Are People Really Heading Back to Churches?

In his New York Times podcast series, columnist Ross Douthat has a fascinating interview with Paul Kingsnorth, author of the new book, Against the Machine. Kingsnorth was, for quite some time, principally an environmental activist. While that continues to be close to his heart, he has set his sights on the technology that has, quite recently, taken over most of our lives.

“The Machine” of Kingsnorth’s title is not any one particular machine or technology, but rather an encompassing culture that he regards as anti-human and anti-nature. His critique points to a loss of moral/theological narratives. Formerly indifferent to religion, Kingsnorth seems to one of an increasing number of intellectuals who are turning to the Christian faith.

Another reason to turn to faith and go to church is documented in a new book by Rebecca McLaughlin, How The Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life. It’s about the physical and mental-health benefits of church membership and participation in a worship practice. The book is reviewed by Kathryn Butler at Christianity Today. Others have noted the health benefits of churchgoing, but McLaughlin’s study seems more deeply researched and points out that there’s something more going on here than just being with other people. Joining with other people to support your kids’ soccer team every week doesn’t do it, but churchgoing does. Why?

“The findings,” comments Butler, are striking. “Church attendance reduces all-cause mortality by nearly 30 percent over a 15-year period and protects women against suicide by 400 percent. Weekly churchgoing in women over 40 is as protective against death as annual mammograms, McLaughlin writes. Those attending services more than weekly at age 20 have “a roughly seven-year greater life expectancy than their nonchurchgoing peers. Churchgoing protects against alcohol, smoking, and drug abuse; and decreases the odds of depression by one-third.”

Like the reviewer Butler, I am a bit of a skeptic about this whole genre because it turns something that is best understood as an end in itself — faith and worship of God — into a secondary and instrumental purpose, that is, improving your health. But Butler points out that McLaughlin doesn’t actually stop there. She goes on to bear witness to the actual gospel, as Butler notes: “The greatest gift McLaughlin offers her readers isn’t an invitation to church, however. It’s an invitation into a relationship with the one who makes church so priceless in the first place.”

One more faith and church story is about the surprising surge of young males showing up at churches in Scandinavia and England over the last couple years. This is discussed by theologian Andy Root at his podcast, under the title “Quiet Revival Brewing.” No one, least of all established churches in Scandinavia and the U.K., saw this coming. Now they are perplexed and wondering what all these young men are doing here, and if it’s okay. My friend Dennis Saunders at his “Church and Main” site picked up on this in a post, “When the Wrong People Come to Church.” Check it out.

This all reminds me of a time when a church I was serving was having an influx of new people. Before service I stood in the back by the choir. One long-time member watching the surge of unfamiliar faces said aloud, “Who are all these people?” The unspoken meaning seemed to be, “And what are they doing in my church?” We’re a funny bunch.