A Future Of Constant Change

American religion is entering into a new age that will define faith and practice for at least the next generation.

That assertion means, for the next 40 years to 60 years religious people will be approaching their church, synagogue, temple or mosque with different expectations and beliefs.

For instance, it was once true that most people would accept the judgement of their religion without much rebellion. I can remember when some ultra conservative congregations, for instance, would hold regular services to pray for the backsliders and rebels.

Sometimes the backsliders would even be brought to the front of the church with their heads hanging and their eyes rolling in agony and they would willingly receive the condemnation of the faith community.

If you tried to publicly judge and punish sinners in a faith community today, not only would the sinner leave for good, but most of the congregation would never darken the door again.

The world has changed and no amount of preaching can change that reality. Religion has to find a way to connect with the young without destroying the historic doctrine and without looking completely foolish in the process.

The first thing religious power brokers must know about young people is they like entertainment. Of course, young people in every generation have enjoyed being entertained. But the current generation and those that follow will redefine what it means to be entertained.

The other day I was talking with a group of Christians and one person told about a daughter who had become a member of a conservative Christian group. The daughter invited mom and dad to worship with her and they accepted. The service was almost entirely entertainment and except for a couple of hymns, the young people in the congregation did nothing but dig the music.

The parents concern was this, why do so many churches just try to entertain people. Why isn't there more to Sunday morning? And my mind was saying, 'Yes, such as a boring sermon, terrible choir music and a liturgy that puts everyone to sleep.'

I answered the woman honestly. Some churches are reaching out with entertainment because this generation has been shoved in front of the family television, carted off to Disneyland, taken to dozens of parks and venues where children are delighted and given almost every pleasure known to humankind. We have taught them to expect to be entertained.

The second thing we can expect from future generations is they will not sacrifice willingly. They must be persuaded and they must be coaxed into committing a portion of their income to religious causes. Yes, I know that all generations have had a difficult time giving away their hard-earned dollars but these new generations will find sacrificial giving a greater challenge.

However, there are congregations that have been able to plumb the depths of young people's wallets and they do it through a low-key approach with an emphasis on trust. The one critical thing that the younger generations long for is a connection with authentic people.

Too many young people distrust the people who are authorities in our culture. They might believe that teachers are lazy, cops are corrupt, the media is only after sensation, and preachers are egomaniacs. But then they come to worship and they meet genuinely grace-filled people who do not judge them, who offer wonderful opportunities, who understand the challenge of living in the world, and who expect little in return.

Then a reasonable, possible request for money is announced and they see other people their age making large contributions and it becomes like second nature to give themselves and their money to the cause.

I've seen it happen and it is a beautiful thing to watch. Somehow God is watching the generations writhing in travail and working out their salvation with fear and trembling. As the years slip by religion survives. The challenge for older generations that are confused by the swiftness of the movement is to have the courage to move aside and trust the health and future of religion to those who understand the generations of God.

Clark D. Morphew