New Zeland, Secular?

The World Values Survey recently published findings from a survey of 85 countries. The survey revealed that New Zealand was one of the most secular (post-modern, post-Christendom) nations in the world, right up there with Japan and Sweden.

Today, Dr Kevin Ward from Knox College cites in Challenge Weekly recent statistics by UMR Research showing that New Zealand is far from a secular nation. He says that 56% of Kiwis believe in God and 51% said they believed God had some involvement in creation.

He also states that church attendance is likely to be in the high 20%. This of course represents a gap between stated belief and actual practice. He says, "In a culture where church attendance is still viewed positively, people answer questions in a way the culture indicates they should answer."

I find this opinion that church going is still viewed as positive in this country as baffling. I couldn't disagree more and in fact would say the exact opposite, that church going is viewed by the general (secular) public as completely irrelevant and archaic.

If church going was viewed so popularly, why don't more people go? It certainly is nowhere near the high 20s as he states in the article. It can't possibly be. That would mean that over 1 million people go to church regularly. If there are 2,000 churches in New Zealand (a guess), then that would mean 575 people per church. There certainly aren't 575 people in my church.

It's not the belief in God that makes us secular or not secular, it's the gap between stated belief and practice. This is a very unchristian country, with ever decreasing tolerance for religion and Christians.

The church must admit this and look at how to change it.

Everything I Don't Have

David, coming to the end of his life, wrote Psalm 37. It's like a reflection from a tired old man that has had enough of 'fretting' and his feelings of 'envy' towards what the 'wicked' man has. It reads as though he's given up striving to get what he sees others have, and has given over to trusting the Lord and that what he will inherit is infinitely better than anything he can get in this world.

The Psalm is his exasperation for younger people who live to be the Joneses' equal: having everything they have and ensuring they're not left out of life. I certainly am among them: wanting things others have for whatever reason.

I do love verse 23 in particular.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

How is it that a God of everyone and everything delights in every detail of my life? He directs my steps, so everything I have is from him. And I suppose, everything I don't have is from him too.

It's motivating to think that everything I do, he watches and takes note of, not to condemn, but to enjoy.

Service #8 - 10 + Starbucks and the Great Excuse

It's been a while between posts but Oxygen continues to develop. In the gap we've had three services. The first was full at 25 people, with the two since then having 17 each. All three services have been different and it amazes me how God continues to inspire us to deliver completely different services fortnight after fortnight.

I am reading a book at the moment; "The Gospel According to Starbucks" by Leonard Sweet. It's an interesting read, with an seemingly stupid comparison between Starbucks and church as a theme. It looks at why customers cue to get into Starbucks, but not church. Starbucks sells 30 million cups of coffee every week.

Starbucks is not just selling coffee. Starbucks sells an experience. It's the experience of the setting, music, aroma and the thrill of holding the now famous Starbucks cup. Starbucks is becoming ever more influential in culture and their success cannot be ignored.

Starbucks knows that its product is rooted in the human desire for relationships. People primarily go to Starbucks to talk, not drink coffee. Coffee is just the great excuse.

Church has its own experience. Unfortunately, it's not as engaging as Starbucks for me (even though I don't drink coffee). What is it that Starbucks has that church doesn't?