Are You Relevant?

Posted on January 19, 2011 
Filed Under Social Concern, Spiritual Life

We have a problem: far too many self-identified Christians are increasingly irrelevant in today’s world.

George Barna is a social researcher, and his “mega themes” from recent research are telling a troubling trend: Believers are more inward-focused, making less impact in the lives of those around them.

Some of the findings indicate that Christianity’s influence on the wider culture – and individual lives – is “largely invisible.” He notes that:

Christianity has arguably added more value to American culture than any other religion, philosophy, ideology or community. Yet, contemporary Americans are hard pressed to identify any specific value added.

Partly due to the nature of today’s media, they have no problem identifying the faults of the churches and Christian people.

Barna goes on to suggest:

The most influential aspect of Christianity in America is how believers do–or do not–implement their faith in public and private.

This is a pretty interesting talking-point. I’m not advocating a social-Gospel, good-works approach to our faith. But I do think we’ve dropped the ball on some pretty important cultural matters, and that many believers have been too silent, for far too long, and that a result of our disengagement is that we’re considered irrelevant – and even more importantly, our faith is seen as disconnected from the world, its needs, its people.

To be sure, there are many, many good Christians doing great works for God. Addressing injustice, the needs of the down-and-out, the value of life and more, these believers are engaging and relevant. In future days I’ll try to highlight some of those good deeds – showing a vibrant, living faith – and better, a living God who cares.

Meantime, here’s the link to that Barna study. It is worth reading. And praying about.

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