Four key factors are reshaping the American church according to the Barna Group. Let us now turn to numbers three and four and add a few thoughts.
"The slow demise of the African-American church community was a third outcome highlighted by Barna, identifying the decline within the black community of factors such as church attendance, Bible knowledge, faith prioritization, and reliance upon the faith community for support and relationships." These trends seem to transcend racial barriers, at least in my context, though they may be reaching critical levels within certain segments of our evangelical society. No doubt Barna's research is accurate.
It is interesting that Acts 2:42f describes the commitment of those converted at Pentecost. They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer. Those factors pointed out by Barna loosely correspond. Bible knowledge corresponds with the apostles' doctrine; faith prioritization corresponds with church attendance, breaking of bread (Lord's Supper), and prayer in that these issues represent corporate and personal priorities in one's life and walk with Christ; and reliance upon the faith community for support and relationships corresponds with fellowship.
While church attendance is not always an indicator of one's spiritual health, and while we must be careful to avoid legalistic judgments, the lack of church attendance is in fact a good indicator that there is a lack of spiritual health. We are told not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together because corporate worship, bible instruction, fellowship, and accountability are important factors, among others, in our spiritual vitality and growth. This issue is so important that a lack of church attendance is given as the first step down the road of spiritual apostasy in Hebrews 10. This issue is indeed serious whether we like to admit it or not.
Bible knowledge is certainly important in that right living flows from right thinking and one cannot develop his/her relationship with the Lord apart from knowing Him better. That knowledge comes in large measure from bible intake. God's people are languishing in spiritual lethargy and ministry ineffectiveness for a lack of bible knowledge. Sadly, many fall away from the faith for a lack of the same. I have a close friend who is acquainted with the black community. For this friend, the issue of biblical ignorance is paramount. I would say the same holds true for the rest of the evangelical community as well.
