Why have the “nones” become the largest religious group in America?
This morning we awakened to the news story that we have been expecting for decades: The largest religious group in the United States in now people “who believe nothing in particular.” During a time when mega churches dominate the evangelical landscape, how has this come to be? In our work with No Harbor, we have listened to the stories of hundreds of “nones.” As we have said so many times, the reasons so many have left are not because they are no longer interested in faith or hate God, but because they feel that the church has failed to live out the teachings of Jesus. It is a matter of values. So, following is a short list of values which are present in the Evangelical church which has caused so many to become nones.
The Evangelical church has come to value…
Programs over human connection
Excellence over lifting up the weak
Visionary leaders over humble shepherds
Afterlife in an immaterial eternity over pursuit of justice and mercy in the here and now
Seeking change in culture rather than in our own hearts
Legislative action over living out the gospel
Criminalizing abortions over compassionately addressing the issues that lead to them
Love for America over love for our neighbor
The Bible over the one who to whom the Bible points
Dominant culture over diversity and inclusion
No Harbor is sometimes accused of being negative about the church. We are encouraged to “bring solutions” rather than “complaining.” However, we believe that the primary solution is repentance for the hurt and damage the church has caused. We can’t repent or take responsibility for other people, only ourselves. So, we have chosen to walk along side of nones, to help them heal and rediscover Jesus in a new context, rather than try to fix that over which we have no control.
If you would like to join a cohort to be in community with other people who are on a journey to heal, reframe, and rediscover Jesus, please visit our cohort page.
Forlornly Rushing into Peril,
John