A United Church in a Divided Culture

“And the world will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”  (John 13:34,35)

     On the one hand, the news is not good- mainline denominations (Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Congregationalist, Baptist) have been for the most part in decline since the 1960s.  Real numbers are not keeping up with the population, but are declining as a percentage of the population.  Denominational structures and institutions have lost trust, lost budget, and are floundering with little direction. 
     However, the Church is not lost.  European churches have lost their influence and attendance since the 1960s.  In the meantime, some countries have had explosive Christian growth- in the Republic of China, in South Korea.  In Africa in 1900 there were only 8.7 million Christians.  Now there are over 390 million there.  In terms of absolute number growth, Christianity is the fastest growing religion with roughly a third of the population of the world claiming Christianity.  The growth of Christianity is 1.32% compared to 1.43% for Islam and 1.69% for Hinduism.  Most of the growth among Muslims and Hindus is by population growth whereas Christian growth is primarily by conversion (9.92% of Christian growth is by conversion compared to Islam’s 3.83% of conversion growth) [Wikipedia “Christian Population Growth”).  The fastest growing segment of religion in the world is Pentecostal Christianity with 2.4% growth. 
      What are some denominations doing well while others are not doing well?  In one short answer it would be: believe.  We cannot organize ourselves into heaven, but many churches have been stuck in the idea that with more activity and more committees (sprinkled with a little worship and religious words) we will somehow get people to have a deep abiding faith.  The Church has something to say that no one else can say (to quote my seminary professor, John Leith).  When we forget what makes us different, what really makes the church different from a civic or fellowship club, then we have lost ourselves.  We need to remember that we do not define ourselves, make ourselves, organize ourselves, but we are dependent on God.  If we do not believe that, we are playing a game- a game that we will by definition- lose. 
     In a world that is sharply divided politically, and culturally, the Church as a whole is failing to live up to its ultimate task to love God and love neighbor.  In doing so, it is alienating itself from the ultimate source of power- God’s grace that shapes and unites us.