Here’s an interesting fact: In 1930, the number of Americans without religious affiliation was 5 percent.  In 1990 that number was 8 percent.  Today, that number is 28 percent.  

That’s quite a leap!  An amazing change, really.  For most of the twentieth century, the number of people with no religious affiliation remained basically unchanged.  Within a relatively short period of time, there has been a dramatic increase.  Why?

Part of the reason is a growing number of people (largely young people) who consider themselves to have a vibrant spiritual life but do not identify with one of the major religions or, within the Christian tradition, a particular denomination. 

Essentially, then, fewer people see themselves as Christian and of those who do, I would venture to say that even fewer are actively participating in a congregation.  

In our free-church tradition of the United Church of Christ, it is easy for us to say: “That is fine.  People go where they feel called and if they don’t feel called to go to church, that shouldn’t be a problem.”  We tend to think this way because our tradition has reacted so strongly against “evangelism as conversion”.   That is, “join our church or your soul is lost”.

While it is fine that people don’t have a church affiliation or have left the Christian faith to pursue a personal spirituality, I believe something is lost for such folks.  What is lost, most profoundly, is story.  

The stories of our faith help us grapple with questions like the role of suffering in the world, life after this life, and God’s relationship to the human experience.  These powerful stories from scripture–that we recognize throughout the church year–help us put our lives and this world into meaningful context.  It also puts us in the company of people who have done so for centuries.    

I fear that for that 28 percent of people with no affiliation, these stories and that meaningful context are slipping away.

Many will say, “Sure, but there is a difference between religion and spirituality.”  True.  But does there need to be?  Is it really an either or choice?

FCC is a place that, far from erecting rules and barriers that inhibit spiritual growth, opens wide the story of our faith so that “organized religion” and spirituality meet in a holistic, invitational, healthy way.

During this Easter season, I pray that you find your story in the story of Christ’s victory over violence and death and thereby find comfort, inspiration, and renewal now and always.

See you in church,

–Rev.  Dominic