Mega Shift

There is a huge shift in Christianity in general and Christianity in the United States in specific.

I had the opportunity to spend a lot of time in Europe in the 1990’s.  As a wanna-be historian I loved having the opportunity to visit some of the historical sites, particularly the magnificent and numerous cathedrals.  As a Christian however I was heart broken to see that  these great cathedrals that were once filled with people now sit almost empty on Sundays.  Cathedrals in Europe serve primarily as tourist attractions as more people go through them sightseeing than actually attend any worship service.  In fact, today, few Europeans worship any deity and the overwhelming majority of Europeans do not believe in God.

Studies have shown that in Europe less than 7 percent of the population attends church. In major cities like Paris, London, Berlin and Amsterdam less than 1 percent of the population attend church.

Christianity has come to an end in Europe.  Is America a few generations behind? 

Trends in the United States

Here in the United States, it is easy to be deceived into thinking that somehow we aren’t seeing the same shift in beliefs.  However if we examine the critical data, we will find a number of things: 

• Christians are attending services less frequently. At one time the Catholics because of duty were attending mass three out of every four weeks but now report that they attend less than 40% of the time.  Researchers believe that overall only about 1 in 5 Americans or 20% of the general population are in church any given weekend.
  
  
• The Millennial generation, those born between 1980 and 2000, are now coming of age and are largely indifferent to Christianity.   They find spiritual matters to be largely irrelevant or anti-cultural.
   
• The growth of mega Churches continues as these churches provide more services and opportunities however much of the growth has come from previously baptized Christians.  Many current attendees of these churches have not fully committed to Christ as evident in the common conversions among regular attenders in Church classes and services.
   
• Non-denominationalism continues to grow throughout the country and in fact the nondenominational churches are often the few churches that are growing numerically as well.   

Fewer Christians

Despite some positive trends in our non-denominational and mega churches, based on the present trends the United States will have a diminishing number of Christians both in aggregate as well as a percentage of the population.   Many can argue that the decline in influence of Christianity in the United States has preceded the numerical decline.   Over the past 30 years we have seen prayers and Bibles taken out of schools, the Ten Commandments taken out of our public squares and recently the popular and accepted definition of marriage very quickly transformed.

I believe that it is the disunity of the church that has run rampant in America for the past 200 years with arguments and Church splits over race, nationality, worship and the role of women that has led to the present state of the Church.  Recently, rather than trying to embrace healing in the face of declines we have seen wholesale attacks on the entire Charismatic movement, one of the only growing branches of Christianity (Strange Fire Conference October 2013).

True Hope for Unity

Jesus prayed for our unity in John 17.  His prayer was that we not be divided but that we would be as one, "So that the world may believe".  

 “I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.  I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me. (John 17:21-23)

Christian unity is not an option but must be true in the Church. The Apostle Paul understood this well.  He wrote to the Philippians, “Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose," (Phil. 2:2). He wrote also to the Corinthians, “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. (1 Cor 1:10)”

The problem with disunity is not only that we are disobedient to the Word of God but we become less relevant in the world.    Who can blame the Millennial generation when they see the Church of Jesus Christ as irrelevant as well as weak, divided and split?

Persecution on the Rise 

One of the quickly growing outcomes of these trends is the rise of persecution.   If the powerful and wealthy founder and CEO Brendan Eich can be fired from Mozilla because of a small donation to Proposition 8 that was overwhelming popular in California in 2008 but considered “anti-gay” and “racist” in 2014, then it will not be long before your local pastor is also silenced in some similar fashion.

There is a lot of evidence for the persecution of Christians in the United States.  What was once true for Hollywood where Christian actors, producers and writers were often discriminated against has become true now for many in leadership or in public life that openly support historic and conservative Christian viewpoints. 

We are to be one Church because we have one gospel and one Lord Jesus Christ.    True Christian unity is not about a conformity of our worship or appearance but truly embracing the various cultural practices and non-essential differences as expressions of our diversity. 

Unity is not an option....not if we pay attention to the mega shift in Christianity in the United States. 

  

Educated beyond their own intelligence

The university I attended for business school had a very large and obviously popular Early Education Major for undergraduates and a popular MS program in Early Childhood Education as well.  

The philosophy of what some may call ‘modern’ or ‘progressive’ early childhood education was apparent to many of us.   Many of the Early Education Majors became fully indoctrinated into this philosophy and were convinced of some of these modern educational ideals.  For example they believed and taught that competition was harmful to child development, or that saying ‘no’ somehow wounded the little tyke’s spirit, and that all toys should all be ‘unisex’.

One of my friends that already had children remarked that some of these students and graduates had become ‘educated beyond their own intelligence’.  As a first-time dad a few years later I learned that there were indeed many competing philosophies in child rearing. Some worked, some did not.  Many were just the ‘new thing’ that typically had disappointing results.

Religion can often be similar.  First of all, Christianity isn’t supposed to be a religion but a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  However, there are a lot of opportunities for philosophy to become a guide in our spiritual practices and just like the disappointing results that can be consequences of bad child development philosophies, the same is true with many philosophies that are called Christian.

In Colossians 2:8 the Apostle Paul warned us, “Be careful that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit based on human tradition based on the elemental forces of the world, and not based on Christ.” (HCSB)

Notice that in the above warning Paul combines philosophy, deceit and human tradition.  The Apostle Paul was the one that told us that the truths of the Bible can only be ‘spiritual discerned’ (1 Cor. 2:14) so we have to be careful adding to what God starts off with His Holy Spirit and taking it to its illogical extreme.

One of the trends I’ve seen in the church today is that which has a theological term called, “antinomianism”.    The word antinomianism is combination of two Greek words, anti meaning ‘against’ and nomos meaning ‘law’ or Against Law or Lawlessness.

Because grace is such a major topic in the New Testament many struggle with the Christian’s obligation to adhere to moral law.  Antinomianism is found when the Biblical teaching of “Grace” is taken to an unbiblical extreme.  

In many ways antinomianism is the opposite of legalism.    While I abhor legalism in the Church and I am quick to quote that, “Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death” (Romans 8:2 HCSB), I also teach that Christ fulfilled the law --He did not do away with it.   

The great command that Jesus taught was to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command. The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

The Bible teaches that we to be good stewards of all that God has entrusted to us; we are to be truthful in all of our dealings; we are to be honest, we are not to lie, we are not to covet, we are to not murder.  Further, we are to forgive “as we have been forgiven” The Ten Commandments highlight these as well as other aspects of the moral code.  These are not just mere suggestions for Christians that are covered under God’s grace.

This can be confusing for many as indeed there are many Old Testament Laws that seem to be not applicable.  Many of these laws were ceremonial laws designed to point the nation of Israel to Christ or they were civil laws for the nation that were appropriate for the times.   Christianity’s focus is on the Kingdom of God.  While we live on this earth, both for our own sake as well as the sake of others, Christ taught us to live a life of integrity, virtue, and of love for our neighbor. 

While Jesus Christ accepts us into His Kingdom “just the way we are” he doesn’t expect us to stay there.   One of the ways of looking at this is that we trust fully in the finished work of Jesus Christ at Calvary as well as the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.

Becoming a Christian is as easy as accepting a free gift.  God’s gift of salvation is said to be to ‘everyone’ and ‘whosoever will’.    At the same time, Jesus continually challenged the Jewish people that knew the law to go beyond what was minimally required and live a life that was exemplary.

We have to be careful to make sure that our moral standards and objectives don’t become absolute moral imperatives, nor can we require that these moral imperatives are fully met before God's grace is extended.  That is legalism.   In the same way, we need to make sure that the grace that has been freely given doesn’t become a license for sin.   Christian maturity is the process that accepts the Grace and rejoices in being reconciled while at the same time understanding that this is the beginning of a journey that demonstrates that we become more and more like Jesus and less and less like our old self.

Almost Perfect

‘Mature’ is one of those words that has a lot of different meanings depending on the context.   For example, while teaching at Florida Atlantic University I was asked to speak to the “Mature Student Association” and found out that the university defined ‘mature’ as over twenty-five.

Here in Florida we have a number of ‘Mature Residential Communities’ that feature swimming pools, athletic facilities, gated entrances and people that are all 55+ years old.

Sometimes a television show will come on with a warning, “Recommended for mature audiences”.  This typically means it is a movie that the spiritual mature probably have learned to avoid.

In the Bible maturity is considering something altogether different.  It really has nothing to do with age.  The writer of the New Testament Epistle entitled “To The Hebrews” wrote:

"Therefore let us leave the elementary teachings about Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment," (Heb. 6:1-2).

What I find interesting about these elementary teachings is that for many of us they aren’t elementary at all but things that theologians and even entire denominations have argued about for years.    Historically we know that the early church that received this letter called “To the Hebrews” also had questions with regard to some of these doctrinal  issues.  This leads us to the conclusion that being spiritually mature is not about having doctrinal certainty.

However what I find even more interesting is this encouragement to go on to ‘maturity’.  This word in the original Greek is teleiotes, which can be better translated as ‘perfection’.  Here is another example of the same word, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect (teleiotes) it until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)

So we are being told to become---perfect!  Likely you don’t consider yourself perfect.   While we may not be perfect, we all need to grow.   One of the ways to look at this is to look at what happens when we don’t grow spiritually.  

Perhaps you can relate to these common characteristics of the spiritually immature:

1. The spiritually immature is focused on themselves rather than others.  We all can relate.  These people believe prayer is their connection to their own lottery; they ask God to get them out of trouble and fix the problems that they themselves have created.   When they select a church its all about the church meeting their needs.
   
   
   
   
2. The spiritually immature is trying to hold on to the ‘old self’.  As a pastor I often end up talking with people that are still struggling with the old self. In Galatians Chapter 5 it mentions some or these struggles, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like”
   
   
   
   
3. The spiritually immature compares and measures themselves according to people rather than Christ.  While the Apostle Paul was able to say, “I urge you to imitate me” (1 Cor 4) for most of us we need to encourage others to look to “Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith” (Heb. 12:2)

So, we may be able to spot the immature, but how do we go onto maturity, or better yet, “perfection”?  

Here are three nature steps:

1. Know God.  This includes the practice of prayer and worship and the knowledge of God’s Grace. 
   
2. Know His Word. The Bible says we need to study to be approved (2 Tim 2:5), and we are to keep God’s word in our heart (Psalm 119:11)
   
3. Know His Family.  We all need to be under some authority.  The same book of Hebrews says that we shouldn’t “forsake the assembling of yourselves (Hebrews 10:25), and then Acts 2:42 we see just how committed we can be: “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers".

I have found that just as it takes years for us to grow to adulthood the journey to spiritual maturity often takes years as well.   The Bible often refers to mature Christians as fruit.   Fruit, like people, only becomes reproductive when it ripens….it takes time. 

However, like fruit, we don’t want to get too ripe, perhaps you’ve met some Christians that have matured but are a little too ripe…..ripe fruit is rotten and stinks.

Memorial Day and Remembrance

My grandparents called Memorial Day Decoration Day.   Memorial Day dates back to 3 years after the Civil War (before their time) when the head of an organization of Union veterans established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.  It is believed that date of May 30th was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. 

Another interesting story of the origination of Memorial Day is that African Americans, all former slaves, founded Decoration Day at the graveyard of 257 Union soldiers labeled "Martyrs of the Race Course," a few years earlier in Charleston, SC. 

Regardless of the actual beginning for all Americans Memorial Day is a great day to remember those that have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.   This day is a holiday, a day of remembrance, a day to remember "lest we forget".

I remember the very first Men's Study that I participated included a book called “The 12 Stones” and was a study of the book of Joshua.  This is why it was called the "12 Stones" 

4 When all the people had crossed the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, 2 “Now choose twelve men, one from each tribe. 3 Tell them, ‘Take twelve stones from the very place where the priests are standing in the middle of the Jordan. Carry them out and pile them up at the place where you will camp tonight.’”4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had chosen—one from each of the tribes of Israel. 5 He told them, “Go into the middle of the Jordan, in front of the Ark of the LORD your God. Each of you must pick up one stone and carry it out on your shoulder—twelve stones in all, one for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. 6 We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 Then you can tell them, ‘They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the LORD’s Covenant went across.’ These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever.” (Joshua 4:4-7)

These stones that Joshua had been told to assemble were memorials.  It was a reminder to the people that God had done something amazing, that the Jordan River had been stopped for the 12 tribes of Israel to cross over. 

When our two kids were very young my wife bought a book written by Shirley Dobson and Gloria Gaither called, “Let’s make a memory”.   These two women encouraged young moms to be sure to make memories, create traditions for the family that the children would remember.  To this day (and my daughter recently confirmed) the kids remember going out to breakfast the first day of school and dad's famous ‘egg sausage souffle’ on Christmas morning.   

The great memories and traditions are like vacation souvenirs without the dust.

The Bible has more to say about making memories

Deuteronomy 4:9: "But take care and watch yourselves closely, so as neither to forget the things that your eyes have seen nor to let them slip from your mind all the days of our your life; make them known to your children and your children's children." 

I've had a little time to think about it and likely there are three really good reasons that we are reminded to remember..

1. Traditions, memories and memorials help us remember the past.   The significant milestones. including graduations, the birth of children, family vacations, holidays…all help us remember the blessings and good times.  Even the scars on our hands and knees, the previous wounds that have healed help remind us of faithfulness, our healing and restoration.  These all represent and remind us of both the good and the bad that make us who we are
2. Remembering keeps us grounded in the present.   One of the more common movie and TV plots are protraying people with amnesia.  It's always amusing to see all of the problems they get into.  Our remembering keeps us present.  We all have tasks to accomplish, friends and colleagues we interact with daily and much that needs to be accomplished.  We need to remember who we are and what we are called to do.
3. Remembering the past and being grounded in the present keeps us focused on our future.   All of us are headed towards eternity and keeping that in focus provides clarity and comfort in the present.    I remember my first trip to Europe,  I didn’t get to fly business class with my boss and his boss but I flew coach.  It was small plane but the trip passed quickly without much discomfort as I knew where I was going.    It needs to be the same for us with regard to eternity.  

Hebrews 12:1-3 summarizes this opportunity

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Just Ask!

All of us know that in today’s work environment and particularly in our larger organizations we need to delegate authority and responsibility.   Learning how to delegate, how to train and create environments where people that are close to the situation and close to the customer are the ones that are making decisions are critical factors in individual as well as organizational success.

While it can be difficult to cede authority to someone else, true delegation of authority happens when that transfer has happened and the supervisor is no longer micromanaging but has set parameters.  These parameters are more than just the goals and objectives but are the cultural bumpers that describe now only the ‘what’ but also the ‘how’ of things are to be accomplished.  

Leaders forget that when authority is truly delegated the final authority is delegated as well.  As an example, imagine a subordinate has been told they have the authority to schedule employees in their department.  However, when the schedule is about to be posted, the employees manager reviews the schedule and makes 11th hour changes.   In this case, the authority was never delegated and the employee is likely frustrated thinking he had been given the authority when actually he was only given another task.

Delegation is not abdication, and the manager is still accountable for the success of the organization.  How does the manager then provide leadership and maintain influence in those areas that have been delegated?

The answer is actually quite simple: “Just ask”.

One of the lessons we teach our children is to not just take things but to ask.   Being polite, asking rather than taking and using the word please are learned behaviors that we don’t want to unlearn when we become organizational leaders and managers.

Learning how to manage by asking questions rather than giving orders can be a huge win for both the manager as well as the organization.   People feel empowered and enjoy their jobs when they feel supported and coached rather than watched and micromanaged.

Remember that managers delegate not only to reduce their workload but also to develop leaders and future managers.   Leaders that have the appropriate authority to match their responsibility thrive and grow which benefits both the individuals as well as the organization.