A Tale of Two Surveys. Taken together, I wonder where the American church has missed the point. Perhaps using the term “church” speaks too broadly. There seem to be myriad churches with myriad theologies.
But, let us consider two recent surveys.
Young women are leaving church in unprecedented numbers, according to the Survey Center on American Life’s research. The center learned that young women are particularly concerned about churches that don’t welcome all people; that discourage women’s leadership; and don’t attend to community, justice, compassion, and loving one’s neighbor.
Young white men are coming back to the church because it’s one of the few places that accept them (undefined, but a logical assumption would be those “evangelical” churches that condemn homosexuality and women leadership).
The Apostle Paul, loved by some conservatives and scorned by some liberals and misunderstood by most, famously wrote to the churches of Galatia, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
I ask, why are we still so intent on divisions? Why do we champion one group and put down another? Why don’t we organize our churches with this vision—you are all one in Christ Jesus?
Faith Venture 
Leave a comment