The South New Hope Church in Amherst Junction, WI. Image courtesy: WAOW TV
CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) Do you go to church? If you do, you’re part of the 1-out-of-3 Americans who still do. About 31% of us go to church semi-regularly, that’s once a month or so. 1-out-of-5 are regular attendees who show up almost every Sunday.
And in America, we’re religious fanatics compared to the rest of the world. In Italy, the cradle of the Holy See, less than 15% go to church. In England, it’s 8%. In Germany and France, 6% and 5%. The cathedrals of the middle ages are more tourist traps than holy houses of worship today.
Here is the great church-gap: 81% of Americans believe there is a god. 54% of us believe that god is the judeo-Christian deity, the God of Abraham revealed in the bible. So more than half of us acknowledge the bible, only 21% of us show up at church to worship Him.
Many people will say, God is everywhere… where I worship doesn’t matter. I have three responses to that, which amount to not-quite-right. Frist, we are told that our faith is something we are supposed to claim publicly; there are no secret Jesus-followers. One of the ways we acknowledge our faith is by worshiping with others. Second, worshiping as a group is where we acknowledge our shortcomings and strive to do better. Each one of us is fallen. We pick ourselves up and move forward when we are around others who are also imperfect. And lastly, our faith is strengthened when we surround ourselves with other believers. My understanding of Christ’s teachings are constantly broadening when I hear the weekly sermon, when I discuss the scriptures with others, when I see that… indeed… I am part of a broader community of believers.
If you’ve been away from church for awhile, remember Jesus said “when only a few of you are gathered in my name, there I am, among you.” Go to church and see if you feel His presence. You might be surprised.
Chris Conley
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