An article recently published on CNN.com discusses current survey numbers that demonstrate that the United States has less Christians than it did 20 years ago. The results showed that not only are there less Christians, but there are less adherents of all religions than there was 20 years ago. The article says, "The rise in what the survey authors call "nones" is the only trend reflected in every single state in the study."
The "nones" are on the rise. I can’t help but think this is related to Jesus followers failing to help others know that Jesus came not to pronounce a bunch of rules and oughts and ought nots to them, but so "that they may have life, and have it to the full." (John 10:10)
In John 1, John discusses how John the Baptist "himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light." (John 1:8) In Acts, Peter says to the early Christians, "we are witnesses of everything [Jesus] did . . ." (Acts 10:39)
People have chosen to be "nones" because they see no value in our God. They see no beneficial difference in our lives. They either don’t recognize their own darkness, or recognize it and see no light in what God offers. Their "none" response does not reveal their lack of need, but their indifference.
Our task as believers in Jesus Christ is not to create fancier packaging, but to communicate more effectively the rich and restorative core of our faith, Jesus Christ. Paul says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me . . ." (Galatians 2:20)
The more that we connect others with the Christ that lives in us, the more they will find their "noneness" dark, hopeless, and unfulfilling. May God use us to change the heart of the "nones" in our lives. May God use us to make the next 20 years different than the last 20.
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