From Diana Vance

Monroe

To the Editor:

Forty million Americans have left churches in the past 25 years and religious abuse and corruption do play roles in pushing attendees away but many left “for more ordinary reasons.”

Today’s America isn’t set up to promote caring and positive, interactive relationships. Rather America is more designed to boost individual accomplishments. 

Also 20th century economists did not see work might change from just a job to a way of enhancing one’s identity. Then the college elite would transform work into a kind of religion that promised identity, superiority and a feeling of fellowship.

Workers were extremely busy and church attendance decreased because of what American society had become. A serious change occurred and Americans adopted a new way of life that left them lonely, anxious and how to live in a community with other people.

And perhaps churches could have better served their members by asking more of them. A life giving church requires more, not less, time and energy from its members. Churches ask people to choose what’s first for them, their career, prayer or time to read scripture. Scripture can give so much insight as to who Jesus is and how he created an entire new society based on love, love for one another.

Communities became a place where the hungry are fed, the weak are lifted up and the proud and their love of money are cast down. And people are once again talking to each other, treasuring friendships and feeling God’s love. 

So I think it is safe to say America’s religions are not dead yet. And neither are the American people who tried identity, accomplishments and feeling superior and found love for one another and Jesus was far more valuable.