The hijacking of Christianity. Part 6 of 6
People wonder why Christianity seems to be fading away. The percentage of people claiming “no religious preference” has risen significantly, from two percent in 1948 to twenty-two percent in 2023. Only eleven percent of Gen Zers report attending religious services weekly. Thirty-eight percent report never attending religious services. Many in Generation Z won’t step foot in a church because of negative perceptions or because they see no use for it.
The purpose of Christianity is clear as mud. It’s been hijacked by other interests. In this Hijacking of Christianity series, I’ve described five types of hijacking that are driving people away.
Podcast show links with added content: Substack, YouTube video, Spotify, and Apple podcasts. These appear a day after blog-article posts.
Ref. verse
“Jesus answered them, ‘Beware that no one leads you astray.’”- Matthew 24:4
“You will know them [Jesus’ followers] by their fruits [what they do for others]. – Matthew 7:16-20
The crumbling empire due to radical misdirection
The first hijacking was the purpose of the church changed for some from love of God and neighbor, and demonstrating to others the love of God, to screaming about sin. The Apostle Paul talked about this in the Book of Revelation. It was the church of Ephesus in that day, and today it’s many churches.
The second hijacking was the replacement of the purpose of the church from love of God and showing love to neighbor, to proclaiming the end times and withdrawing from the world. This has gone on for over 200 years. This became very appealing in the 1960s and is still popular today. It’s much more fun to talk about a fright fest than to demonstrate love for others. Sadly, some are in love with the idea of the eternal punishment of others and not at all interested in loving them.
The third was the hijacking by power, money, and betrayal. This is a form of “corporate Christianity” where things like capitalism and democracy become conflated with the teachings of the church. This began in the 1930s and is still popular today.
The fourth hijacking was by powerful groups saying that Jesus was wrong and it’s really about power. This was from an offshoot of that 1930s effort. It became a quiet movement that infected many government and military leaders. Only in recent years has the government begun to separate itself from it.
The fifth was hijacking by zealots who want the church to stand for nationalism and racism. In the year 300, Roman Emperor Constantine began to integrate the church with government. It was a bad combination that over the centuries oppressed many people. The Protestant Reformation drove a wedge into this, so today few governments openly espouse religion. But it’s too tempting, and many nationalistic zealots appeal to religion to justify their racism and other hatred.
The sixth was hijacking by those who dismiss the primary teachings of the prophets, Jesus, and the church about helping the poor, infirm, and those without support, replacing it with a lust for “riches.” This lust was apparent during the explorer years of the 1400s when nations plundered other nations in the name of Christianity. It continues today with many opposing these ideas about assisting others. We see groups who would rather proclaim religion as the way to personal financial wellbeing and wealth than having anything to do with love of others.
Is it any wonder that people are confused about what the church stands for and have negative images of it?
Jesus showed people the way into the domain (kingdom) of God that is here now and forever. It’s a spiritual domain, not an earthly one. Followers are known by their fruits, which is what they do for others.
The power of truth must be our weapon. Jesus himself spoke truth, and those who resonated with it followed him. Just as in his time, new generations today, that is Millennials, Generation Z, and Generation Alpha, resonate with Jesus’ authentic truth and readily recognize the false and often harmful portrayals of Christianity that have emerged. It is this inherent truth that will ultimately prevail.
Conclusion
Religion is a very powerful force, and many powerful people have hijacked it for their own purposes over the centuries since Jesus’ time. Some of Christianity is hardly recognizable today.
I don’t have a problem with different denominations emphasizing different things. People are not all the same, and different things resonate with them. My concern is when they go off the rails to be mired in the swamp of rotten purposes.
Christianity is not about nationalism, not about money and power, not zealotry and forcing people to do what you want through military or other power, not screaming about perceived sin, not preoccupation with searching for signs of the end, and not freedom and democracy.
Christianity is about acquainting people with the way to live, as demonstrated by Jesus, so they enter the “spiritual domain” [kingdom] of God that is here, now, and is spiritual not physical. It’s about love, which encompasses all human action and activity.
Ultimately, the path forward is clear. Stay true to the mission. Love God. God is love, which is charity and mercy to all. Bring people into the spiritual domain (kingdom). Be kind to each other. This is the law and the prophets, and the new law of Jesus, and covers all human conduct. This message of love and inclusion should be the guiding principle for all Christian churches.
“With hate, we have more to lose than gain – break the cycle” – Dorian Scott Cole
Probability Space
What probability spaces can we open in our minds to demonstrate the love of God and our own love of others, to help the world be a better place for all, so that people want to follow the Way Jesus showed us to live?
(A probability space is where all of the elements necessary for something to happen are present and it’s almost inevitable. All it takes is intention.)
Potential Space
If you think creatively and allow your mind to wander and explore, how can we help others understand the purpose of the church and get it separated from government and radicals?
Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.
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Below is information for church planning to minister to new generations, building a community of action, service opportunities, education opportunities for new generations, and descriptions of the author’s nonfiction books.
Some things that you might love
Would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. This helps me improve my work.
Please subscribe to my Patheos Newsletter.
Below is information for creating change in my new book, Unleash Movements that Matter: Break Through Barriers to Change.
My new book. Unleash Movements that Matter: Break Through Barriers to Change.
My new book, Unleash Movements that Matter: Break Through Barriers to Change, which I wrote for new generations, I research and explain in great detail what it takes to create change in our world. (An audio presentation is in progress.)
Ministering to New Generations – strong impact course
How can churches minister to new generations if they won’t come to church? The church has been losing people at 1% a year, and now most of new generations won’t come.
I developed and presented a course on understanding and working with new generations. I would like to say I had rave reviews, but on a scale of 1 to 5 it averaged 4.5. Well, some people were raving.
The course helps people understand new generations, their values, and their differences. It helps people understand how to build a bridge to them and minister to them. The old worn-out things we used to do don’t work, and for good reason. This solutions focused course enables people to find new ways, appropriate ways, to minister to these generations in their local circumstances. It’s for church groups and generates deep discussion.
Free video preview of the course
Course on Udemy: Understanding and Working with New Generations
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– Dorian
Our answer is God. God’s answer is us. Together we make the world better.
Restore and recreate. Take time to celebrate life. Laugh, sing, and dance regularly, even every day. Happy. This is why we dance to celebrate life: Reindeer actually running and dancing.
Building a Community of Action
New Way Forward community
Can we make positive change in our world and end a lot of suffering?
Helen Keller, who was both blind and deaf, said: “Although the world is full of suffering, it’s also full of the overcoming of it.”
The human spirit yearns for a world without suffering, but it’s through facing challenges that we progress. The world isn’t perfect, but together we can create a future with less hardship. Famine, discrimination, gun violence, and injurious economic and educational disparities are complex problems, yet understanding their root causes empowers us to find solutions.
Launching in first quarter 2025, the New Way Forward community will connect individuals seeking practical solutions and creating lasting change. We’ll focus on understanding problems and their solutions, and how to effectively create change.
Join us in building a brighter tomorrow! New Way Forward on Facebook.
Civic service opportunities
Do Unto Others Kindness Campaign, and civic engagement.
United Methodist Church Volunteer Opportunities.
Join or support Zero Hour and amplify the voices of youth organizing for climate action.
Peoples Hub. Resistance, Resilience, Restoration, Re-imagination. Online Popular Education. For movement workers to learn, connect, collaborate, and strategize – in and across the disability justice and solidarity economy movements.
Stakeholder Capitalism – a video podcast series from the World Economic Forum. Can capitalism be made to work for all of us – and to improve rather than destroy the state of the planet?
General service and aid opportunities (on One Spirit Resources Website). To add your service opportunity to the One Spirit Resources list, contact the author (me) through Facebook Messenger. Note that I only friend people I know.
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Education Opportunities for new generations
Becoming an Entrepreneur – MITx online
Evaluating Social Programs – MITx online
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Bible scripture verses are New American Standard Version (NASB), unless noted.
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Author and books
New Generations Walk with Jesus: Newer generations feel unloved, alone, lost, stressed, and are searching for a deeper spiritual connection that they don’t find in the church. This book draws on fifty years of the author’s quest to understand people, religion, and spirituality, and his work with many denominations. It provides a deep analysis of pressing questions these generations have, without denominational baggage.
Appease the Volcano: What does God require from people? The voices of the ancients from many religions echo much of the same things: It starts with law, then mercy and forgiveness, then love. Love is a major emphasis in all major religions and replaces law.
The Prophetic Pattern: Ancient and Modern Prophecy: How to distinguish the intent of various types of prophecies and oracles, both ancient and modern.
Preparing For the Future Of Work and Education: Analysis of the kinds of jobs that AI and Robotics will displace, and the educational requirements for them. AI will replace or augment thirty percent of jobs. This is an in-depth analysis citing many authoritative sources.
Author Website: Dorian Scott Cole
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