​I recently read Robert Putnam’s book Bowling Alone: the Collapse and Revival of American Community. The book is concerned with the erosion of what is called “social capital”, and while the book is dated (It appeared in 2001 before the rise of social media and the 9/11 attack.), it is still interesting reading. The title comes from the fact that while the number of games bowled has not gone down, participation in bowling leagues has plummeted. The book is full of data and graphs, and even though I am a math geek I have to confess that at times even my eyes glazed over. The book raises a number of important issues about social capital (and I think of them every time I see someone leave their shopping cart in the middle of a parking place), but we are only concerned with some of the data Putnam gives about membership in organizations.
 

​In general participation in and support of organizations has been decreasing. Membership in social groups such as the Elk, Moose and Eagles has been going down with some local chapters having to close. The same is true of civic organizations such as Rotary, Lions, and Kiwanis. Even recreational activities have seen this trend as indicated by the bowling comment above; card playing, such as bridge, has suffered one of the largest decreases. We as Christians are not immune, and Putnam devotes an entire chapter to decreasing church membership and attendance. In addition, charitable giving (in current dollars as a percentage of income) is also down, and mainline churches have felt this the most. Even though we in the Church have had company in this decline, somehow it doesn’t give me comfort.

​Putnam explores several explanations for this decreasing participation without coming to an absolute conclusion. Some things, like the increasing presence of TV, seem to play a role in many contexts, but there appears to be no simple answer. He has the most confidence in the finding that the causes are intergenerational (whatever they may be); the trend started with the pre-baby-boomers and has increased with each succeeding age group. That is, with respect to social capital, the age groups really are different. To find an answer as to why this is happening would be helped by finding out why these generational changes are occurring.

This devotion, however, is really a confession, my confession. I was in college and graduate school during the sixties, and while I was too busy studying and working to have “lived” the sixties (the evidence is that I remember them), I did share with my peers the dislike of institutions and was a non-joiner, one of those about whom Putnam is concerned. In college I declined a fraternity invitation and did not participate in any formal organization, even though I enjoyed informal ones. After Paulette and I married, we attended church pretty regularly and even were involved in Sunday school classes, but I could never bring myself to join. I was wrong! Yes, I led a nominal Christian life, but this non-joining did separate me from God. Finally, our wonderful friends the Drummonds led us to join and be active members of a Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, and our lives were blessed. I don’t know a human answer to declining church membership, but letting God show through us, like it did through the Drummonds is a start. Paul gives us some comfort for this in 2 Corinthians 9:10-15. Remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.​​
Jim