This morning, thanks to the USA Today, I learned that the "Nones" have now become the second largest religious category after Catholics. That's after Catholics, so we do mean "Nones", not Nuns. The "Nones", those that claim no religious identity, now outnumber the nation's largest Protestant denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention. While this demographic does include atheists and agnostics, consider that, among this group:
*68% believe somewhat in God or a higher power
*41% say that they pray
*23% think religion is at least somewhat important in their life
Al Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, offered a warning, "This is a wake-up call. We have an incredible challenge ahead for committed Christians." I agree. But I am afraid that most of the Amercian church, while cringing at such statistics, will respond in its usual way. That means we will likely take our "let's-just-hope-it-goes-away" stance while trying to convinve ourselves that things are going just fine. But that's unacceptable. Jesus has not called us to be observers of His Kingdom work, but active participants. So for those who love Jesus and want others to love Him, too, what do we do? I don't have all the answers and I know that I need time to really process this latest information. But I do know this: the gospel is sufficient to meet this challenge! So let's pray for the lost. Let's take the Good News to them, where they live, work, and play. Let's tell them about Jesus. Let's show them Jesus in the way we live and interact with them. Let's love them and serve them with the heart of Christ. They may be called "Nones", but that doesn't mean they're nothing. They are made in the image of God; they are sinners that need a Savior. And that's something. A really big something.
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