Hi Frank, thanks so much for writing and for such a thoughtful reflection. My column was more of a lament than a prediction. Of course I think the church will survive, but with some much-needed changes. And as you know, church members love changes.
I love it that your daughter is bright and engaged, and I love it too that the two of you talk about important matters. (I know how meaning it can be because I have two daughters of my own.)
Over the weekend - well after I turned in my column - I read Tish Harrison Warren's column about the church, and I thought it was quite hopeful. I love the comment there about "Catholic sisters doing what Catholic sisters do." There are many other faithful people too who keep doing what faithful people do. Here's a link in case you're interested... https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/09/opinion/patel-eboo-organized-religion.html
Once again, thanks for writing and thanks too for your contributions to the Sentinel. We've got a lively opinion page!
Hi Susan, I'm so pleased that you took time to write. And I'm glad - sort of - that you are able to confirm my feelings. I too think there is new life to come. And of course my experience with global Christians tells me that the decline I experience is mainly a western phenomenon. Thank you for your faithful work.
Hi Amalie, good to hear from you. I'm glad for your experience! I too had a wonderful experience for several months in 2022-23 with a healthy, vibrant congregation. One starting point is to give thanks for these fine examples of faithfulness.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment, Nancy. I like to be more positive and encouraging in my writing, but there are times when it's important to acknowledge what is happening. It ain't pretty.
Thank you for your thoughtful words. I serve a small church with a faithful remnant of 50 that show each week. Oddly people who don’t belong to our church, refer to us as their church. In spite of the decline, I believe it is in our DNA to have a faith center in our lives. I spoke to a pastor of a very large Megachurch, and he said that he believes there will be a revival. And I agree with him. Perhaps just hope. But I have to believe like you said that we need to sit and be quiet because I think God has a plan
Pastor Brouwer, I have a hard time imagining that the church won't survive but, like you, I worry about it. Secular humanism seems much more in tune with western culture than Christian theology based on earning eternal life by faith in Christ. I've been thinking about this more than usual during the past year. My daughter is at the University of Sussex wrapping up a masters degree in refugee studies. We've had lots of conversations about her dissertation which focuses on the sanctuary movement in Brighton. She's comparing religious to secular motivation and, for me, this has highlighted issues such as the status of good works not done in Christ's name (consider the Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 91). Not just to survive but be a vital force for good in today's world may require a shift in Christian theology that is too big to be achieved except across generations - certainly not during our lifetimes. I'm pleased that you continue to contribute to the SENTINEL opinion page. Frank Barefield
I have noticed so many of our young pastors leaving their calls, even though our church had them under our care. Our current pastors are younger than my children. One grew up Baptist and was ordained Reformed after graduating from Western Theological. While attendance has not made a full recovery from the pandemic, new people are showing up. My new best church friend decided to do a faith journey in her early 70's. Another woman that age also joined. It is so special to watch how they process on their journey. For each, finding the right hard-cover Bible has been important. There are those seeking the faith and we need to keep the churches going so that they can find it. Smaller churches are having a bigger struggle. It is hard to see those flames flickering with such weakness. As always, thanks for you thought-provoking writings.
Thank you for your reflections, Doug. I, too, am saddened by what is happening in the church. I'm one of those who stepped back from hospice chaplaincy and ministry last year because of severe burnout. I also stopped attending my church for a year or so because our Presbytery sent us an untrained interim pastor who was less interested in helping the church heal than he was in selling his books. The grieving process takes time, then God begins to create new life out of death.
My answer to your question is “Of course the church will survive!” Like Elijah in the wilderness, there will always be more who are faithful than what we suppose. When Christ returns he will find a transformed remnant. If not, the resurrection and the whole “Christ event” are only sentimental myths and we we who stubbornly hold to them are to be pitied as emotional cripples. The Lord is risen indeed!
The questions—of course— become, “What will the church look like?” “In what form or shape will Christ’s glory be manifest?” “Will there be identifying “marks” of a true church by which we can tell that we are not without a worshipping body?”
Certainly these are hard days for the church. I do believe that any sort of “Age of Christiandom” is over and that impediments to facile belief and effortless Christian worship and fellowship are done too.
Thanks for being a reader and taking time to respond, John. Of course you're right about the church's survival. A further bit of evidence - I wasn't able to use it with a 750-word limit - is the global church. The church in parts of Africa and Asia is doing exceptionally well. It's the church in the U.S. that is declining, often due to self-inflicted wounds. Good to hear from you!
Very well said, as always. I just finished a breakfast meeting with a young Mom in the church I serve, who told me how her generation were 'run-off' by the 'old guard' some years ago, and how she would like me to help stage a comeback. This will be interesting... maybe there's some life to the church yet!
Doug, thank you for your clear and honest expressions of what so many of us are feeling and living. Growth and change are difficult but inevitable, and I believe this seismic shift is necessary.
Doug, first, how you been. Secondly your blog is a very interesting and truthful blog. I left the CRC and went over to the RCA. Without going into detail, the grass isn't any greener on this side of the tracks. The big question is how to get back people who have left.
Hi Tom, I would have welcomed a breakfast conversation like that one!
Doug- read your latest book. Your answers are in there. I will respond privately pretty soon.
Love and blessings, my friend.
Jim Luzadder
Hi Frank, thanks so much for writing and for such a thoughtful reflection. My column was more of a lament than a prediction. Of course I think the church will survive, but with some much-needed changes. And as you know, church members love changes.
I love it that your daughter is bright and engaged, and I love it too that the two of you talk about important matters. (I know how meaning it can be because I have two daughters of my own.)
Over the weekend - well after I turned in my column - I read Tish Harrison Warren's column about the church, and I thought it was quite hopeful. I love the comment there about "Catholic sisters doing what Catholic sisters do." There are many other faithful people too who keep doing what faithful people do. Here's a link in case you're interested... https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/09/opinion/patel-eboo-organized-religion.html
Once again, thanks for writing and thanks too for your contributions to the Sentinel. We've got a lively opinion page!
Doug
Hi Susan, I'm so pleased that you took time to write. And I'm glad - sort of - that you are able to confirm my feelings. I too think there is new life to come. And of course my experience with global Christians tells me that the decline I experience is mainly a western phenomenon. Thank you for your faithful work.
Hi Amalie, good to hear from you. I'm glad for your experience! I too had a wonderful experience for several months in 2022-23 with a healthy, vibrant congregation. One starting point is to give thanks for these fine examples of faithfulness.
Thank you for reading and taking the time to comment, Nancy. I like to be more positive and encouraging in my writing, but there are times when it's important to acknowledge what is happening. It ain't pretty.
Thank you for your thoughtful words. I serve a small church with a faithful remnant of 50 that show each week. Oddly people who don’t belong to our church, refer to us as their church. In spite of the decline, I believe it is in our DNA to have a faith center in our lives. I spoke to a pastor of a very large Megachurch, and he said that he believes there will be a revival. And I agree with him. Perhaps just hope. But I have to believe like you said that we need to sit and be quiet because I think God has a plan
Pastor Brouwer, I have a hard time imagining that the church won't survive but, like you, I worry about it. Secular humanism seems much more in tune with western culture than Christian theology based on earning eternal life by faith in Christ. I've been thinking about this more than usual during the past year. My daughter is at the University of Sussex wrapping up a masters degree in refugee studies. We've had lots of conversations about her dissertation which focuses on the sanctuary movement in Brighton. She's comparing religious to secular motivation and, for me, this has highlighted issues such as the status of good works not done in Christ's name (consider the Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 91). Not just to survive but be a vital force for good in today's world may require a shift in Christian theology that is too big to be achieved except across generations - certainly not during our lifetimes. I'm pleased that you continue to contribute to the SENTINEL opinion page. Frank Barefield
I have noticed so many of our young pastors leaving their calls, even though our church had them under our care. Our current pastors are younger than my children. One grew up Baptist and was ordained Reformed after graduating from Western Theological. While attendance has not made a full recovery from the pandemic, new people are showing up. My new best church friend decided to do a faith journey in her early 70's. Another woman that age also joined. It is so special to watch how they process on their journey. For each, finding the right hard-cover Bible has been important. There are those seeking the faith and we need to keep the churches going so that they can find it. Smaller churches are having a bigger struggle. It is hard to see those flames flickering with such weakness. As always, thanks for you thought-provoking writings.
Thanks for the thoughtful reflection on my column, Cindy. I'm pleased to know that people are still searching too. Not surprised, but reassured!
Thank you for your reflections, Doug. I, too, am saddened by what is happening in the church. I'm one of those who stepped back from hospice chaplaincy and ministry last year because of severe burnout. I also stopped attending my church for a year or so because our Presbytery sent us an untrained interim pastor who was less interested in helping the church heal than he was in selling his books. The grieving process takes time, then God begins to create new life out of death.
Thanks Doug.
My answer to your question is “Of course the church will survive!” Like Elijah in the wilderness, there will always be more who are faithful than what we suppose. When Christ returns he will find a transformed remnant. If not, the resurrection and the whole “Christ event” are only sentimental myths and we we who stubbornly hold to them are to be pitied as emotional cripples. The Lord is risen indeed!
The questions—of course— become, “What will the church look like?” “In what form or shape will Christ’s glory be manifest?” “Will there be identifying “marks” of a true church by which we can tell that we are not without a worshipping body?”
Certainly these are hard days for the church. I do believe that any sort of “Age of Christiandom” is over and that impediments to facile belief and effortless Christian worship and fellowship are done too.
Thanks for your stimulating writing.
Thanks for being a reader and taking time to respond, John. Of course you're right about the church's survival. A further bit of evidence - I wasn't able to use it with a 750-word limit - is the global church. The church in parts of Africa and Asia is doing exceptionally well. It's the church in the U.S. that is declining, often due to self-inflicted wounds. Good to hear from you!
Very well said, as always. I just finished a breakfast meeting with a young Mom in the church I serve, who told me how her generation were 'run-off' by the 'old guard' some years ago, and how she would like me to help stage a comeback. This will be interesting... maybe there's some life to the church yet!
Doug, thank you for your clear and honest expressions of what so many of us are feeling and living. Growth and change are difficult but inevitable, and I believe this seismic shift is necessary.
Doug, first, how you been. Secondly your blog is a very interesting and truthful blog. I left the CRC and went over to the RCA. Without going into detail, the grass isn't any greener on this side of the tracks. The big question is how to get back people who have left.
It's been an interesting phenomenon to watch and I'm sure The Donald hasn't helped. The self righteous ignorance of Ottawa Impact is tragic.