Religious
Activity
Barna's research confirms that millions
of unchurched people are spiritually active. For instance, one out of every five reads the Bible in a typical week; six out of ten pray
to God each week; and during the past year 5% have shared
their faith in Jesus Christ with people who are not professing
Christians. In fact, nearly one million unchurched adults tithe
their income – that is, donate at least 10% of their annual household revenue to non-profit entities. While these tithers
are not giving their money to a church, they are giving to a variety
of parachurch ministries that serve people throughout the world.
During a typical month, six out of
ten unchurched adults worship God (but not via church services);
three out of ten study the Bible; and one out of every seven has
times of prayer and Bible reading with
family members. The religious media play a part in their spiritual
life, too, with four out of ten absorbing Christian content through
television, radio, magazines or faith-based websites during a typical month. In addition, one-quarter of them have conversations
with one or more friends who held them accountable for carrying out their faith principles.
These facts beg
the question: What in the world is happening to the Church that
Jesus promised He would build? The offered answers to this question
are myriad, with some missing the point wildly and others coming
frighteningly (to those who abhor change) close to a reality that
suggests that God cannot be contained within our structures, either
physical / material or spiritually conceived. The weakness of man's
understanding always has been the cognitive limit of his brain. We
can only comprehend so much. Each of us, regardless of IQ or amassed
wisdom is capable of going "thus far, and no farther" in our
understandings.
To move beyond
these intrinsic limits requires a knowledge-source beyond ourselves,
beyond human capability. "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have
entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for
those who love Him." But God has revealed them to us through His
Spirit" (1 Cor. 2:9,10).
These are days
in which many of God's elect, around the world, in metropolitan city
and in out of the way village are hearing what the Spirit is saying
to the Church and are coming out of institution for the sake of
institution and they are departing convention for the sake of
convention in favor of that which is born of the Spirit of God.
The reality
frightens many. Stakeholders in the Institution cry foul and rebuke
with fervent energy. Titles, positions, paychecks are at stake! Yet
through all the furor and frenzy, a church - The Church - is moving,
is in transition. She is both "coming out from among" and she is
"moving into" the position prepared for her by the heavenly
Bridegroom and Legal Owner of the Body He declared that He would
produce.
By His Grace,
Greg
