Why our churches are often empty?

 ‘…I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! ..’ (Luke 12:49)

Luke 12:49-53 (Year C: Trinity+12)

Religion never had a great press. Yet, contrary to the ‘death of religion’ claimants religion refuses to go away. Neither technology, science, economic growth, state coercion or the latest wave of ‘religiously’ motivated hatred and terrorism has succeeded in removing religious consciousness and belonging from the landscape.  In fact, history might suggest that in some cases the best way to secure a country for a particular religion may be to outlaw it entirely or persecute its followers as Britain, to its peril, discovered after the reformation and especially on the other little island to the west of it. Countries like France and Spain had more success in securing their territories and expelling (if not liquidating) Protestants a few of whom settled in Ireland. Switzerland and Germany resolved the matter by means of war and population segmentation. Here in Ireland a cruel, destructive and anti-Christian form of ethno-religious cleansing was in operation until the 1960s. It was called Ne Temere. Even when the rules were relaxed in the early 1970s many dioceses in Ireland continued with a rigorist application of norms that had been abandoned in other countries.

Today, religion is undergoing something of a revival in many parts of the world. For example, in Latin America millions are flocking to various evangelical and Pentecostal churches. Here in Dublin house churches and Sunday bible meetings are silently and discretely springing up across the city. The periodic World Youth Days among other events point to a vibrancy in the Roman Catholic church.  Yet, there is clear and undeniable attrition in church attendance and this is affecting all the mainline Christian churches. The trend is bucked here and there and there are ‘fresh expressions’ as well as more traditionalist revivals in a few places. But, there is no mistaking it – European countries have seen a dramatic shift in religious practice and belief in the space of one generation and Ireland is now fast catching up.

When I grew up in the 1960s and early 1970s it took a courageous person to not go to mass every Sunday or attend Church as the case may be. Today, especially among the very young, to declare that one is a regular church-goer takes courage. In some places and churches the age profile of congregations has shifted so much that hardly anyone between the ages of 15 and 35 are in regular attendance. In these cases, easily over 50% of a dwindling congregation is over the age of 50 (and 100% if the service is before 10am!).

A lingering thirst

But, there seems to be a lingering, unquenchable longing among people young and old to believe in something, to belong to something, to hope for something. Ireland is now ripe for mission except it will take a radically different approach to what was used in the past. Certainly, bible-thumping, episcopal edicts, censoring and excommunications will not work (did they ever?)

Add to this the drip-drip of scandals emanating from religious houses and hierarchies. If it is not about Sex it is about Doctrine with a large D (or people’s notion of Doctrine).  And if it is not about Sex and Doctrine (but it usually is), it is about Power. While it would be unfair to blame the male species in general for this sorry state of affairs there appears to be some link between ideas of dominance, power, sex, maleness and Correct Teaching. Yet, ‘religion’ according to its root meaning is to religare – to bind together in relationship.  A false dichotomy of ‘religion’ and ‘spirituality’ – though popular – is misleading. Religion needs spirituality to connect us to God and one another. Spirituality needs religion because we are social beings and we need ritual, tradition and formal togetherness.

Luke 12 is relevant

So, to hear Jesus proclaiming in Luke that he had come to bring division and not peace is shocking. It almost fits the 21^st century Dawkinsian stereotype of religion. However, we know from our thoughtful and prayerful reading of the scriptures as well as our lived experience together in the world today that the Christian religion – as with other great religions including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism and others – is about bringing people together in belief, thankfulness and worshipfulness and in ways that should help everyone to live better, more wholesome (which is what holiness is really about) and more fulfilling lives.  Just because a few nutcases – and some very evil nutcases in still fewer cases – continue to give religion a bad name we should be mindful of the ‘good news’ that not only has God come to save and to set free but the overwhelming witness and impact of the Christian gospel when it is lived out in the world is very, very positive.

The point of the Christian religion is that Jesus came to save and that is what he does today in our personal lives, relationships and societies around us. In what sense, is the Christian message a source of division? The reality is that not everyone sees this way. Moreover, people mispresent and ill-judge what we say and what we do and what we do not say and do not do (but should say and do). Sadly, it can happen that our following of the way of Jesus according to those specific inspirations, talents and very personal insights gives rise to scandal, controversy, division and even ‘schism’. Thus it was so at the beginning of the Jesus movement in the 1^st century and thus it shall be when we are long gone and others will take up the mantle.

Peace not division

To repeat – the purpose of Jesus Christ is not to bring division, disharmony and conflict. Rather, it is to save and to enkindle a freedom, a peace and a joy in the heart. But it will happen that through human frailty and limitations (ours and that of others) discipleship including discipleship poorly applied may lead us into situations of disharmony, disunity and conflict.  If this was the experience of our Lord then we are not above this experience ourselves. After all, did He not say:

and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household (Matthew 10:36)

It is inevitable that if we wish to follow the path of discipleship without compromise then we will face opposition, judgment, exclusion and misunderstanding. The spirit of contention and rivalry is not absent from our churches and associated communities. However, the grace to keep going, to keep believing and to keep positive is given to those who will turn to God in prayer early, late and often. In the frequency of prayer, friendship of soul and recourse to the sacraments we can hold on and be witnesses to a reconciliation and trust where we are. But, the key to a church community that is really alive and therefore reaching out to others as a sent people is love.

What is the meaning of ‘fire’?

The point about fire is that it can bring warmth, energy and light. It can also destroy, hurt and kill. Then again it can purify, cleanse and separate.  In Luke-Acts we read of fire, the Holy Spirit and prayer all in one go. 

Jesus said he has come ‘to bring fire to the earth’. He ardently longed that this fire were ‘already kindled!’ (v. 49)

So, that fire was not kindled at least when Jesus spoke to his disciples, according to Luke.  Could Jesus say of us today in our homes, workplaces and other places of gathering:

‘how I wish it were already kindled’ (there)

…and in our churches and places of worship, ministry and mission. Now to be ‘on fire’ does not necessarily mean dancing around the place and speaking in tongues and helping animate uplifting gospel rock concerts (it could indeed mean all these things in the right measure, time and place). ‘To be on fire’ means that no authority on earth can prevent the community gathered in the name of Jesus from proclaiming his love and power. It means facing the real danger of death as huge numbers of our brothers and sisters do this morning when churches are bombed or burnt down (a daily occurrence that receives little or no attention in the Western media). It also means living in such a way that others can truly say, viz, that we really love on another (John 13:35) and the pagan world was forced to say ‘see how they love one another’ (Tertullian). Christianity spread in the first place, not by conquering (that sadly did happen over time) but through the power of its attraction to everyone around. Unconditional love ‘unto death’ was real and palpable just as it is today and not just in those war-torn places where believers are being martyred daily. The reality that we must face, here in the West and in the Northern hemisphere, is that worship, ministry and mission are largely empty unless they are accompanied by the witness of Christian communities that are fully alive in such manner that the Dawkinsians have to acknowledge ‘see how they really do love one another’.

If someone, somewhere wants to renew a seminary, a parish committee, a marriage or a relationship, an organisation where do we start? The answer is in John 13:35

 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

That is not to over-simplify the matter because over and beyond all the theories, reports and action plans it is as simple as that.

Just imagine that we lived as Christians who really loved one another?

Just imagine that we welcomed one another showing appreciation, love and respect?

Just imagine that our homes, schools, churches and workplaces were places of genuine kindness and concern for others?

Just imagine if we sought the common good rather than our own selfish interests?

Just imagine if we gave priority to the weakest, the despised, the excluded, the poor, the odd, the ‘not-one-of-us’?

Just imagine if we really welcomed all people into our communities and places of worship?

Just imagine if we actually listened, together, to God in his Word and not our own constructions of meaning and groupthink?

Just imagine if we were so much on fire with the love of God poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that people saw it, heard it, touched it, were touched by it, witnessed it and felt it in the way we treated each other and others not of our persuasion?

Just imagine if we spoke to each other in a way that encourages and builds up rather than tears down or belittle?

Just imagine if a fire were already burning in our hearts and in our churches …

Then would our lives be fulfilled

Our churches full to overcapacity

Our neighbourhoods and workplaces transformed

Our vision renewed

Our faith restored.