2023.10.31

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

Are We a House of Cards?

I’ve been wondering a lot lately about the state of the church in North America. Yes, I am jaded as I serve in one of the most secular parts of the country, but I can’t help wondering about how we are doing.

I recently read some demographics about a community in the northeast (not Sparta) with a population of approximately 42,000. According to the information, 30% of that population “affiliates” with Christianity. Of that, two-thirds consider themselves Catholic, and the remainder a mix of other Christian denominations. There are seven Catholic churches and eighteen others.

Let’s go to the chalkboard!

My calculations indicate that roughly 12,600 people in that community “affiliate” with Christianity. Being overly conservative (and tainted by continuing sobering statistics from Barna and Pew Research), I will say 33% “regularly” attend worship (this means they attend once per month or more). For argument’s sake, let’s ASSUME all show up this weekend. This works out to a whopping 4,000 people sitting in the pews at the 25 churches in the community. To break it down:

Approximately 2,700 are attending mass at the seven Catholic churches; an average of 386 people per congregation.
Approximately 1,350 are attending services at the other eighteen congregations; an average of 75 people per church.

FYI – Just sitting in a pew isn’t active participation in the Kingdom of God, although it’s the least you can do.

Assuming a common thread across the communities of the northeast (New England, New York, and New Jersey, this poses an uncomfortable question: “How are we doing?”

Do we consider ourselves chosen and precious in God’s eyes?
Do we see ourselves as living stones placed by God to be essential components his spiritual house?
Do we see ourselves as a holy priesthood called to offer our lives as sacrifices to the God who first loved us?