The Journey 283
Read: 1 Kings 21
A major news that was published this week was the results of the poll survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre’s Forum on Religion and Public Life with regards to the religious belief of people living in United States. According to the survey one in five Americans today are unaffiliated with any religion. Another important aspect of this survey is that among this, one in five, nearly third of adults under thirty are the most in the religious non affiliation group. There had been a shift over the years in the past decade for many people to move away from organized religion though the excuses that they offered seemed to be based on decision done on an emotional level and also trying to perceive religion more as a commodity that offers them satisfaction and other benefits with the least amount of risk involved in life. When the survey was conducted in 2007, percentage of adults in the unaffiliated religious group was only 15% and now in 2012 it has risen to 20%. The people who are included in the religious unaffiliated are about 13 million atheist and agnostics which is almost 6%of American population and also along with them are the 33 million people who also claim that they have no religion at all. But then though the poll survey has an increase of people joining the non– religious affiliated group, their belief system is somewhat different from their concept about religious affiliation. According to the survey, those respondents who professed that they are religiously unaffiliated, about 68% of these people stated that they believed in God, while about 21% stated they prayed everyday, while almost 58% claimed that they had a deep connection with nature and earth. Moreover a majority of respondents stated that they believed that Church’s and other religious institution were beneficial to the local community and that it made a positive impact in the lives of common people. I feel all these results of the survey could be a pointer to repelling factor of religion especially from people who claim to be religious. Looking at the results of the poll survey, one can say that there could be a number of factors that may have resulted in people moving from being affiliated to any religion. But we need to ask ourselves, those who affiliate themselves with religion, or for those of us to whom our faith is important, have we in any way compounded to the spread of people claiming to be unaffiliated to any religion?. I believe faith living is all about a relationship and life style, but when that relationship and life style is absent in the life of Christians, that may be the beginning of detestation of the next generation towards Christian faith. How do we stem the rot or make our faith living relevant and meaningful to people?.
When we read the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Kings, we will find a number of Kings who were appointed by God, who chose to do right while some consciously chose to do evil, resulting into a nation being blessed or sometimes a future generation being punished. In 1 Kings 21, we find an incident concerning King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and a person who owns a vineyard, Naboth. The King in his pursuit for material possession wants the vineyard of Naboth as it lies next to his palace. But when Naboth refuses to give the vineyard, the king’s wife Jezebel hatches an evil plot to kill Naboth and then in a sly manner usurp the land of Naboth. The plot succeeds and Naboth is stoned to death and Ahab is able to get the prime land that he wanted. A king who was supposed to be the security of his people, a lady who had also to be a model to the people as king’ wife, both manipulated their position and became partners in crime and in using unjust means to grab material favours. Finally when prophet Elijah brings warning from the Lord, Ahab repents and the Lord is merciful to Ahab. Here is a king appointed by the Lord, but in due course, both his life and ministry is not directed by God nor His values, but directed by values of selfishness, materialism and having no guilt feeling in using the most selfish and sadistic method to achieve ones dream of getting rich. I think as we work together in the body of Christ and live as community of believers, I tend to believe that often we are also like Ahab, though claiming to be God’s people, have no guilt or shame to use and pervert any laws, both Godly and the law of the land to propagate our selfish and materialistic desires. Thus Church’s today has often becomes power centre's, center’s of money, influence and power. Until we all humble ourselves and repent, we may be creating a cascading effect on others and thus could be one of the factors for others to say that they don't want to be affiliated to any church or religion
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla
A major news that was published this week was the results of the poll survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre’s Forum on Religion and Public Life with regards to the religious belief of people living in United States. According to the survey one in five Americans today are unaffiliated with any religion. Another important aspect of this survey is that among this, one in five, nearly third of adults under thirty are the most in the religious non affiliation group. There had been a shift over the years in the past decade for many people to move away from organized religion though the excuses that they offered seemed to be based on decision done on an emotional level and also trying to perceive religion more as a commodity that offers them satisfaction and other benefits with the least amount of risk involved in life. When the survey was conducted in 2007, percentage of adults in the unaffiliated religious group was only 15% and now in 2012 it has risen to 20%. The people who are included in the religious unaffiliated are about 13 million atheist and agnostics which is almost 6%of American population and also along with them are the 33 million people who also claim that they have no religion at all. But then though the poll survey has an increase of people joining the non– religious affiliated group, their belief system is somewhat different from their concept about religious affiliation. According to the survey, those respondents who professed that they are religiously unaffiliated, about 68% of these people stated that they believed in God, while about 21% stated they prayed everyday, while almost 58% claimed that they had a deep connection with nature and earth. Moreover a majority of respondents stated that they believed that Church’s and other religious institution were beneficial to the local community and that it made a positive impact in the lives of common people. I feel all these results of the survey could be a pointer to repelling factor of religion especially from people who claim to be religious. Looking at the results of the poll survey, one can say that there could be a number of factors that may have resulted in people moving from being affiliated to any religion. But we need to ask ourselves, those who affiliate themselves with religion, or for those of us to whom our faith is important, have we in any way compounded to the spread of people claiming to be unaffiliated to any religion?. I believe faith living is all about a relationship and life style, but when that relationship and life style is absent in the life of Christians, that may be the beginning of detestation of the next generation towards Christian faith. How do we stem the rot or make our faith living relevant and meaningful to people?.
When we read the Old Testament, especially in the Book of Kings, we will find a number of Kings who were appointed by God, who chose to do right while some consciously chose to do evil, resulting into a nation being blessed or sometimes a future generation being punished. In 1 Kings 21, we find an incident concerning King Ahab, his wife Jezebel and a person who owns a vineyard, Naboth. The King in his pursuit for material possession wants the vineyard of Naboth as it lies next to his palace. But when Naboth refuses to give the vineyard, the king’s wife Jezebel hatches an evil plot to kill Naboth and then in a sly manner usurp the land of Naboth. The plot succeeds and Naboth is stoned to death and Ahab is able to get the prime land that he wanted. A king who was supposed to be the security of his people, a lady who had also to be a model to the people as king’ wife, both manipulated their position and became partners in crime and in using unjust means to grab material favours. Finally when prophet Elijah brings warning from the Lord, Ahab repents and the Lord is merciful to Ahab. Here is a king appointed by the Lord, but in due course, both his life and ministry is not directed by God nor His values, but directed by values of selfishness, materialism and having no guilt feeling in using the most selfish and sadistic method to achieve ones dream of getting rich. I think as we work together in the body of Christ and live as community of believers, I tend to believe that often we are also like Ahab, though claiming to be God’s people, have no guilt or shame to use and pervert any laws, both Godly and the law of the land to propagate our selfish and materialistic desires. Thus Church’s today has often becomes power centre's, center’s of money, influence and power. Until we all humble ourselves and repent, we may be creating a cascading effect on others and thus could be one of the factors for others to say that they don't want to be affiliated to any church or religion
Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph Kuruvilla