How American culture affects the church
Dr. George Barna recently spoke at Lifeway Church on “How American Culture Affects the Church.” Barna is the executive director of the American Culture and Faith Institute, founder of the Barna Group and is considered the “most quoted person in the Christian church today.” This title is based on the numerous surveys and studies conducted on the church institution and its people. Teens and their parents are the focus of many studies.
He finds that the influence of American culture, primarily media, government and family, on faith is significant and pervasive: 95 percent of American parents do not have a Biblical world view; only 51 percent of pastors have a Biblical world view; a child’s worldview begins development at age at 15-18 months and is developed by age 13; Americans no longer recognize the church as the most trusted sacred institution as it has dropped from 68 percent to 38 percent in the past 30 years; the church has to be the antidote to the culture not fall under its influence; however, when churches are asked how their success is measured the top answers are staff, budget, square footage and programs, none of which Jesus died for. The bottom line is that American culture is influencing the church more than the church is influencing American culture.
My own analysis is based on data from Barna, Pew Research, Gallup Organization and Lifeway Research. The findings are Christians are decreasing as a percent of the U.S. population, while those with non-religious affiliation is increasing at such a rate that by mid-century Christians will be a minority in America. The genesis of this trend is failure to retain young people in the church. For example, between fifth grade and age 28 the faith retention rate can be as low as 25 percent with the majority leaving before high school graduation. This is due in part by failing to answer their questions and address their doubts about faith while in the church. The specific questions and doubts are known and can be addressed spiritually and intellectually with evidence.
Most importantly parents and the church must have the will. Accordingly, the church needs to urgently reassess its commitment toward its youth (K-12) in relationship to other programs and implement efforts to focus discipleship on them and their parents.
We are in a battle we must not lose. The church and its influence on America are at stake.
Dr. G. Lee Southard is a small group leader for the middle school and high school boys for Sanibel Community Church’s H2O Youth Ministries, and he is the author of “To Know with Certainty.”