Is the church going out of business?

Dear Editor,

This is a thought experiment more than anything else, but I would be interested in readers’ opinions after reviewing.

What if this was the last week that all churches had their doors open? If the signs were removed and the parking lots were empty, and all outreach activities were stopped, would anyone notice? After all, scores of major department stores and nationwide restaurants when in decline have done so in recent years. So, why not the church, too?

Could the argument be made that churches have ceased to be relevant? Yes. Attendance overall is in a continual downward trend; charitable giving has lessened and interest in historical doctrines and creeds have almost vanished, giving way to an a la carte religious philosophy and secular relativism.

In the broader cultural landscape, hostility toward organized religion no longer hides but shows itself in events like the recent Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. Presumably, it is now acceptable to offend 2.4 billion Christians worldwide with impunity. Case in point, where is the outrage that should exist for such a frontal attack? Nowhere. Why? Because the church apparently has no standards or backbone.

With such a lukewarm community of faith response, is it any wonder that the absence of the church may not matter at all? Gone are the days where most criticism was leveled because the church stood for moral and ethical norms. As such, and while the secular world pounces, they need not worry regarding eventual victory. Death will be from within the walls of the church rather than from outside society. At least if nothing changes.

It feels like we in the faith community are in the boxing ring and are simply trying to run out the clock or worse, take a dive. We are not punching back; we are not engaged in the struggle.

One of my favorite Old Testament characters was Jacob. Like me, you, all of us, he was deeply flawed. In a telling moment, Jacob finds himself in a wrestling match with an unknown man. Throughout the night he never gives up until the other wrestler commits a foul and dislocates his hip. As it turns out, it was God manifested as a man.

Jacob was commended for his willingness to fight and struggle and given a new name by God. That name? Israel. It means “because you have struggled with God and with man and have overcome”.

I fear we are struggling with neither in the church community. Rounds earlier we stopped fighting and now we simply are throwing in the towel.

If the church were to close for good, the struggle forfeited, and its soul vanquished, would anyone notice?

If you decide to attend church this week, keep in mind that one day the doors could close. If you never attend church, you won’t miss it and likely will be relieved that its societal influence has been overcome.