What counts
Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom (Luke 12:32 GNB)
The numbers are finally in: 52% of Australians identified as Christian in 2016. (In New Zealand it’s 48.9% [2013].) The population has increased but the Christian headcount has shrunk from just over 13 million (2011) to just over 12.2 million (and in New Zealand from just over 2 million [2006] to just under 2 million).
About 170,000 (0.7%) wrote ‘Lutheran’ on the census form. (In New Zealand the figure is 3,903 [0.092%]). If we knew all those Lutherans, we would think we were still doing quite well. As it is, we probably know fewer than 40,000.
The overall drop in numbers is scarcely news. Neither is the rapid increase in people claiming ‘no religion’ (up from 19% [2006] to 22% [2011] and 30% [2016]; in New Zealand 32.2% [2006] to 38.5% [2013]). But about half of the population still claim to be Christian even though they don’t connect much with the church. The church is declining in influence and its role as the moral guardian of society is dissipating. Christians are starting to feel the pinch of prejudice, told they are out of step with society and accused of denying people freedom to live as they choose.
Another path is to accept the reality of the situation and use it to grow in wisdom, learning what it is God wants us to know.
We could respond to all this with a justifiably sturdy defence of the role of the church in society. There are many positive arguments for that. Or alternatively we could deny it all and attempt to reclaim a perfect past world that never actually existed. Of course, that just won’t work.
Another path is to accept the reality of the situation and use it to grow in wisdom, learning what it is God wants us to know. Have we trusted too much in wealth, power and social prestige?
This is the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, so we know what troubles those things can cause. The gospel is not of this world. It doesn’t play the numbers or place bets on the winners. It values most highly people who don’t fit the system, those at the bottom with no hope except the grace, mercy and love of God. They bring no achievements to God, offer no bribes and broker no deals. Sin has broken them. And God loves them, forgives them and recreates them.
Maybe, one day, the church as the external organisation we know now will cease to exist. I doubt that will happen entirely, not until the end of time. But even if it did, the gospel would not cease; it’s made of different stuff. The word will continue to be preached. The sacraments will be administered. Sin will be forgiven. That is God’s business, God’s promise, God’s church – and God does not give up.
For us right now, the changes we are experiencing are a chance to get our values straight. We already know that earthly treasures are temporary (see Luke 12:13–21). Our only true treasure is the gospel: God loves, forgives and saves sinners. No special deals, no ifs, buts or exceptions. It’s just ‘because’ – because God’s only Son came into the world and gave his life to save it. That means we are his and he is ours, now and forever.
‘Heartland’ is a regular column of The Lutheran featuring the pastoral reflections of LCA Bishop John Henderson.
