CAL THOMAS COMENTARY MARCH 31, 2021
AMERICA’S MEMBERSHIP IN HOUSES OF WORSHIP CONTINUED TO DECLINE IN 2020, DROPPING BELOW 50 PERCENT FOR THE FIRST TIME IN EIGHT DECADES. ACCORDING TO A GALLUP SURVEY, JUST 47 PERCENT OF AMERICANS SAY THEY BELONG TO A CHURCH, SYNAGOGUE OR MOSQUE.
U.S. CHURCH MEMBERSHIP WAS AT 73 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION WHEN GALLUP FIRST MEASURED IT IN 1937 AND REMAINED NEAR 70 PERCENT FOR THE NEXT SIX DECADES.
THERE ARE MANY REASONS FOR THIS. ONE IS THAT THE MODEL OF A HIGH-COST BUILDING WITH PROGRAMS AND PERFORMANCES FROM THE PLATFORM MAY BE FADING. WE ARE MORE CONNECTED THAN EVER WITH THE INTERNET, BUT LESS CONNECTED AS PEOPLE.
ANOTHER REASON IS POLITICS. NONBELIEVERS INCREASINGLY SEE ESPECIALLY CONSERVATIVE BELIEVERS SEEMING TO PUT POLITICS ABOVE, OR EQUAL TO THEIR FAITH.
AND THEN THERE ARE THE SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES WHICH UNDERMINE FAITH.
WHAT WILL BRING THE YOUNGER GENERATION BACK? OBEYING THE COMMANDS OF JESUS WOULD BE GOOD FOR STARTERS. LOOK THEM UP. THEY AREN’T DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND. AND REMMEBER, THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NOT ABOUT NUMBERS. BELIEVERS HAVE A HISTORY OF BEING IN THE MINORITY IN THIS WORLD. I’M CAL THOMAS.
