BLOG 7/22/13. ‘PEW ZOMBIES’ … OR INTERACTIVE LEARNERS?

 A few years ago in my own denomination, the Presbyterian Poll discerned that we were a denomination of “Biblically and theologically illiterate laity.” Consider that we’re talking about some 11,000 congregations consisting of something like 1.2 million persons, and it should have gotten some attention—but it seems not to have. I raised this bit of data with a curriculum revision committee of one of our major seminaries. They had asked me what I had observed in my engagement with some twenty or more seminaries across the country, so that they could consider my input when they engaged in taking a fresh look at their own curriculum.

My point to them was that if the Presbyterian Poll was in any way accurate, and if 95+% of the church was composed of the laity, then no matter what they were teaching it their seminary … it wasn’t coming through to the laity-folk in the pew. That reality has two dimensions that need to be looked at: 1) What is the expectation of the folk in the pew of the influence of their teaching-pastor (preacher), and 2) What is the understanding of the pastor-teachers (preachers) of their responsibility to form Christian communities in the Word of Christ?

Let me take an initial stab at the first of these questions. My observation is that there is a very large component of many congregations, with which I have been familiar, that has no sense of intention to become literate in, or formed by, the Biblical, theological, and missional foundations of the church. The attend church because it, somehow, is part of the social fabric of their lives, and gives them some sense of connection with their innate ‘spirituality’ so that whatever takes place in the church’s worship or preaching is probably acceptable. They listen to the sermons hopefully, and assume that it must be OK, since the preacher is trained and ordained and should know what he/she is talking about. They are accepting of the ecclesiastical life so long as it doesn’t make too many demands on them (to become responsible disciples?). They can inhabit the pews of the church for long periods without becoming Biblically or theologically literate, or sensing any responsibility for being obedient to Jesus in the missional mandate of the church.

I will define such folk as pew zombies.

Now consider that the demographic reality is that about 50% of the worlds population is under thirty years of age, and that these are generations (millennial generation, and 20/20 generation) that are products of a whole new digital culture that is both interactional and relational. Consider that studies show that a one-way lecture/sermon is the least effective method of communication, so that even educational institutions and their teachers are both increasingly putting information on-line/posting it on a web-site with provocative questions, and then also processing that same information in person in a classroom as the most effective means of communicating. This in itself raises issues for our understanding of worship and teaching.

Consider also that these generations are not all that committed to traditional church institutions, but many are also expressing a desire to understand the Christian faith in depth. Consider that they have access to informative sources on their iPads, and will often sit in Christian congregations accessing good sources to see if the preacher is coming across accurately.

This is just the tip of the iceberg! We have at least these two incompatible components existing in Christian communities: pew zombies and interactive learners. And the sooner church leadership, pastors, etc. become aware of this and engage it, the better of the missional health of the church. To be continued …