Religious Behavior Increasing

There have been some significant shifts in three of seven types of religious activity across the United States during the past decade, according to a new report from the Barna Research Group (www.barna.org).

The results of the nationwide survey showed that Bible reading has climbed to 44 percent of adults reading from the Bible during the past week (other than while at church), up from 37 percent in 1994 and 36 percent in 1999. It jumped most noticeably among residents of the west coast states (California, Oregon and Washington).

Participation in small groups that meet during the week for the purpose of prayer, Bible study or spiritual fellowship -- excluding Sunday school or other church classes -- has also increased. In 1994, just 12 percent of adults met for such a purpose during the previous week; currently, 20 percent of adults do so. The biggest increase was among men (a 100% leap to 18% of all men); people 58 or older; Protestants; and residents of the West (up from 11% to 26%).

Concerning prayer during the past week, the 1999 statistic of 77 percent has risen to the current measurement of 83 percent. The biggest increases in prayer activity were seen among residents of the Northeast (71% in 1999, 80% in 2004) and those who call themselves atheist or agnostic (doubled from 20% in 1999 to 39% in 2004).

The religious behaviors that remained relatively flat over the past decade include church attendance (42% in 1994, 43% in 2004); volunteering to help a church (25% in 1994, 24% in 2004); attending adult Sunday school classes (21% in 1994 and 2004); and sharing one's faith in Jesus with non-believers (58% in 1999, 55% in 2004).

Pastor Bill's Comments:

This is not entirely good news, especially in light of the current movie which is a significant part of the interest and increased activity. The problem is that much of this increased activity is not Bible oriented and not being driven by preaching and accurate representation of what the Bible says. I fear that whole new kind of "This is in the Bible somewhere" kind of thinking will rise up around this movie and become a part of our national thinking religiously.

An example of what I mean about this is taken form the movie itself. In the movie, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus is pictured as striving with Satan, being tempted to forego his coming passion. I have already heard people refer to "Jesus struggle with Satan in the garden". This kind of thing, I believe will rise to the "God helps those who help themselves" kind of mythical level where people believe it to be Biblical and be "in there somewhere", when, in reality, it is not.

Now it is true, I'm sure, that Satan was involved in heightening Christ's agony in Gethsemane, but he (Satan) is not ever mentioned in that regard anywhere in the Bible. Christ's struggle in Gethsemane was not primarily with any outside force, but was entirely within Himself, with His human nature. In was, in fact, not with a temptation to avoid the coming physical side of the passion at all, but with His natural revulsion at being separated from His Father. As attractive, compelling and dramatic as that portrayal was, it has no Biblical authority, but was entirely a production of Mr. Gibson's mind.

Another real possibility is that the success and apparent "Bible accuracy" of the movie will cement in people's mind the idea that the Roman Catholic Church is a Biblically sound institution, when it is absolutely not. So many so-called evangelical leaders are praising the movie and endorsing the thing that they are, perhaps unwittingly, blurring the line of who si a believer and who is not. That is incredibly dangerous and damaging.

I fear that what much of this new religious activity is is just another form of the exercise of human righteousness and human effort. It behooves us, as Biblical believers, to be sure that we take this opportunity to speak with and witness to the unsaved around us about the imputation of Christ's Righteousness by grace through faith alone! That is what the Gospel truly is and it is what Christ came to die and establish.

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