I am looking out my office window at the roof of the sanctuary—a roof which, instead of its usual coppery green, is blanketed with white. It is a quiet day here. Even the street noise is muffled. The church, which follows the pattern of the New York Public Schools, is closed. Our maintenance crew is salting and shoveling and trying to keep up.
The snow is swirling in a hypnotic way. At times, I cannot see the cross on top of the steeple. Then, it emerges. Not even a classic Nor’Easter can keep it hidden for long. It is keeping me company as I work on my sermon.
On my desk is a small brass cylinder. It is also keeping me company—holding me accountable. The cylinder has a cross etched on it. If you unscrew the cap, the smell of frankincense fills the room. There is a small sponge in the bottom saturated with the oil. It is what we use to anoint people; and this Sunday, we have some remarkable people to anoint.
Confirmation Sunday is upon us. This past Tuesday, five of our young members read their Statements of Faith before the Session. It was a powerful moment. If it wouldn’t have been so “uncool,” we would have hugged them to pieces for their bravery, their truth-telling, their willingness to say what they believe. In two days, they will stand before the congregation and take responsibility for their faith. I have got my oil ready.
As they join our ranks, I am grateful. They represent our church’s future. They are also a vital part of our present. They are already contributing to our communal life in crucial ways. They are serving in mission, they are assisting in worship, they are asking difficult questions. Without their voices, their presence, their ability to keep us honest, we are incomplete.
They are also, of course, bucking the trend. All across this country, young people are expressing a declining appreciation for (and opinion of) the Christian faith. Recent surveys indicate that only 16% of non-Christians in this country between the ages of 16 and 29 have a positive view of Christianity. Since non-Christians (and the religiously unaffiliated) are the fastest growing segment of our population, this should concern us. A lot!
Now, my usual knee-jerk reaction when the church is being criticized is to explain why we are really not as bad as we are being portrayed. I may be getting cautious as I get older. Because this time, before we make our case, and I believe there is a good case to be made, I think it is important to understand (and listen to) these criticisms. I have survey data that I am going to present this coming Sunday, but I am also interested in your opinions—your perspectives. Why do you think young people have an increasingly poor opinion of our faith?
Wow. The snow is really coming down right now. Not to worry, though, the cross is still there. So is the anointing oil…