This article refers to those who have left the church, those who consider leaving the church and those who want to be members, but have problems with the traditional belief, so that they are hard to wholeheartedly join in the church.
The Church of Sweden loses members - almost 90,000 people left the church in 2016. The most common reasons for leaving the church are faith (40%), non-relevant (18%) and economics (17%). Many people feel they cannot afford it. Perhaps they think the church costs too much or is not worth the money they pay in taxes for it. Others have problems with the dogmas, in other words, beliefs that are regarded as indisputable truths.
What must be believed in order to be called Christians? Do you have to literally believe that the Bible is the word of God? Do you have to believe in virgin birth? Do you have to believe that Jesus was the Son of God? Do you have to believe in miracles and that Jesus had supernatural powers? Do you have to believe in the resurrection and the heavenly journey of Jesus? In short, do you have to believe in the content of the creed?
Room for discussion
The church today has a great deal of room for discussion
and different perceptions. There is, for example, a hymn with this text:
I often have questions, Lord, but
so rarely do I have answers.
I often stand at a junction, and I hesitate to choose.
Often, I am lonely, my
questions lack words.
I often have questions, Lord, but
so rarely do I have answers.
A large part of the traditional church's dogmas, beliefs, do not conform to the rules governing everything we know about the universe today. In addition, the church reflects values and perceptions that existed during the first century when dogmas were the case – a time when facts and myth were impossible to distinguish from each other. The church today is not what it was at that time.
Jesus Christ as a model
Jesus Christ revealed in the Gospels is a model to make the world a better and safer place to live. In my opinion, the Church can offer a more accessible, more realistic and human Jesus as the key to a new life and a new humanity without old-fashioned creeds and dogmas. The church today does not have to be seen in the same way as it was seen a long time ago.
In his book, The Great Spiritual Migration, Brian D. McLaren summarizes Jesus as follows: "Through his life and his teaching, in compassionate interaction with individuals and groups, with convincing non-violence, even to the extent that he endured a violent death, Jesus shows us a generous God, a God in deep solidarity with all creation, a God whose power is manifest in mildness, kindness and love."
McLaren calls for a loving way of life – a Jesus way of life. Love, he says, is a word that easily turns into a cliché. Together with grace and mercy, he speaks of non-violence, kindness, fellowship, solidarity, friendship and humanity, as examples of synonymous with love. He expresses this as follows: "Whatever of these words we use, we see love in all that Jesus says and does."
Focus on the relevant
There are many problems in the world. The ecological crisis, as if left uncontrolled, will lead to environmental collapse. The economic crisis, which increases inequalities, and which exploits or excludes the world's poor. The social and political crisis of race, ethnicity, class, religious, political conflicts. The list can be made almost endless. Nuclear war, war in general, all forms of discrimination, overpopulation, drug abuse, government-level corruption.
The church is not without problems. The church is not led by untouchables. Perhaps we should ignore some of what the church does wrong and concentrate on what's right: the church supports open immigration, welcomes refugees, provides housing to the homeless, provides hungry with food, helps sick, elderly and lonely. See Svenskakyrkan.se to get an idea of what the Church of Sweden does to make the world a better and fairer place to live in.
Jesus said, "Indeed, what you have not done for any of these least, you have not done for me either." The Swedish Church is working to eliminate these problems. Hopefully, this work will help to promote the common good.
Trying to save the world is something Swedish Church and other religious institutions already do with other organizations such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, MSF, and other organizations that help in various crises that threaten our existence. Without a doubt, all these organizations work for a common goodness.
Does the church have a future?
The church doesn’t have to die. It can work for a better future for everyone and not least for the church itself.
The church today isn’t as dogmatic or doctrinaire as it was many years ago. Today the church is a relevant participant in society. You who have left the church, you who are considering leaving the church and you who want to be members, but have problems with the traditional beliefs, to the point that you have a hard time wholeheartedly being a member of the church, reconsider.
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