I read an interesting article in the Atlantic Monthly magazine about the changing landscape of religion in America. The article began in the following way, “Take a drive down Main Street of just about any major city in the country, and-with the housing market ground to a halt-you might pass more churches for sale than homes.” The author later said, “30 percent of congregations are not likely to survive the next 20 years.” The author wasn’t totally pessimistic. He claimed that many of the faithful are joining on-line faith communities and not showing up in a church building on Sunday morning. The article made me curious about the state of religion generally speaking in America. One research center said that 3.1% of the American population are atheists and that 2% of our population are basically agnostics, not knowing whether they believe in God or not.
If one were to survey our world over the last two or three years there is certainly no shortage of epidemics, COVID, shortages, disasters and general crisis of one type or another. If one stops at that point there is no shortage of reasons for despair. Is that the end of the story?Â
Where does a Biblical follower of Christ turn? I apologize if you have heard me say this before. But I believe it bears repeating. Until we die and go to heaven or the Second Coming of Christ happens we will continue to lean on three things.
God’s Word
Holy Spirit
Biblical Community (church family)
It says in Lamentations 3:21-23, “Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Have you lost hope? Have you become cynical and pessimistic? What have you placed your hope in? The writer of Lamentations reminds us we can find continual new outpourings of God’s Presence every day. Every thing in this world grows old, wears out and goes into a state of decay and disrepair. Yet here is no end to the continual supply of fresh new outpourings of the Presence, comfort and counsel of the Holy Spirit. If we take the time to “rest” in His Presence the Holy Spirit will meet us. God’s Word is our daily spiritual food. Be in your Bible everyday.  If you aren’t in a small group every week you are missing Biblical community. Christians need to be with other Christians to grow and stay encouraged. Our world will grow more troubled and turbulent as we get closer the the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. I believe Christians will face persecution. The Word, the Spirit and Biblical community will sustain us. I believe the Body of Christ will grow and thrive in these times we live in. People in despair will look for answers. With a winsome smile let’s be ready to point people to Jesus.
God Bless You
Pastor Drew
