Decline.

When Churches in the West realize that Christian Churches are dying they always ask the wrong question.

They ask: How can we get more (young) people in the Church?

But this is self-serving.

It amounts to getting bums on seats in order to appease the guilt that they feel about the decline of the Church. 

And it relates to efforts to reestablish Orthodox Christian theology to its former position of dominance.

Because they think that Christianity is Orthodox conservative ideology.

But this is to ignore Jesus' words.

Jesus said to the chief priests and elders of Israel: "'Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.'"  Matthew 21:31 (NRSV)

Because they say yes to God but do not do what He says.

What we should be asking is: What can we do to help others in the community around us?

What can we give, not what can we get!

But people seem not to be interested in such things.

They romanticize the Church of the 1950s and reminisce about tennis clubs and youth groups.

But these are just social clubs and entertainment.

What did they really contribute?

That's just about power and authority.

As it was in Jesus' day.

Photo Credit: holyfamilystow.org