More
often than not, people elude when invited in a Church gathering in different
reasons. Some find the church gathering
as a boring get away. Others prioritize
nightlife, financial ambitions, personal gratification, net surfing and on-line
gaming, gimmicks with friends than listening to a sermon in a pulpit, spiritual
insight and mind-numbing choir. To some extent, a few others flee from a church
invitation because of a guilt-feeling that it is hypocrisy juggling church and
sinful activities or feeling of disappointment by seeing these church leaders/members
whose active participation is well-noted but with horrible attitude.
Whatever
the reason may be, the reality that the church is not a place of entertainment or
for holy but the hospital for sinners is overlooked. It’s an institution where everybody’s misbehaviour
is confronted through the spiritual messages than judged and where values are
formed and enhanced. It’s like we go to
school because of specialization and skills, amusement/excursion to unwind.
In
effect, while brain is fed with expertise and craving for pleasure is
satisfied, one’s spiritual faculty is deprived which causes an imbalanced
lifestyle. In the long run because of
this disparity, there could be this tendency to justify a wrong deed which is not
recognized as wrong because of this missing link which is the values
itself. This is why we could come across
with these people who tolerate a fight than pacify it, to stimulate a gossip
than putting it off, to be tolerant on endorsement of a life-threatening formula of law like abortion and same sex marriage than
impede it, because one’s conscience/spirituality is not fairly developed. This is because only 15-20% of all
Catholics attend Mass regularly every week [1].
Brought by disregarding the
significance of the church, in the Philippines particularly, corrupt government officials, tax-evading
businessmen, and miscreants of all kinds; many people who use contraceptives
and favor the reproductive health bill; many couples among the poor who are
not married in church, many people who are being lost to fundamentalist sects
and cults, many people who do not go to regular confession, are Catholics. This is because of Jesus’ values that are not infused in one’s subconscious because of setting aside the goodness of church
presence.
In a related instance, Europe’s
abandonment of its religious roots and the moral code causes plunge in its birth
rates to below the replacement level triggered by abortion, birth control,
acceptance of gay marriage and casual sex.
According
to United Nations population statistics, not a single Western European country
has a fertility rate sufficient to replace the current population, which
demographers say requires 2.1 children per family. Germany, Russia, Spain,
Poland and Italy all have rates of about 1.3 children. The country is
committing demographic suicide, systematically depopulating itself [2].
According to the report, by 2050, more than 40% of the people in Italy will
be 60 older. By mid-century, populations
in 25 European nations will be lower than they are now; Russia will lose 31
million people, Italy 7.2 million, Poland 6.6 million and Germany 3.9 million.
By one’s religious laxity, we would not wonder why these liberals aimed at
a European-style ‘de-Christianization of America” (who’s known for its confidence
on God because its currency embedded with “In God we trust”) which is evident
brought by these banned school-sponsored, removed Nativity scenes from public
squares, legalized gay marriage.
So what, would we just allow the flow and let that “come what may attitude”
be subsequent in every law endorsement/resolution that’s not
spiritually-oriented adheres than prevented?
Addressing this issue should be a team effort by three institutions of our
society: family as the primary leaders of the children who develop the
significance of going to church activities from early childhood because
addiction of anything starts from a habit until it becomes a tradition, church as
authorities of genuine values and school as homes’ extension which has more
sufficient time of connection with the children than their parents because of
longer hours that a child spends at school.
If there’s a need for the church of innovation in their approach/concept
of bringing the good tidings in the pulpit and rendition of Choral songs to be
more joyful to draw more people, then it should be an urgent call.
Psalm 118:15 The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in
the tents of
the victors: "The LORD'S right hand strikes with power.
According to Australian
Community Survey (ACS) with the research conducted by Perth’s Edith Cowan
University and National Church Life Survey Research (NCLS
who finds out that the church is boring based on its respondents of infrequent
attendees and non-attendee which is composed of some 8500 people across
into eight community types (with more than 1000 responses from each), churches
that draw and keep newcomers have the following characteristics:
1. Newcomers are more often found in
churches where there is a strong sense of direction/vision to which attendees
are committed.
1. Newcomers are more often found in
churches where there is a strong sense of direction/vision to which attendees
are committed.James 3:16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice.
2. Newcomers are more often found in churches where leaders promote the gifts and skills of others and listen to the ideas of attendees which reflects a strong community life and valued involvement.
Acts 4:32 The community of believers was of one heart and mind, and no one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they had everything in common.
3. There is a strong relationship
between the presence of newcomers and attendees inviting others.
Romans15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus,
Romans15:5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus,
4. This is not surprising when most
newcomers are aged between 15 and 39, and there is a strong preference for
contemporary worship among younger attendees (which means that a 60s choral songs
do not fit if majority of the attendees are youth, etc.)
Psalm 33:3 Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant.
Psalm 33:3 Sing to God a new song; skillfully play with joyful chant.
Newcomers are more often found where there’s a high priority placed on developing people’s faith. With newcomers still coming to grips with issues of faith, they’re more likely to be found in congregations where attendees report having grown in faith in the past year.
"All
men are bound to seek the truth, especially in what concerns God and his
Church, and to embrace it and hold on to it as they come to know it."This
duty derives from "the very dignity of the human person." It does not contradict a "sincere respect"
for different religions which frequently "reflect a ray of that truth
which enlightens all men," nor
the requirement of charity, which urges Christians "to treat with love,
prudence and patience those who are in error or ignorance with regard to the
faith[3].”
Man
tends by nature toward the truth. He is obliged to honor and bear witness to
it: "It is in accordance with their dignity that all men, because they are
persons . . . are both impelled by their nature and bound by a moral
obligation to seek the truth, especially religious truth. They are also bound
to adhere to the truth once they come to know it and direct their whole lives
in accordance with the demands of truth[4]."
For more deepening and maximization of church
engagement and values formation, Catholic churches also offers Charismatic
Communities where the abovementioned can be met. As a responsible neighbor to
our colleagues, classmates and loved ones, we can also recommend a community
which may fit their expectation.
Personally, I found myself the Catholic
Community which meets this charism so far in the name of Friends of the Divine Mercy
Prayer
Lord Jesus, help us to maximize our involvement in
church engagement so we could be fully-acquainted and developed by your values
on love, hope and faith which unite not only the family where we are connected
with but also the entire continents where we are interacting with for an exchange
of culture and life’s beauty. Amen!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment