Posted March 6, 2008
According to a recent feature article in USA Today, "The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey released today by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, documents new peaks, deepening valleys and fast-running rivers of change in American religion" (February 26).
Several major things have been happening. Prominent churches including Roman Catholic, Baptist, Methodist and Lutheran denominations show moderate declines. Yet Christianity still dominates the religious scene in the United States with nearly 80% of the adult population indicating a religious affiliation.
Clearly, "The major Christian denominations are losing numbers fast. Only non-denominational Christian churches showed growth , outpacing losses . Two in three people who say they grew up as a Jehovah's Witness have left the faith. Any one of 10 people you meet is a former Catholic" (ibid, emphasis added throughout).
Two days later the lead editorial in USA Today stated in summary: "44% of adults [in America] have either switched or dropped religious affiliation altogether" (February 28).
Observers of religious trends make much of the faculty of choice in choosing a church. One source said, "In religion as in coffee, choice is a critical ingredient." Yet the same source stated with some comfort, "There is something disquieting about shopping for religion the way one would pick among lattes at [one of the major coffee house chains]."
Still, whether to attend church, and which one, are among the most important decisions one can make in this life. The number of churches to choose from has never been greater. A dizzying supermarket of "brands" awaits the potential churchgoer.
A good question is: What do people look for in a place of worship? Noted pollster George Barna has identified three important factors: beliefs and doctrines; mutual comfort and care; the quality of the sermon. In a broad sense, all three find considerable support in the ScripturesThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). themselves.
To sum up the overall importance of beliefs and doctrines, the Church is prophetically described as a group of people " who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ" (RevelationThe disclosure of God's Word and plan to mankind. In the Bible this refers to making obscure things clear; bringing hidden matters to light; causing especially called individuals to see, hear, perceive, know and understand the things of God; the unveiling of biblical mysteries (Romans 16:25). 12:17). Barna's second point is also very important in terms of proper Christian fellowship. The apostle Paul urged Corinthian members to "have the same care one for another" (1 Corinthians 12:25).
The quality of the sermon (the third point) is also supremely important. Church members have a right to expect certain basic qualities from the leadership of church elders. Perhaps first and foremost is loyalty to the Judaeo/Christian BibleThe books (Greek, "biblia" ) that are acknowledged as canonical (authoritative) by the early Christian Church. It includes both the books of the ancient Hebrew prophets and those of the apostolic witnesses to Jesus Christ., including the teachings and practices of Jesus Christ that He taught the apostles—summed up in ScriptureThe divinely inspired writings of both the Old and New Testaments. The term Scripture is used in the New Testament to refer to both the Hebrew Bible (Luke 24:44-45) and the new apostolic writings accepted as inspired (2 Peter 3:16; 1 Timothy 5:18). as "the apostles' doctrine and fellowship" (Acts 2:42).
In his preaching, each elder must be "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
Of course, there is a great deal more to consider in choosing a church. It is a big subject, well worth studying in much greater detail. That is why the United Church of God has published two extensively researched booklets that explain the biblical standard for measuring a church and its core message.
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