed. Especially in inklings of God.
The Rev. Edloe has posed the question of our times. Perhaps others will add to the discussion? (Please remember the rule for public discourse with which Methodists have provided civilization: we do not insult those with different opinions but agree to disagree agreeably.)
I hope Christianity can survive as I can’t imagine civilization surviving without these words: Love your neighbor and forgive others as we hope others will forgive us.
© 2021.
