A Future Rooted in Jesus

According to a 2022 report by The Pew Research Center, an estimated 64% of Americans identified as Christians and 30% of Americans identified as religiously unaffiliated in 2020. An alarming statistic was that an estimated 31% of people raised Christian became religiously unaffiliated between ages 15-29 and an additional 7% of people raised Christian became religiously unaffiliated later in life. A more encouraging statistic was that 21% of people raised religiously unaffiliated became Christian between ages 15-29. However, according to their models if these statistical trends continue then less than half of Americans (46%) will identify as Christians by 2070. These trends toward secularization do not have to define our future, but it is only through a united Church rooted in the Gospel that we can spread the redeeming love of Christ to reach the lost.

What Actually Unifies Us?

A phrase I often encounter when discussing unity is: “unity, but not at the expense of truth.” I completely affirm this notion, but the only absolute truth that exists is the Word of God. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). These verses show that unity around Jesus is unity around the truth of His Word alone, the scriptures that give the story of Jesus Christ from start to finish. This unity of the Church can only happen around the Word of God, because any doctrine or tradition that is of man is affected by our sinful nature and will lead to natural division. No matter the most minute detail, there will be disagreement amongst believers; even the early Church was rife with disagreements. Doctrine and traditions change over time; the Word of God will endure forever. That is not to say that denominational doctrine cannot have secondary importance to us, but it is only possible to build unity despite our secondary doctrines and traditions rather than around these doctrines and traditions.

A statement of unity for Christians was written by the early Church in the form of a creed and affirms the truths of our faith found in the Word of God. Research organizations, such as The Pew, often define Christian identity in slightly broader terms, but the term Christian as used throughout this blog refers to those who affirm the Nicene Creed (Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestants are all united in this statement of beliefs).

“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.

Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son*; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.

And I believe in one holy catholic** and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”

*Orthodox do not include “and the Son”

**catholic means universal in this context, and is not a reference to the Roman Catholic Church.

Stumbling Blocks of the Past

Human nature often causes us to reflect on past experiences with regret if we perceive them as negative in some way. In the case of changing religious beliefs, these feelings can cause us to take time away from Jesus to spend reflecting on our past beliefs. I often see people claiming to have left a particular denomination be the loudest to speak out in a negative way against it; it’s important not to harden our hearts against our past, but reflect on what God used that time to teach us. Leaving behind family and friends in our previous denomination or church can exasperate the issue; the desire to be “right” in our own eyes can outweigh the desire to spend each day growing closer to Jesus and spreading God’s Word. “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14). The same applies when a friend or family member changes to a different denomination; do not allow your focus to be wasted on negative feelings toward them over newfound doctrinal differences, but remain focused on the unity in Christ you have with them. A future rooted in Jesus is only possible when we fix our eyes on Him and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us.

A Look to the Future

A future rooted in Jesus requires His church to have eyes fixed on Him in unity. When we allow our focus to be primarily on denominational and traditional differences, we are not only harming our own walk as we harden our hearts toward other believers, but also affecting the witness of the Church to non-believers as they observe our division. An example of this unity can be seen with the popularity of The Chosen. Christians from all denominations and churches can come together and enjoy the show. While certainly not a replacement for reading the Bible, The Chosen allows you to experience the stories from the Gospel in a new way. The creator of The Chosen hosts Bible round tables each season with representatives including an Evangelical theology professor, Catholic priest or bishop, and a Messianic Jewish rabbi. This is a beautiful picture of followers of Jesus who do not agree on every doctrine or tradition coming together to spread the Gospel. The unity of the Church around the Gospel can shine a light into the dark world around us and hopefully reverse the rise of the religiously unaffiliated trend.