Pew Research Findings: How do We Move From Here?

Clarification

This article is my personal reflection on the recent Pew Research Religious Survey.

We know the sample is statistically significant, and randomly selected via mobile phone dial. This survey would naturally exclude those without mobile phones and those who perpetually reject calls (like me lol). Nevertheless, this survey should be an adequate approximation of Singapore’s population of self-professed Christians.

Deeper Findings Reveal an Immediate Remedy

The survey shows that 79% of Christians attend Church at least once or twice a month (Pg 15). Even if we assume that the bulk of the Christians in error attend less frequently than that, the following groups of Christians still definitely sit in our pews at least once or twice a month:

50% of Christians in Singapore think that their religion is the only true religion, while 49% think that many religions can be true. (Pg 27)
39% of Christians think that it is NOT acceptable for a person to persuade others to join his or her religion. (Pg 68)
41% of Christians in Singapore do NOT pray daily. (Pg 62)
46% of Christians in Singapore think that Karma exists. (Pg 55)
32% of Christians in Singapore think that a person can be truly Christian if they make offerings to spirits of deceased relatives. (Pg 15)
43% of Christians in Singapore think that a person can feel the presence of a deceased family member. (Pg 47)

This means that there is a good opportunity for Churches to address these errors by simply teaching Christians in attendance. However, since some churchgoers might attend Church once or twice a month, Churches might need to rehash some basic teachings for their sake.

A Maturing Church Needs Regular Health Check-Ups

As our evangelism effort grows, discipleship gets messy. I have demonstrated how Christians in error definitely sit in our pews. But we may never know what are the theological gaps to fill.

I suggest creating a State of Theology Survey that Churches can self-administer to diagnose any gaps in fundamental doctrines. Those gaps can then be addressed from the pulpit. See an example here.

There is no shame in realising certain theological gaps in our flock. After all, Christians get sick from time to time when the world subtly infects Christians with lies. What matters is that we give our Churches regular theological health check-ups and administer medicines to address the lies.

As the spirit of the age becomes more viral, deceiving the world concerning sexuality, the sanctity of life and transhumanism, we need a system of self-diagnosis to build healthy Christians.

Mobilising Evangelists Might be Within Closer Reach Than We Think

I suspect that the diminishing growth of Christianity is a symptom of a more fundamental issue. If 49% of self-professed Christians think that many religions are true, then many self-professed Christians in our pews do not understand the Gospel, sin, repentance and salvation.

Herein lies our evangelistic opportunity. Sometimes entering unreached communities is a bridge too far for growing Christians to cross. But this survey shows that many self-professed Christians have already crossed half the bridge to Christ and are already sitting among us. All it takes is for Christians to cross the remaining half of that bridge to win a small victory and build steps toward their confidence in Christ.

Can we structure some Church services such that Christians have a chance to share the full gospel with each other, with facilitation and a checklist? Can we deepen relationships in the pews through meaningful discussions and prayer interspersed during sermons and intercession? Can we sensitively remove any stigma of regular churchgoers attending beginner classes? I believe there are more creative ideas out there.

Redesigning Our Atmosphere for Quiet Contemplation

I felt grief for the fact that 41% of Christians in Singapore do NOT pray daily (Pg 62). The benefits of hearing God’s Voice, resting in His Sweet Presence and enjoying “unproductive” time with Him are worth every second.

But quiet contemplation is an acquired taste. Our culture pounds and drowns us in noise. The only opportunity for silent contemplation is in a peaceful sanctuary. Peace in the bustling and silence in the storm is the countercultural way of life.

We can cultivate this taste by facilitating silent contemplation in our worship sets. Let the foretaste of sweetness drive Christians to pursue a lifestyle of prayer. Let us rediscover the dimension of majesty, reverence and surrender in our worship.

Concluding Thoughts

Who am I to say these things? We should receive more reflections from the Church concerning these weighty issues. May we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Amen.

~Samuel YC Tan