Church is the Answer

So what do we risk by not going to church?

(Read Joel J. Miller’s blog post, “Christianity: Use Only As Directed.” In it he warns that this sort of “diluted” faith we’ve been practicing lately is going to be the end of us.)

Abortion is available and is a socially acceptable option. Because of this, a large number of children aren’t even born. Of the ones that are born, 40% are to unwed mothers, a statistic that should be shocking but just isn’t because why marriage, right? Big deal? Not. Except that it is. In 1980, less than 20% of children were born to unwed mothers. The children that are born from a married mom and dad are more than likely to only have one sibling, if they are lucky, and both mom and dad work. So, good-bye big crazy families and traditional households.  In addition, only 10% of students in the U.S. go to private school, and here’s the kicker: less than 20% of Americans today attend church regularly.

I personally believe that last statistic is the key to all the rest, and then some.

These statistics matter because the positive connection between religion and several measures of personal and community well-being are proven and affirmed by social scientists. The one exception is the “Bible Belt,” the deepest South. In this part of the country there are individuals, families, and communities that still struggle mightily with poverty, poor health, political corruption, and social disarray, despite the region’s reputation for being the most thoroughly Christian. What the scientists discovered was that “the social goods associated with faith flow almost exclusively from religious participation, not from affiliation or nominal belief.” (Ross Douthat, the New York Times)  

The social goods associated with faith flow almost exclusively from religious participation, not from affiliation or nominal belief.

Our job is to increase the social goods. Lord knows we need them before our “ship” is sunk by the rising social “bads.” You don’t need me to list the social bads here. You know what they are.

How do we not become discouraged? How do we make a change? In light of the information I have shared here, I do believe it is absolutely possible for our children and their children to be economically mobile, to experience good health, to elect virtuous leaders, and to create thriving communities occupied by people who are spiritually and relationally sound and therefore content.

I believe there can be girls who don’t feel abortion is their only option. There can be children born into the world we make for them, instead of not born. There can be families again, moms and dads again. There can be large families so children learn to sacrifice and serve others. There can be children learning about God in Christian schools. There can be church again.

I think Derek Rishmawy at Reformedish says it best. He writes, “Much in the same way that we can’t force ourselves to fall asleep but can only adopt postures that welcome it, so in the same way, we cannot force God to attend to us… And yet, and yet, we can adopt practices and postures in prayer, Scripture, and corporate worship… that indicate a welcome, an openness to the Spirit of God at work in our lives.” (‘Catching Sleep’ & Catching the Spirit, Reformedish)

We’d better. It’s the only thing that will save us.