COME, LET US LAMENT TOGETHER

The recent Pew Research study about the decline of Christianity has brought about much discussion within the Christian camp. What has saddened me is some of the discussion feels rather self-assured and, even more, rather pleased.

Many Christians often presume to draw the boundaries of God’s goodness and grace to determine who is in and who is out. Without fail we place ourselves smack in the middle of the “in” group. As though we are the poster children of what it means to be Christian. We speak, or almost brag, about our assurance of salvation.

This attitude lies just beneath the surface of a few articles and posts by Evangelical leaders. Their assumption is “real” Christians are not leaving the Church, but all the fake Christians are finally taking off. In their mind then, this is a cleansing or refining of the Church. Their take? Thanks be to God! Here are a few examples.

Or this tweet by JR Vassar this morning which reads, “Jesus' words about a narrow gate and a hard way and the few who find it make the @pewresearch study feel a little late to the party.”

As Russel Moore put it, “... the number of Americans who identify as Christians has reached an all-time low, and is falling. I think this is perhaps bad news for America, but it is good news for the church.”

These comments suggest it’s okay - even good - that people are leaving the Church, because they were never Christians anyway. It subtly foists the reason for their leaving fully on those who have left and washes the hands of those left in the Church as though we are in no way responsible for this. Which raises my first question, “Is it possible many people are leaving the Church because of the attitudes of the Christians who are not leaving?”

I wonder, where is the outcry for those who have left? Where is the sadness that hundreds of thousands have left a faith that, at its roots, is committed to the person of Jesus? Why do these leaders seem to be pleased that the Church is being refined rather than sorrowful so many have walked away? What if our response was a lament?

We seem to be just fine with dismissing those who were not really Christians because they were never one of us anyway. But aren’t we to seek the good of all people? Are we really okay with saying it's "bad new for America" but "good news for the church"? Have we forgotten if it's not good news for everyone it's not good news for anyone? Are we not to be concerned with the hearts of all people and not just those who are in our camp?

Perhaps it’s because if we answer my first question honestly, we are forced to grapple with the reality many have left, are leaving and will leave the Church precisely because of how Christians treat one another and those who are not Christians. Owning our faults is hard to do. Which raises my second question, “Is it possible, in lieu of the Pew Research study, that the posture of those who identify as Christians should be one of repentance?”

Perhaps our response should be one of lament and seeking forgiveness. What if we stood together and prayed the words of Psalm 79:

"Do not hold against us the sins of past generations;

    may your mercy come quickly to meet us,

    for we are in desperate need.

Help us, God our Savior,

    for the glory of your name;

deliver us and forgive our sins

    for your name’s sake." (Psalm 79:8-9 ^©NIV)

Too often we assume we have it right. We place far too much confidence in our viewpoint, in our tradition, in our theology, in our interpretation and in our righteousness. We assume we are the real, true Christians on the narrow path, bound for the narrow gate. Forgetting all the while there is a fine line between humble trust in God’s goodness and arrogant confidence in our faithfulness.

I know this is one of my biggest pitfalls. I assume I have the inside scoop, the direct line and often rely far too much on my own ability to ensure I've got things right. In those moments I need to be repent and be reminded to hold everything with open hands and a humble heart.

Perhaps we should pause from interpreting the research, from making claims of who is in and who is out to remind ourselves we should not be confident in our righteousness, and, as we pause, hear a story Jesus told.

Jesus said, "To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9-14, ^©NIV)

Maybe the best thing we can do is come together, like the tax-collector, to confess our failures, shortsightedness, pride over our tradition, haughty insights and confidence in ourselves. Let us repent for the way Christians have often behaved, and own how we have contributed to the mass exodus from the Church. Let us cry out for our brothers and sisters who have walked away.

Perhaps then we will have eyes to see what our next best step should be.