Gallup estimates that approximately 3,500 people are leaving congregations daily, translating to approximately 1.2 million leaving the church yearly. While this doesn't mean those same people are turning their backs on God, it's not a good sign for the future of meaningful relationships with the Lord.
Gallup and Barna stress that 16 percent of Christians don't bother attending church in person. Some have decided to stream their faith, while others skip the church experience entirely. Despite 67 percent of Americans "identifying" as Christians, the number has been precipitously dropping since 1990, when 85 percent of Americans identified as Christians.
Other startling numbers reveal:
- Only 20 percent of Americans attend religious services every week
- Forty-one percent of Americans say they attend religious service monthly
- Fifty-seven percent of Americans seldom or never in religious service attendance
- Regular church attendance has steadily declined since the turn of the century
These numbers have revealed a rising trend of distrust in church leaders and a distaste for attending church services. Others say they appreciate Christian values and Christian culture, but they aren't sure what they believe about Jesus. Some people want faith as the foundation of their lives, but they are no longer interested in doing that with a collective body.
Here are nine tell-tale signs of a Cultural Christian.
1. "I'm spiritual, not religious."
To the unchurched, disavowed, or those who keep God at arm's length, "spiritual" means "care in a dogmatic belief of someone (monotheistic or polytheistic) or something (nontheistic)." Meanwhile, "religious" loosely means to them, "I don't care to go to church just to have some meaning of faith in my life." If you don't think millions of American adults are hurting because of some askew relationship in a church or with people who publicly professed a relationship with God, pay attention to everything up to this point. The church has work to do.
2. "I don't want to offend people."
Anyone who is in a meaningful relationship talks about it. "These are my kids," "Meet my wonderful spouse," or "Come work with me because my job rocks." Likewise, we should never be bashful about our relationship with the Lord.
"Hey, come worship with me" isn't a question that creates weirdness among friends. It's simply a relationship that creates a sense of pride and joy. To a cultural Christian, that's a question that creates tension. The primary reason is because they don't have a place to visit. The personal reason is their relationship with "The Big Guy Upstairs," "Their Inner Child," or "The Sky Daddy," isn't something that matters that much to ask anyone else to be a part of.3. "I believe in God…in my way."
Seriously, what does that even mean? If left to their own devices, that "way" is reading a positive affirmation or biblical verse every other day and just "being nice to one another." Believing in God (your way) and not doing anything about it to better yourself is akin to admitting to needing a better diet but discussing that each week in the drive-thru at McDonald's.
Many cultural Christians feel comfortable believing in God their way because they are fed up with sanctimonious people expressing their thoughts through a judgmental lens. They aren't interested in checklists or weekly morality assignments. They want a participation ribbon for "faith," not Christianity or any other religion. Their way will get them by at their speed.
4. "I don't need to pray (per se)."
All these positive affirmations and expressions of gratitude are nice. Sometimes, they are more sociable than many who attend church every Sunday. However, people today strongly perceive that if you put enough "positive energy" out there, that good mojo is bound to come back to your life.
While there is sound reasoning behind that thinking, Jesus is alive, so we can all have a person with whom to speak and have a positive relationship.
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)
Prayer connects us with the creator of positive thinking, gentle affirmations, and expressions of gratitude. People want that feeling in their lives. Unfortunately, they spend most of their lives looking for ways to create that good mojo, which is in front of their faces the entire time.
5. "I'm a Christian because I'm a Catholic, Baptist, Protestant ___________ … (Fill-in-the-blank)."
That denomination could be fill-in-the-blank because, today, being a Biblical Christian means you go to church. That's it. To spare conversations with the zealous in school or outside at work, an answer like that to being a Christian becomes a force field. The denomination becomes the relationship, and that couldn't be farther from the truth.
Your walk with Christ defines your relationship with Christ. 1 John 2:6 says, "Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked." Do people know who you are based on your company? Children act like their parents, a child's first-ever role model. They also act like their closest friends.
"Evil companionship corrupts good morals" (1 Corinthians 15:33). If any child of God has lackluster friends, their Biblical behavior will fail to keep their "religion" loveable. Another way to put it can be borrowed from Joyce Meyer: "If we are the salt of the world, shouldn't our walk with Christ make others thirsty?" Amen, indeed.
6. "Sure, I follow God."
The danger of being a cultural Christian is found in leadership. Many people believe in themselves for empowerment and independence rather than belief in Jesus for truth and guidance. Of course, they are "going to heaven" because they are "good people."
We are supposed to take up our cross daily, deny ourselves, and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23). Cultural Christians believe if they live a good life, they are safe. Biblical Christians understand we are sinners, devoid of God's love, which requires an ardent passion for Jesus, who alone saves us from sin.
They follow "God" because they can escape human judgment, and we follow Jesus to escape God's judgment.
7. "I know about Jesus."
So does the devil. Everyone knows about Jesus. Some call Him a prophet. Many believe He was a righteous man. Biblical Christians believe He was so much more than that. He is God. Our goal is to know Jesus in a personal way.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 7:21 NIV)
We can see a famous baseball player at batting practice, call out his name for an autograph, meet the person, and thank him for the signature. Yet, we don't know him at all. When Jesus walked on earth, many called out to Him, but only a few knew Him. Knowing enough about Jesus is not enough to fill a conversation. We need to know Christ, the Son of God, to experience an overflowing sense that fills our hearts.
8. "I'm a good person."
We all want to believe that about ourselves. I give to charity, but I go out to clubs like hedonism is regular. I am kind to strangers, but I'll cuss out my family. I don't judge anyone, but I will gossip about anyone. That goes for people inside and outside of a church or Christianity. We all say that but often lack the fruit that shows that.
In 2 Corinthians 13:5, Paul underscores the need to "examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith." The true measure of someone who loves Jesus is their fruit, but not only the low-hanging fruit visible to everyone. What is the fruit of your prayer life? How do you exhibit fruit in your time with Jesus, if at all?
"'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?' And He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Matthew 22:37-39 ESV)
It's not enough to do one and not the other. Honor Jesus with all your fruit, or it's like you never grew fruit at all.
9. "I believe in God alone."
Cultural Christians seem like Biblical Christians. They love God and can approach people with a gentler heart. They want to see God back in school, and they have no issue saying, "God bless you," if you sneeze.
Pay attention. Jesus is rarely mentioned in their conversations. God should be in school but not in prayer. God can bless America, but Jesus doesn't necessarily need to be a part of it. God is love, but Jesus is a source of division. God is here, but Jesus isn't coming back.
They are not Christians; they are deists. There is a source of divine love in their lives, but it is not Jesus Christ. The Son of God is a polarizing source of conflict. Yet, "God alone" is a force field no one can really complain about having. In their hearts and minds, "God is peace. Jesus is conflict."
Like with the previous eight signs, the conflict is their theology and personal relationship with God. Loving the Lord is not supposed to be a fuzzy, milquetoast friendship with a source of good. Having a Savior is an intimate bond that provides a candle in the darkest hour and a compass when we are lost. It's not about a source of good but the Son of the Living God.
In a world where cultural Christianity often replaces a genuine relationship with Christ, it’s crucial to reflect on where we stand in our faith. Are we merely going through the motions, or are we pursuing a meaningful connection with Jesus? True Christianity calls for surrender, discipleship, and a life transformed by grace. May we strive to move beyond surface-level faith and fully embrace the abundant life found in a personal relationship with the Savior.
