My thinker and I are having some almost disagreement, or perhaps just good discernment. The thinker is digesting some new information, and I, namely me, is just being the person I am. New information gets scrutinized against everything else I believe or know. The new information? It was presented last evening at a public lecture at our city library, [i] a service provided to the public in cooperation with our university’s Chair of Christian Thought. Title of the lecture was “Church on Thin Ice,” based on a recent study of persons who no longer attend or participate in their longtime places of worship. Very clearly and even kindly the guest lecturer provided us with the results of why these people have excused themselves, ranging from new thoughts in personal faith journeys to several victimized by pastoral misconduct and then no avenue of accountability. In addition to the thin ice image, there was another; this one a bit startling, “Church on Fire.” The accompanying slide was not a hellfire pseudo picture, neither was it a global warming environmentalist type image, but surprisingly earthy, it was a large church engulfed in flames. Kind of disturbing, we were provided with statistics of similar fires in each province of Canada (research limited to the Canadian scene). Arson was the fire starter in each case.
It is the Q
and A following which now provided the nighttime thinking for me.
After the usual clarification type questions, there were several obviously from deep faith perspective. They challenged the speaker in her claim
that this was a sociological study, not theological. Said one of the responders
in a very animated tone, “this is very theological, in fact it is at the heart
of what church or faith is all about. Against all odds the church has lived on
and still is.” Nobody clapped at that particular point, but it was obvious that
this response was a winner, and likely most of the audience were in agreement. The presenter (also self identified as Christian) agreed this was a valid point. The evening ended
nonetheless like public lectures will – a hearty round of applause, lots of
exit door conversation, and then for me it was a thoughtful ride home on public
transit – time well spent.
A
presentation like this gives you pause, a
close-to-home familiar topic for everyone, well illustrated and well presented,
an excellent power point. According to this study no denomination is spared. Even
large assembly evangelical city churches are lagging in population. Mainline
churches are almost empty, colonialist loyalties no longer the go to for
millennial or gen x or z’ers. Historical churches like Mennonite, Christian
Reformed or Lutheran; they have the modernist – fundamentalist stretch in each
and every congregation. And in my neighborhood the United Church, Anglican or Catholic
faithful are out on Sunday morning walks or yardwork or children’s hockey games. This is
present reality confirming the public lecture just heard. And I realize
this is somewhat on theme of a number of my blogposts especially near end of
the pandemic (e.g. “Growing Faith Closing Churches,” Sept.28, 2021; “When a
Church Gets Trashed,” Aug 13, 2021; “Where have all the Churches Gone,” July 29,
2021).
So, with the
statistics and the societal trend telling a common story, my innermost
being continues to ponder. The subtitle of last night’s lecture adds some
additional tinder. Here is the full title. Church on Thin Ice: Lessons from the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in
Canada. My own protest is beginning to take shape. As per the theme in all of my blogging to date, and as I also see lowering church attendance and increasing confusion in the younger generation there are also lifestyle incongruities among us older folk. I keep thinking about the speech by the woman towards end of the Q and A at last night’s lecture. Statistics
really are only statistics, and faith communities (as well as politicians 😏) will always provide exceptions to
studies just completed. I can think of several exceptions also. An Old Colony Mennonite Church in rural Alberta, those apparently stuck in the old ways as far as modern ‘faith
management’ is concerned, this latest Pentecost they had a baptismal membership
class of 43! Also, a Roman Catholic Church just up the hill from our home here
in Calgary, parking lot full and sanctuary packed every Sunday for Mass as well as
midweek services!
I am reminded of a young lady some 2000 plus years ago, visited by an angel who announced to her that she would have a special baby, He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and Mary’s response was that of a normal bright young teenager, ‘How can this be, since I am a virgin?’ And the angel says to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God.’ (Luke 1:32-35) – kind of an ‘over message’ to a young lady who lived among people whose main wish was to get out from under Roman authority. God's message to her was about that ... and much more!
The Christian faith – and even other faiths – are not borne up by politics whether democracy or dictatorships, not by opportunism or statistical studies, nor even by consultants and the reports they might produce to determine the future. Rather, politicians, studies and consultants may be engaged only if accompanied by prayers (see Romans 12 and 13). Faith is a conviction of things not seen (see Hebrews 11). The carrier of this faith, as presented in the Bible, is Mary’s son Jesus the one predicted centuries before. The Messiah would not be a new hero. No, he would become the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6), not by his charm or charisma or even his winning ways, but by totally giving himself for all of us. The invitation to follow Him will continue through Epiphany, through Lent, the Passion and Resurrection and Ascension, and indeed Pentecost! The Savior will keep on keeping on even after the birth (Christmas Day) has been celebrated!
Statistics
and studies are depictions of the present life we are living, not invitations to faith,
although the information may be helpful and may be used of God to discover (rediscover?) the faith walk. The invitation to faith comes in many and variegated ways. The bad
news for today's churches on thin ice may be momentarily comforting because looking around us almost
everybody is in same boat (hmm, if the ice breaks a boat may be handy)! My inner being, however, takes greatest comfort in knowing a God who is eternal, everlasting, regardless of churches or institutions that come and go. Institutions may be deconstructed, but God,
Creator, Allah, will not be!
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God (Psalm 90:2).
[i] Angela Reitsma Bick at Calgary Public Library, University of Calgary Chair of Christian Thought Iwaasa Lecture on Urban Theology: “Church on Thin Ice: Lessons from the Quiet Deconstruction of Faith in Canada,” December 11, 2024.
