Clergy are now ranked in the vocational cellar in terms of trust. According to a recent Gallup Poll, public opinion of your local ordained minister has slumped to an all-time low of 47%. This is a continuation of a downward trend that began in 1985, when clergy ranked among the most trusted at 67%. Even more alarming is an increase in respondents to 11% who said their trust of clergy is "very low".
What does this mean?
Gallup has said that in its analysis, the primary influencing factor is stereotypes, which often take a very long time to overcome. Although the explanation for this specific slump in trustworthiness is unclear, Gallup has said it believes the overall drop in trustworthiness since the early 2000s is linked to various high profile revelations of scandals and crimes committed by clergy.
According to a related Gallup Poll, US confidence in organized religion has also hit an all-time low. Only forty-four percent of Americans responded that they have confidence in the church. One seems indicative of the other. Trust in pastors is related to that of confidence in the religions they lead. But, what is going on here?
Isn't the deeper question whether or not we trust in God? Since these polls are interested in the Christian church, I am referring explicitly to the God who is revealed in the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Granted, there is a difference between trusting the church and trusting the God who is revealed within it, but the evidence does beg the question. Is it possible to trust God without trusting the church or it's leaders? I believe these polls indicate that most people today are beating their drums and thumping their chests with their resounding, "YES!"
But, Martin Luther would disagree. In his interpretation of the Apostle's Creed he wrote about the Holy Spirit this way. "I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith." Without God's intervention in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit we can not come to believe in God. How does the Holy Spirit work this intervention? The primary tools of the Holy Spirit's are the gifts of the church: the preached Word of God, the fellowship of believers, and the sacraments. Claiming to trust in God, while not trusting in God's church is like expecting a carpenter to build you a house while not permitting him to use tools. He might get the job done, but would you really want to live in such a shoddy constructed house? Yet, increasingly, Americans are essentially doing just that with their faith. And, keep in mind, faith isn't a luxury item in the construction of a life. It's as essential as air, food and water. It's our faith that guides our every motivation and informs every choice we make. Build a strong house of faith, and your life will live securely.
In Solomon's wisdom of today's quote from Proverbs, we are exhorted to not lean on our own understanding. These are very wise words. Our own understanding will mislead us, it is distorted by ignorance and an inflated ego; two things when combined and given free reign create a lethal concoction for our faith.
Instead, trust in God. The One who made you, and knows you better than you know yourself. Trust the One who had a purpose for you in this world far before you were born. Trust the One who freed Israel from the sin of slavery so that they could worship together according to God's design and purpose. God gave them the commandments to bind them into a fellowship of faith, then created for them the tabernacle (church) so that they would worship together, know the forgiveness of sins and hear His Word. God freed them from the sin of slavery so that they would never fall victim to the slavery of sin.
The same is true for us, and for all people. God wants to free us from the slavery of sin. To accomplish this God has provided us with the church, the body of Christ.
Trust your clergy. God has called them to a most challenging profession. They are doing their best in a world that is not very trusting of them or their work.
Trust your church. God created it for your benefit, so that when the Holy Spirit moves in you there is a place to go where you can encounter the living Lord in the fellowship of believers, the preached Word, and the sacraments. The church is the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit's work brings us to an encounter with the Living Lord, but we need the church to enable that encounter.
And, as the words of Proverbs proclaims, trust God with all your heart.
As your trust for the clergy and for the church increases I think you'll find that your trust in God becomes much easier and the Holy Spirit's work within your life ever the more secure.
Gracious God, today we pray for your church. Keep it holy and sacred. We pray as well for the ordained ministers you've called to lead your church. Keep them in your warm embrace as they work to strengthen your people in faith, hope and love for the world. Amen.
Gallup has said that in its analysis, the primary influencing factor is stereotypes, which often take a very long time to overcome. Although the explanation for this specific slump in trustworthiness is unclear, Gallup has said it believes the overall drop in trustworthiness since the early 2000s is linked to various high profile revelations of scandals and crimes committed by clergy.
According to a related Gallup Poll, US confidence in organized religion has also hit an all-time low. Only forty-four percent of Americans responded that they have confidence in the church. One seems indicative of the other. Trust in pastors is related to that of confidence in the religions they lead. But, what is going on here?
Isn't the deeper question whether or not we trust in God? Since these polls are interested in the Christian church, I am referring explicitly to the God who is revealed in the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Granted, there is a difference between trusting the church and trusting the God who is revealed within it, but the evidence does beg the question. Is it possible to trust God without trusting the church or it's leaders? I believe these polls indicate that most people today are beating their drums and thumping their chests with their resounding, "YES!"
But, Martin Luther would disagree. In his interpretation of the Apostle's Creed he wrote about the Holy Spirit this way. "I believe that by my own reason or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, and sanctified and preserved me in the true faith." Without God's intervention in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit we can not come to believe in God. How does the Holy Spirit work this intervention? The primary tools of the Holy Spirit's are the gifts of the church: the preached Word of God, the fellowship of believers, and the sacraments. Claiming to trust in God, while not trusting in God's church is like expecting a carpenter to build you a house while not permitting him to use tools. He might get the job done, but would you really want to live in such a shoddy constructed house? Yet, increasingly, Americans are essentially doing just that with their faith. And, keep in mind, faith isn't a luxury item in the construction of a life. It's as essential as air, food and water. It's our faith that guides our every motivation and informs every choice we make. Build a strong house of faith, and your life will live securely.
In Solomon's wisdom of today's quote from Proverbs, we are exhorted to not lean on our own understanding. These are very wise words. Our own understanding will mislead us, it is distorted by ignorance and an inflated ego; two things when combined and given free reign create a lethal concoction for our faith.
Instead, trust in God. The One who made you, and knows you better than you know yourself. Trust the One who had a purpose for you in this world far before you were born. Trust the One who freed Israel from the sin of slavery so that they could worship together according to God's design and purpose. God gave them the commandments to bind them into a fellowship of faith, then created for them the tabernacle (church) so that they would worship together, know the forgiveness of sins and hear His Word. God freed them from the sin of slavery so that they would never fall victim to the slavery of sin.
The same is true for us, and for all people. God wants to free us from the slavery of sin. To accomplish this God has provided us with the church, the body of Christ.
Trust your clergy. God has called them to a most challenging profession. They are doing their best in a world that is not very trusting of them or their work.
Trust your church. God created it for your benefit, so that when the Holy Spirit moves in you there is a place to go where you can encounter the living Lord in the fellowship of believers, the preached Word, and the sacraments. The church is the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit's work brings us to an encounter with the Living Lord, but we need the church to enable that encounter.
And, as the words of Proverbs proclaims, trust God with all your heart.
As your trust for the clergy and for the church increases I think you'll find that your trust in God becomes much easier and the Holy Spirit's work within your life ever the more secure.
Gracious God, today we pray for your church. Keep it holy and sacred. We pray as well for the ordained ministers you've called to lead your church. Keep them in your warm embrace as they work to strengthen your people in faith, hope and love for the world. Amen.
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