The Country's Recession and a Great Awakening

The Associated Press released an article today (by Rachel Zoll) stating that the country's financial woes are not only affecting private religious schools and religious congregations across the country, but they are changing the religious face of the country altogether. Referencing the popular topic of "the declining church," it begins with the following opening lines:

"Organized religion was already in trouble before the fall of 2008. Denominations were stagnating or shrinking, and congregations across faith groups were fretting about their finances. The Great Recession made things worse."

To be clear, all things in the article are not one-in-the-same.

• Religious schools are not churches (one's success/failure does not dictate the outcome of the other; not to mention they both serve different purposes).
  
• All congregations are not the same (the article discusses religions and Christian denominations as if they are all the same).
  
• People relocating to another area (and thus another church) is not the same as leaving the faith altogether.
• Churches are not programs/ministries
  
• Churches are not extra church/para church organizations (seminaries/schools, Mission organizations, etc. are not the church - they serve the church, but are never ever to be the church)

Is this is this being nit-picky? Isn't this already obvious? No - at least to the author of the article it's not. Church (that being the institution created by Christ, Himself) is not about money or business... even without a building, new programs or fancy sign outside of the building, the church and its purpose still exist. Declining finances does not equal a bankrupt faith. Not only that, but the real "business" of the church is actually MULTIPLYING! Leading people to God is the real business of the church, not exciting programs or ministries.

Rachel Zoll makes an ever-so brief mention of this toward the end of her article (in addition to the money portions where she states that in some communities, giving has gone up) about the real business of the church, but also sells short the movement of God:

"Clergy in different communities say worship attendance has increased with people seeking comfort through difficult times, although no one is predicting a nationwide religious revival."

Why not anticipate a religious revival? Or better yet - an Awakening in a dying and apathetic country so consumed within itself that it has lost its direction.

What the church is seeing now is people who thought they had no need of God because they had nice houses, two cars (or more) per family, a full refrigerator, investments, 401k's, expensive coffees and plenty of credit to spare are watching their lives slip away with the sand.

People are returning to churches and God because they realize now that even with all their plans there are elements outside of their control and only God is infinite and sure. Only God is faithful from beginning to end. God is the only solid foundation that can never be stripped from people. Realizing this, people are returning to Him.

Want to read more about the peril or hard heartedness of financial "security"? Or about the joy of true security in the One True God? Checkout these passages:

"You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. ¹⁸ So I advise you to buy gold from me—gold that has been purified by fire. Then you will be rich. Also buy white garments from me so you will not be shamed by your nakedness, and ointment for your eyes so you will be able to see."
(Revelation 3:17-18)

"“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law."
(Matthew 7:24-29)

Because of our sense of security in being able to do things ourselves without help (saying "look what I did!"): "Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
(Matthew 19:23-24)

For those who are True Followers of Christ, we have this promise: "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:38-39)

Even in the midst of suffering, loss, doubt, hurt, or uncertainty the Bible tells us there is great hope and comfort in Him who never fails us. Even if the worst should happen, there is great peace in knowing that no one (not even death itself) could strip us away from God!

If you have questions about how to be a follower of Christ - about sin, forgiveness, real love, mercy, second chances and all the amazing things God is - feel free to comment or email me at christianthechristian.c2@gmail.com.

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