Rise of the "Nones"

You may have seen recent news articles showing that the population is becoming more secular and is moving away from organized religion - specifically Christianity.   In many cases, people are starting to put their faith into science or various other beliefs.  

This is supported by research performed by the Pew Research Center.   In their research, the fastest growing "religious" group in America is now those who have no religious affiliation whatsoever.   The Pew Center shows an 8% decline since 2007 in the number of people who describe themselves as Christians - from 78.4% to 70.6% and almost 4% of this decline is from mainline Protestant denominations such as the United Methodist Church.   Almost 25% of Americans no longer associate with any religious denomination.

More interesting facts on the "Nones."

• Number of "Nones" has jumped from 8% in 1990 to 23% in 2014.
• There are more than four former Christians for every convert to Christianity.
• The bulk of the "Nones" don't commit to any view on God.   Instead, they believe "nothing in particular."
• Among Millennials (those born between 1981 and 1996), "Nones" now comprise 36% of that population.
• Combined, there are more "Nones" than Lutherans, Methodists, and Episcopalians combined.
• "Nones" now outnumber both Protestant and Catholic groups.
• One-third of "Nones" now say they do NOT believe in God.
• 62% of religious "Nones" now say they seldom or never pray, a 6 point increase since 2007.
• 60% of the "Nones" say they have a deep connection with nature and the earth.
• 30% believe in spiritual energy in physical objects.
• 30% have felt "in touch" with someone who is dead.
• 25% believe in astrology and reincarnation.
• 15% have consulted a psychic.

More and more we are living in an increasingly secular and - to some degree - antagonistic culture towards any form of "organized" religion.

Why do you think this is?   Why is there a push back against God and Jesus?   

I think it has to alot to do with the church and Christians not reflecting the true love of Christ.  In John 13:34-35, Jesus tells us: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.   By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."    Can we honestly say that our behavior is a loving behavior or is it one that is more judgmental?    Can we say that we have made God better known over the past 200 years by our love or by our judgement?

Now, I am not going to drop this particular posting into a discussion about judging (that will be a discussion for another day because I feel that Matthew 7:1-2 is one of the most quoted out of context of late), but I do think that Christians have lost focus as to what God/Jesus' love is and looks like and for that we frankly have no excuse.  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 states: "Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things."    This, to me, is a pretty clear definition of love.   

Now a days, I have seen multiple Christians be anything but patient and kind in their language towards others who they perceive the be living a sinful lifestyle.   Further, many times they actions are unbecoming and are anything but loving.   In fact, many Christians today have a strong tendency to ignore the sin in their own lives (you know - the log we are supposed to remove from our own eye) while we are busy condemning others for their actions.  Is this really the example that Jesus set for us?  Take the Samaritan woman at the well from John 4 - did Jesus attack her sin with the same energy many Christians attack sins in others today or did he instead speak to her with kindness and love?   Further, take the woman who was caught in the very act of adultery (John 8).   Did Jesus condemn/judge her actions or did he demonstrate love and forgiveness?   If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit in both cases that Jesus demonstrated love and kindness in both cases.   Which approach do you think does more to grow God's Kingdom?   The path the christian church has largely been following or the examples Jesus has provided us?     I think in every case, demonstrating love and compassion will do more to win others to Christ.

Additionally, I think today's christian's have become very similar to the pharisee's and Sadducee's described in the bible.   In many cases, we have all gotten so wrapped up in our dogma or theology that we think we know God - when we really don't.   We have lost the notion that getting wrapped up in dogma/theology helps us know about God but it doesn't do as much for us to actually know God.   We let the dogma/theology get in the way of our experience.   In doing so, we limit God to what we know and understand and miss out on the experience that is God's goodness of eternal life that is now at hand.  In learning about God we have missed the point and haven't gotten to know God.

In learning and knowing about God, we tend to loose site of who God is and who we are in Him.   We tend to start listening to the lies that we need something else to make us whole.   That we will never measure up to God's standard.   That the love of the world is the same love that God/Jesus taught.   We become anxious and afraid and start to try and hide things from God.   In fact, I would be willing to bet that many of us have come to accept Christ, not so much out of love for Jesus, but more to avoid his punishment.   That Jesus was sent to rescue us from God's wrath.   

This doesn't make sense as in John 14:7, Jesus tells us: "If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him."   How can we have seen God and Jesus?   The two - while distinct - are one.   Why would He need to save you from Himself? Are children drawn close to a Father/God from whose wrath they must be saved?  Or are they drawn to a Father/God that loves them and has rivers of mercy and love for them - even if they were the only person on the planet.

At the root of all of the above thoughts and lies the world throws at us is fear.   We are afraid of not measuring up to God's standards we are afraid of disappointing God; we are afraid of going to Hell; we are afraid of dying; we are afraid of being punished by God; we are afraid that if we don't stand up for God and His standard that no one else will (as if God needs our defense).   

However, there is no fear in love.   1 John 4;18 echos this.   "There is no fear in love; but perfect fear casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears has not been perfected in love."    As we stop knowing about God and grow in our personal relationship with God, we also grow in His love.  In doing so, you will begin to fear less and less and will find that you cannot truly love God and fear Him at the same time.   

Think about this for a minute.   Jesus doesn't manipulate us to love him so that He can save us from Him condemning us to an eternity in Hell.  That sort of love isn't good at all and results in shame and judgement (much of what many Christians exude today).   Perhaps, this lie is one of many that has helped create the portion of the population that now identify as "Nones.

What are we to do?   

First, I think we need to determine who we are in Christ and recognize that God loves ALL of us - believers and non-believers alike.  We need to remember there is nothing that we have done nor can do that will result in our salvation.  That we are saved by what He (Jesus) has done, not by what we have or haven't done.   We have to let go of our fear and move forward and be examples of the love of Jesus.   That we are all remade in the likeness and glory of our Father, finite, yet complete in union with Jesus (Yeshua) - you in Him and He in you, risen with Him and seated in heavenly places.   That nothing can separate us from His love.   That when God was laying the foundations of the earth and this universe, we all existed in the mind of God as a thought.   God's thoughts are as real as any physical manifestation.  That God has always known and loved each one of us!   Be thankful and humbled for the gift He alone has provided us to be complete in Him.  

We need to get to know God at a personal level.   To do that, we have to not only study His word and learn more about His teachings, but we must also talk to him regularly.  We must continue to let go of our fear of disappointing God.   How can we disappoint God when He already knows us so completely.   That God is truly like a loving parent.   Are they disappointed when a child who is learning to walk falls down or can't dress themselves?   Of course not!  Like our earthly parents, God will lift us up, brush us off, and show us a better way.   We just have to be willing to listen and let go of our fear/pride/ego/self to hear what He has to say.   The more time we spend with God, the more we will be reflections of and examples of His love to the world.    Think about how Moses shown with the glory of the Lord after spending time on the Mount Sinai with God.  

If we can start to be humble, patient, kind and reflect the love called for in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, then I think the world views on Christianity will slowly turn around.