Statistics and calculations intrigue and fascinate me in a way that algebra never did. They tell us so much about life and the world. Being a sociology major in college (not music, as many who know me might have guessed), I especially appreciated the connection those two disciplines have to each other. Research and data gained from surveys and empirical observation can bring everyday realities into a deeper focus.

One in five – that’s how many people attend church on a given weekend, taking into account that our Jewish siblings, many Catholics, and even some Lutherans go on Saturday evening. “The frozen chosen” is a sad commentary, even if it’s glib and self-deprecating humor. The further truth  of it is that on those worship occasions, about one-third of the congregation is in attendance. Adding another layer, the info I just shared is from pre-Covid days. “Them’s the facts”. That is discouraging, because we need the in-person, “live” reminder that our confessed sins are forgiven; the stories we hear in Scripture are OUR stories; our songs, prayers, and the message are intended to be communal practices; our gathering at the Table of the Lord signifies and embodies our very Savior Himself. We can’t be of any earthly good if we do not remember, rejoice, and refresh. Our faithful obedience helps us be better missionaries, ambassadors, and disciples.

Despite the “mega-church” phenomenon, we should not get carried away or anxious about numerical growth. The Christian Way was, in the beginning, a grass-roots movement. Indeed, the very word “movement” is precisely what following Jesus is. That too involves movement. We were not supposed to be the vast majority, at least not by our own doing. Our Lord’s church will always be just that – his, along with his ambassadors, disciples, and missionaries. We seek not popularity. We are not after “bigger is better”. There has always been one Lord, and his church will never just fade away. The truth of numbers will never lie to us, whether they be positive or negative. If you are only one in five or represent the one-third, you are always marvelous in His eyes, showered with unconditional love.

Pastor Art