via Pastor Don James' blog, I came across an article in the Leadership Journal. The article deals with the issue of a changing culture and "Christianity's" place in this new world. I'm not usually big on stats and that sort of thing but it's worth the read.
Three critical issues emerged...
- The local church is no longer considered the only outlet for spiritual growth.
- Churches must develop relational- and community-oriented outreach.
- Lay people have to be better equipped to be God's ambassadors.
Below is an overview of what the writer considers to be the 5 Kinds of Christians in our culture today.
Active Christians 19%
- Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
- Committed churchgoers
- Bible readers
- Accept leadership positions
- Invest in personal faith development through the church
- Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so.
- Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ
- Focus on personal relationship with God and Jesus
- Similar beliefs to Active Christians, different actions
- Less involved in church, both attending and serving
- Less commitment to Bible reading or sharing faith
- Predominantly Catholic and Lutheran
- Regular churchgoers
- High level of spiritual activity, mostly expressed by serving in church and/or community
- Recognize authority of the church
- Largest and youngest segment
- Believe in God and doing good things
- Own a Bible, but don't read it
- Spiritual interest, but not within church context
- Only about a third attend church at all
- Almost none are church leaders
- Little outward religious behavior or attitudes
- God aware, but little personal involvement with God
- Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation
- Affirm many ways to God
- Favor universality theology
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