A Challenge and an Opportunity

Chances are you heard about the survey that was recently released concerning religion in America. Among the study's more shocking findings is that the percentage of people in the United States who claim to have no religion at all has nearly doubled in the past twenty years. Currently 15% of all Americans say they have no religion.

Reverend Kendall Harmon, a theologian for the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina, says a couple once walked into his office carrying a yellow pad full of questions their teenage son had provided. Among them: "What is that guy doing hanging up there on the plus sign?"

So often Christian churches make the assumption that nearly everyone in our communities are already Christians, and that our mission is simply to "remind" people about what they already know and believe. But as this study shows us, the challenge in front of us is much greater than that. The challenge is that we live in a nation where an ever-increasing number of people have no knowledge of the Bible and no understanding of the Christian faith.

That, however, also presents the church with an opportunity - an opportunity to be involved in mission work right in our own neighborhoods. Who do you know that doesn't have an active, vibrant relationship with Jesus? Who do you know that doesn't have a meaningful involvement with a church? Is there some family member, friend, neighbor, or co-worker that you know that you could be reaching out to?

It's true: not everyone you invite to come with you to worship is going to accept that invitation. But there are people out there who will accept that invitation, but they're not going to until that invitation is extended to them. Pray for the people you know who don't currently have a meaningful life of faith. And pray for yourself that God might work through you to invite and welcome those people into a relationship with Jesus and with his church.

Ed Bowen