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Luke 5:1-11
5Once while Jesus was standing beside the lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, 2he saw two boats there at the shore of the lake; the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then he sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 4When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.” 5Simon answered, “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.” 6When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets were beginning to break. 7So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they began to sink. 8But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 9For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish that they had taken; 10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 11When they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.
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My son moved to a new city.  Upon learning that he and the family had not attended church yet, I encouraged them to go the following Sunday.  They stood out like a rose in the middle of the desert.  The only people without gray hair.  

Most Christian churches worldwide are experiencing a decline in membership as their faithful “60’s” members pass away and are not being replaced by the younger generation.  There is a real crisis within the Christian church.

The following statistics on religions are from the latest (2005) worldwide survey:

1. Christianity: 2.1 billion
2. Islam: 1.5 billion
3. Secular/Nonreligious/Agnostic/Atheist: 1.1 billion
4. Hinduism: 900 million
5. Chinese traditional religion: 394 million
6. Buddhism: 376 million
7. primal-indigenous: 300 million
8. African Traditional & Diasporic: 100 million
9. Sikhism: 23 million
10. Juche: 19 million
11. Spiritism: 15 million
12. Judaism: 14 million
13. Baha'i: 7 million
14. Jainism: 4.2 million
15. Shinto: 4 million
16. Cao Dai: 4 million
17. Zoroastrianism: 2.6 million
18. Tenrikyo: 2 million
19. Neo-Paganism: 1 million
20. Unitarian-Universalism: 800 thousand
21. Rastafarianism: 600 thousand
22. Scientology: 500 thousand

Concentrating on the American nonreligious group, it relates almost exactly to the same worldwide percentage….15% of the U.S. population.  This group reflects the general population in terms of marital status, educational attainment, racial and ethnic makeup, and income, according to a new study by Trinity College researchers, American Nones: The Profile of the No Religion Population. 

Please click on: http://www.americanreligionsurvey-aris.org/

for the full report.

Report Highlights

 • The 1990s was the decade when the "secular boom" occurred - each year 1.3 million more adult Americans joined the ranks of the Nones. Since 2001 the annual increase has halved to 660,000 a year.

• Whereas Nones are presently 15% of the total adult U.S. population, 22% of Americans aged 18-29 years self-identify as Nones.

• In terms of Belonging (self-identification) 1 in 6 Americans is presently of No Religion, while in terms of Belief and Behavior the ratio is higher around 1 in 4. 

• Regarding belief in the divine, most Nones are neither atheists nor theists but rather agnostics and deists (59%) and perhaps best described as skeptics.

• The most significant difference between the religious and non-religious populations is a gender gap.

• Whereas 19% of American men are Nones only 12% of American women are Nones.

• The gender ratio among Nones is 60 males for every 40 females.

• Women are less likely to switch out of religion than men.

• Women are also less likely to stay non-religious when they are born and raised in a non-religious family.

• Most Nones are 1st generation - only 32% of "current" Nones report they were None at age 12.

• 24% of current Nones (and 35% of 1st generation or "new" Nones) are former Catholics.

• Geography remains a factor - more than 1 in 5 people in certain regions (the West, New England) are Nones.

• Class is not a distinguishing characteristic: Nones are not different from the generalpopulation by education or income.

• Race is a declining factor in differentiating Nones. Latinos have tripled their proportion among Nones from 1990-2008 from 4% to 12%.

• The ethnic/racial profile of Nones shows Asians, Irish and Jews are the most secularized ethnic origin groups. One-third of the Nones claim Irish ancestry.

  • Nones are much more likely to believe in human evolution (61%) than the general American public (38%).

Christians are now making up a declining percentage of the American, Canadian, European populations. The number of people describing themselves as atheist or agnostic in the U.S. increased almost 400% from 1990 to 2009.

• “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.”  A familiar lament of those churches who insist upon “We have always done it this way” ritualistic worship and practices.  What does church mean to your congregation?

 Frankly, I think the  younger generation which is the greatest percentage of ‘none’ affiliations know that Christianity at its very core is good for humanity.  However, most of them are just plain sick of the exclusivity of many of the denominations and the hypocracy of some. 

Let’s face it….either the Christian church must change the way it does church or it will die…..”The Rise and Fall of Christianity” is now being talked about in many of the universities of the world.  In fact, our present time has been entitled “the post Christian era.”

• The younger generation thirsts for an environment where they are permitted to ask the questions they have always wanted to ask but were discouraged for fear of being branded a heretic. 

• The younger generation hungers for a place that is oriented toward activism …putting the words of Jesus into practice….rather than internalism. 

• They want an hour filled with meaning…not a recital of the same old, same old sermons and old hymns. 

Some denominations are listening to them. Click on:  
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRBaceryo00

Rethink church. United Methodist

A thing will obviously disappear when it grows weak and out of date.  This is true of churches. 

Change or die doesn’t mean a watered down version of Christianity.  Actually, I believe the younger generation wants a more focused, vital and demanding message:

• Don’t cling to old ways of worship…as the only way to worship. 

Build the church’s social network around projects for those in need…Christ’s message.

• Live Christ’s option for the poor.

“And they will know we are Christians by our love……” should become your theme song. 

• Have you really listened to the growing number of younger people NOT attending church?

As I look out over the church landscape of America, I see two types of churches: those that are changing, and those that are dying. That's it. It's change or die.
– Phil Print in CrossRoads Communique, September 2004 

I have written about it before....the 'outside of the box' service I started on a Sunday night, Soul Cafe, with a small grant from my denomination.  (Permission granted for use of the name by Leonard Sweet.)  We redecorated the fellowship hall to resemble one of those chick coffee houses with sofas and tables and candlelight and coffees, etc.  Our service didn't resemble the worship service....in fact our hymns were the likes of the Beatles....All You Need is Love. 

Almost all of the people who came were those who dropped out of “church.” In fact, they fitted the profile of ‘none’ in the new survey. 

There is no question in my mind, that the Christian church can survive…in fact thrive, if it only would live in the present age and reflect the spiritual and activism needs of the present generation rather than clinging to our great, great,…… grandparents’ version of church.

This might be the Sunday you reveal to your congregation the plight of the Christian Church, its decline, its many strengths and yes, its sins, too.  This might be the time you should ask them to help decide how they as a church should respond if they think their Christian church worth saving. 

Don't go half way...go out into the deep and drop your net. 

Think About It.