Believing Without Belonging

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There is a frightening trend in contemporary Christianity. It’s a phenomenon known as “believing without belonging”. Large numbers of individuals say they believe in Jesus Christ but no longer belong to, or participate in, the communal life of the Church. Why? What is behind this trend?  What can we do about this?

Likely we all have family members and friends who have stopped going to church. It is not unusual to hear them say, “I am a Christian, but I don’t go to Church anymore,” or “I am spiritual, but I do not believe in organized religion.” Hearing someone say these things always saddens me.

One question we should all ask ourselves is this, “Do I only believe in Jesus, or do I also believe Jesus?” Reread that question carefully. Those are two entirely different things. We can believe in Jesus as a historical figure, but not believe His teachings. Jesus instituted His Church. His Church is known as the “Bride of Christ.” Jesus wants to have an intimate relationship with His Church. This begs the question, “Can anyone truly be a follower of Christ and not be a member of His Church? That’s a tough question.

The concept of “believing without belonging” highlights a disconnect between personal faith and communal worship. Sadly, way too many people today express a belief in Christ but choose not to be an active participant in a faith community. All around us, we can see that secularization has led to a decline in traditional religious observance. Too many people today distance themselves from organized religion. They claim their spirituality is a personal matter. Have you heard this? Maybe this describes you.

Our Christian faith, as established by Jesus, is inherently a communal faith. Jesus, Himself, established the Church and He called us to be a part of it. So, if we say we are followers of His, it seems paradoxical to say, “I am a Christian, but I am not into the Church thing.” To say this seems to be rejecting His call to physically, not merely spiritually, be “an active part of the one body.”

Our Christian faith is deeply rooted in the community of believers. No Christian should be alone and isolated. Faith is much more than a private relationship between a believer and God. We are meant to be actively in physical communion with others. We need the Church to provide a nurturing environment where we can grow in faith, supported by the collective experience and wisdom of the entire community.

Unfortunately, human tendencies, and culture, place too much emphasis on individualism and personal choice. Many Christians prioritize personal spirituality over communal worship. For them, a church community seems restrictive or unnecessary.

The Church itself is not without fault. Too often some churches and parishes present an unwelcoming atmosphere. This can lead people to feel alienated rather than embraced. The bureaucratic nature of some church structures can also detract from the pastoral care that we all seek. People can feel disconnected. This disconnect further perpetuates the cycle of “believing without belonging.”

To combat this, our churches should encourage dialogue and understanding among its members. When the Church fosters an inclusive atmosphere, it helps individuals feel valued and connected. Ultimately this encourages them to participate more fully in the life of the community.

Declining church attendance can be attributed to many things. The decline in church attendance among Christians can be attributed to: secularization, a crisis of belonging, internal challenges within the Church, and the cultural shift that prioritize individualism over communal worship.

Another major issue leading to believing without belonging is the large number, over 40,000, of Christian denominations. This has led to a fragmented understanding of faith and community.

An over emphasis on personal interpretation of Scripture and individual experiences over communal traditions risks the further fragmentation of the Church. Christian spirituality can begin to lack a solid foundation. When this happens personal beliefs take precedence over the shared doctrines and practices that have historically united Christians.

The Church, with all of its diversity, still requires unity. We are, after all, the one Body of Christ. In Ephesians 4:1-6 Paul tells us there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all.

The constant division within the Church ultimately leads to, “the church of me.”  Left unchecked, this will completely fracture the Body of Christ. As this happens, we risk losing the richness that comes from engaging with the broader Christian tradition.

In John 17:21 Jesus prayed that we would be one, as the Father is in Him and He is in the Father. As one Church, we should always display the love and unity of our Triune God.

So, what can you and I do to change this trend? To begin with we must be a living witness to our true Christian faith and the joy that comes from being a active member of the Body of Christ. Our lives should embody the Gospel message. We need to work hard at making all individuals feel welcomed and valued. We need to be more ecumenical. We need to bring an end to bickering and division within the Church and between our various denominations. We need to start inviting our friends and family members to church.

In the end, the Church, as the Body of Christ, thrives when its members actively participate in its life and mission. Ultimately this leads to a deeper connection with God and one another. If you and I do our part, we will begin to see a shift from the trend of believing without belonging to a new trend with a vibrant Church made up of BELEVING AND BELONGING CHRISTIANS!

There is much work to do. “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” Let’s get busy today!

Heavenly Father, the harvest is indeed plentiful. Grant me the grace to live out my unique role in The Body of Christ and strength of commitment and the proper words to reach out to those who have drifted away from the Church. Help me to lead them home in a Christ like manner. Amen!   

 AMDG

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Brian Pusateri

Brian is a Christian author and speaker. Brian, a lifelong Catholic, felt his life was forever changed when God spoke to his heart while attending an eight day silent Christian retreat in November of 2011. Soon after that retreat Brian founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. With the God inspired message of mercy and unconditional love that was placed on his heart during that retreat, Brian has been impacting others all over the country and around the world with his weekly letters, his talks, and his all day Christian retreats. In June of 2014, Brian’s life was again impacted in a very dramatic way when his eyesight suddenly became permanently impaired. The initial diagnosis was Multiple Scleroses (MS) but in December of 2019 the diagnosis was corrected to MOG antibody disease, a rare neurological disease. This health challenge has only served to draw Brian closer to God and bolster the importance of this timely yet ageless message.

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