Posted on 09/30/2002 9:19:01 AM PDT by PayNoAttentionManBehindCurtain
VENTURA, Calif. -- Pollster George Barna, known these days as the bearer of bad tidings about the state of Christianity in America, arrived in his office a few minutes late for a 10 a.m. appointment.
His hair was ruffled; his eyes puffy. Shoulders slouched. Being the George Gallup of the conservative evangelical world is a heavy burden for Barna, who often works into the early morning, deciphering numbers generated by his surveys to find church trends.
The 48-year-old author of 30 books, who describes himself as a raging introvert, is a popular national speaker. And he produces enough in-your-face statistics and blunt talk to irritate pastors, cost him business and earn a reputation for having, as one magazine put it, "the gift of discouragement."
His data undercut some of the core beliefs that should, by definition, set evangelicals apart from their more liberal brethren. Findings of his polls show, for example, that:
• The divorce rate is no different for born-again Christians than for those who do not consider themselves religious.
• Only a minority of born-again adults (44 percent) and a tiny proportion of born-again teenagers (9 percent) are certain that absolute moral truth exists.
• Most Christians' votes are influenced more by economic self-interest than by spiritual and moral values.
• Desiring to have a close, personal relationship with God ranks sixth among the 21 life goals tested among born-agains, trailing such desires as "living a comfortable lifestyle."
'Are people's lives being transformed" by Christianity? Barna has asked. "We can't find evidence of a transformation."
Even Barna's toughest critics concede that Barna Research Group's polls carry considerable weight because of his first-rate surveying techniques and his 17-year-long record of tracking church and cultural trends.
His work has been used by major companies (Ford Motor Co. and Walt Disney, for example) and religious organizations such as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and World Vision.
"He is the accepted authority on church trends," said Bob Cavin, director of the Texas Baptist Leadership Center. "He gives pastors insight, not only into the effectiveness of the church, but with trends in society that help the pastors with their strategic planning."
Because of his influence, many are watching with interest as Barna branches out from his usual business. He has been preoccupied with quantifying contemporary Christian beliefs, attitudes and practices; comparing them with biblical truths; and delivering the results to pastors, Christian leaders and laity. He said that he once hoped his analyses would be used as building blocks for more relevant churches.
But he decided this year to take a more active role by helping to identify and develop new and better church leaders who will boldly go where their predecessors haven't gone before: to radically revamp the church. He said he believes the process will take decades -- generations -- to complete.
"One of our challenges is to revisit the structures and means through which people experience Christ," Barna said. "People have been talking about developing the 'new church' for the past several decades, but nothing new has been forthcoming."
According to Barna, pastors are great teachers, but not necessarily adept at leadership. To back up his claim, he cited one of his own polls: It showed that only 12 percent of senior pastors say they have the spiritual gift of leadership and 8 percent say they have the gift of evangelism. In contrast, two-thirds say they have the gift of teaching or preaching.
"We, not God, have created a system that doesn't work and that we're reluctant to change."
Barna also is in the early stages of establishing a genuine and appealing Christian presence in secular entities: film, music, media and politics. He has identified these as the institutions that hold the most influence over Americans.
What's needed are "skilled professionals who love Christ and model his ways through their thoughts, words and behavior in enviable and biblically consistent ways," he said.
For Barna, the need for better leadership and better Christian role models in the secular world was underscored by a poll he released this month.
9/11 opportunity lost
The survey showed that the Sept. 11 attacks had virtually no lasting effects on America's faith, despite a 20 percent rise in church attendance during the first few weeks afterward.
"We missed a huge opportunity," he said, adding that, because of their own shallow faith, church regulars needed so much reassurance themselves that they couldn't minister to newcomers.
This kind of comment bothers evangelical Christians.
Mike Regele, author of "The Death of the Church," is one of many who believe the Barna Research Group's statistical work is excellent, but the conclusions drawn by the company's founder are too harsh.
The hypocrisy of Christians, Regele said, "has been a part of the church, probably since the day of Pentecost" and doesn't indicate its collapse.
"It sounds like he's very, very angry at the church," said Regele, a church critic himself who is ultimately an optimist. "There are reasons to be disappointed, but scripture never said we'd be perfect. We shouldn't view the whole institution as a failure."
With each new Barna poll or book, the attacks begin again: He's too negative; he has it in for pastors; he's arrogant.
The criticism "would affect any human being," said Barna, a husband and father of two. "We all want to be loved and accepted by others, but we also have a higher calling to which we each must be true."
Barna said he has learned painfully that giving advice on how to revitalize churches in America is a hugely complex proposition that doesn't fit well into sound bites. He has learned to be more guarded.
Although his statistics often show self-described Christians living lives no different from those of atheists, Barna's faith never has wavered.
"The issue isn't whether Jesus or Christianity is real," he said. "The issue is, are Americans willing to put Christ first in their lives?
You make a good baptist al_c. :)
Then what a let down it was to see it slip back to normal or below so quickly. We put so many things before God, even though He told us not to do that.
The churches droped the ball, when folks come to visit, we should take the time to make them a part of whats going on and get to know them, not just hi how are ya, good to see ys, see ya next Sunday, if we have grown up just alittle in the Lord we can get past our own petty needs and attend to the REAL needs of others.
BigMack
I remember my high school choir director. He used to be a music director for Mansfield Christian School in Ohio. When we asked why he left, he told us he was fired because he divorced his wife. I remember thinking at the time, echoing the sentiment of those around me, that his firing was outrageously intolerant and rediculous. On thinking about it now, though I love that man and he had an enormous influence on me, were I in the position of the school administrators I absolutely would have let him go. But our society has made it so easy and acceptable for something like divorce to occur that it seems our "rights" as Americans are made to be excersized and that they somehow trump our responsibilities and obligations as followers of Jesus Christ.
If you want to know where to reverse these trends, it has to start in our families. Having seen first hand what divorce, adultery, pre-marital sex, substance abuse, and even homosexuality can do to a family or an individual, I will be vigilant in making sure my children are armed with the Word and ready for these battles before they happen.
Yes thats is the main problem today, not many will make the hard choices today, we have always made the hard choices in our life, and have tried to help others when they came to us for advise, and almost to a 100% they will say thats good advise, but then will go on to do the easy thing in their lifes, and then wonder why their lifes are in such a mess.
If you want to know where to reverse these trends, it has to start in our families. Having seen first hand what divorce, adultery, pre-marital sex, substance abuse, and even homosexuality can do to a family or an individual, I will be vigilant in making sure my children are armed with the Word and ready for these battles before they happen.
Amen!
BigMack
As a calvinist I do not believe that rock music or hip sermons or having free movies and popcorn after the service will grow the Church of Jesus Christ. It will "grow " the numbers attending some churches perhaps...but not "The Church" . As for those that walked down to the altar to strains of "Just as I am " and continue just as they were ? They were never regenerated by the grace of God to begin with .Read the OT..see what happens to men when they stand in the presence of God..Read the life of the apostles and early marytrs and see what happens when one is "born again from above". NO man can meet God and not change.That heart transplant changes the desire of your heart.Look at what passes for "the church" today..The tares will grow alongside the wheat untill the Harvest comes.
Calvinists knew that 9/11 would make no lasting change in "born again " numbers. God has written in His Book of Life the names of those that will come..and they will come when He decides
Read this quote and weep for the church
He gives pastors insight, not only into the effectiveness of the church, but with trends in society that help the pastors with their strategic planning."
Jesus was a terrible failure by Barna standards..we are told that as he taught many turned and walked away...and then to top it off they were the ones..the ones healed and taught ..the ones that welcomed him as King on Palm Sunday that yelled "crucify him!"
It is clear that Jesus needed a new stragetic method...
The salvation of the many depends not on how clever or smart of how food the music..It matters not if it be a time of peace or a time of war...Jesus told us a very important truth
Jhn 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
All that are intended to come..will hear His voice and follow Him...
That is the breeding grounds for apostacy.
BigMack
A guest preacher at my church harangued us one Sunday with the idea that it was the church's primary job to reach the lost, not "teach the deep things of the Bible." I sya its both!
Don't make me come up there to Bixby and whoop up on ya! ;o)
Then what a let down it was to see it slip back to normal or below so quickly. We put so many things before God, even though He told us not to do that.
The churches droped the ball, when folks come to visit, we should take the time to make them a part of whats going on and get to know them, not just hi how are ya, good to see ys, see ya next Sunday, if we have grown up just alittle in the Lord we can get past our own petty needs and attend to the REAL needs of others.
Agreed. Instead, we complained about not being able to park and find a decent seat. Keep preachin', brother Mack!
I never have like you. :) just kidding. :)
As a calvinist I do not believe that rock music or hip sermons or having free movies and popcorn after the service will grow the Church of Jesus Christ. It will "grow " the numbers attending some churches perhaps...but not "The Church" .
The flames will burn ya Mom on this, the music thing is way over done, I agree with you totaly.
Calvinists knew that 9/11 would make no lasting change in "born again " numbers.
Ya didn't corner the market on that one, us IFBBs were saying the same thing.
Read this quote and weep for the church
He gives pastors insight, not only into the effectiveness of the church, but with trends in society that help the pastors with their strategic planning."
He must believe in the purpose driven church thing, have you read the book, The Purpose Driven Church?
BigMack
But sometimes that change takes time.
That's the biggest problem I have with a lot of the newer churches today. Way too "seeker-oriented." The church is just as much if not more about guiding the believer and teaching the deep things as you've said.
I'm curious to know how many people in here know what they do about church doctrine, church history, and basic tenets of the Christian faith from their church. I personally learned nearly everything I know from outside the church.
Are you really that stupid? Guess so.
BigMack
In a way though, "the church" still taught me, just not the local church.
I belonged to a church were it was MANDATORY reading..I was in "charge " of the Classes
Mack,it is symptomatic of men thinking THEY are gods:>)
BigMack
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.