Mark's Remarks 4/12/09

The cover story for the current issue of Newsweek is entitled, The End of Christian America. In the new Newsweek Poll, fewer people now think of the United States as a "Christian nation" than did so when George W. Bush was president (62 percent in 2009 versus 69 percent in 2008). Two-thirds of the public (68 percent) now say religion is "losing influence" in American society, while just 19 percent say religion's influence is on the rise. The proportion of Americans who think religion "can answer all or most of today's problems" is now at a historic low of 48 percent. During the Bush 43 and Clinton years, that figure never dropped below 58 percent. These thoughts are not exclusive to Newsweek. President Obama, speaking in Turkey, declared that we are not a Christian, Muslim or Jewish nation, rather we are a nation of citizens. He’s right there, although for those of us who grew up thinking we are a Christian nation, this thought makes our oatmeal a little sour.
The article in Newsweek went further to say: “Let's be clear: while the percentage of Christians may be shrinking, rumors of the death of Christianity are greatly exaggerated. Being less Christian does not necessarily mean that America is post-Christian.”
As Methodist Christians, we must be clear. We’re not in the business of brutalizing other religions, we’re not in the business of making the government an arm of the church, or vice versa. For example, the columnist Cal Thomas came to see the Moral Majority or Christian American movement as flawed in theological terms. He put it so well, "No country can be truly 'Christian,’ only people can. God is above all nations, and, in fact, Isaiah says that 'All nations are to him a drop in the bucket and less than nothing.” We were going through organizing like-minded people to 'return' America to a time of greater morality. Of course, this was to be done through politicians who had a difficult time imposing morality on themselves!"
Here at LUMC we seem to be doing well. The number of first-time visitors is great and these folk are giving Christ a “hearing” every Sunday. When LUMC completes the construction of more space and lays out more parking at the new site, we’ll be able to reach and accommodate an increased number of the area for Christ. That is and always has been our goal, when we reach the country and the world for Jesus.