In 1948, 91% of Americans identified with a Christian faith. Twenty years ago, in 1989, 82% of Americans identified as Christian. Ten years ago, it was 84%. This year, Gallup Research indicates that 78% of all American adults identify with a Christian faith.

The fact that fewer Americans say they have a religious identity does not necessarily mean there has been a decrease in overall religiosity in America. It is possible that some proportion of those who don’t identify with a specific religion are still personally or spiritually religious. A Gallup survey conducted last year showed that 93% of all American adults said they celebrated Christmas.

But, Ed Stetzer of the Southern Baptist’s Lifeway Research, ponders: If three out of four Americans call themselves Christians, we’re all in big trouble – because three out of four Americans don’t live like Christians. Christianity becomes confused when everyone is a Christian but no one is following Christ… The story of American Christianity today, in Stetzer’s view, is that we are seeing the abandonment of nominal Christianity by some but the retention of a robust, authentic Christian faith by many.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, we turn to you who are the protectress of unborn children and ask that you intercede for us, so that we may more firmly resolve to join you in protecting all human life.

Encourage those who will be involved in the March for Life; help them to walk closely with God and to give voice to the cry of the oppressed, in order to remind out nation of its commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.

O Virgin Mother of God, present our petitions to your Son and ask Him to bless us with abundant life. Amen. (Prayer from USCCB)

There was a (MTV sponsored) Youthtopia study conducted among 16-34 year-olds in seven European countries of the hopes and dreams that inspire youth today.  (h/t Marko and ypulse) Part of the study asked 100 European youths to “challenge, criticise and collectively re-write ‘The 10 Commandments’” as a way of illustrating generational shifts in values.

Now an automatic response might to review these and criticize how young people are not living up to their aspirations, but (as you remove the plank from your own eye) you might consider how well as a culture we are doing with the original ten.

Anyway, this list of ten promotes accountability, positivity and passion above all else. They reflect the declining impact of churches on young people in Europe, but each of these “commandments” can by quickly drawn into the Christian message:

1. Have faith in yourself.
2. Respect your parents.
3. Be honest.
4. Take responsibility for your own life.
5. Live life to the fullest and be passionate.
6. Keep your promises.
7. Work hard to succeed but not to the detriment of others.
8. Be tolerant of others’ differences.
9. Be happy and optimistic, even in adversity.
10. Create, don’t destroy

Is there one or more of these that you found surprising?

I Know, I know, I have pretty much beaten the Nation Catholic Youth Conference drum long and very hard.  Well, in a maybe last but certainly not least effort, here is one more.

Christopher Stefanick, Director of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry for the Denver Archdiocese, wrote about the experience of Catholic subculture at NCYC in Denver Catholic Register. He wrote:

“The Gospel isn’t communicated in a vacuum.  It’s communicated through culture.  When a Catholic culture is lacking, the Church organically creates subcultures, drawing in and redeeming aspects of the culture it’s in.  This is happening among our youth today.  Youth ministry has formed a redeemed culture born out of generation MTV with its own stages, its own rock stars and its own brand of rebellion.”

Wikipedia identifies a subculture as a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong. If a particular subculture is characterized by a systematic opposition to the dominant culture, it may be described as a counterculture.  And, Church…  Is this what discipleship is all about?

Stefanick concludes his article: “Generation MTV teens want to rebel and make a name for themselves.  What better way to do that than by being holy!  There’s no more profound rebellion than the one given by the saints and martyrs.  As I looked at the sea of teens, joyful to be standing for Jesus Christ and celebrating our ancient faith, I wondered, ‘If our Lord can change the world with 12, what can he do with 22,000?”

Watch next week. . . it happens all again at the March for Life.

On this, the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, let’s consider a more realistic image of “the Blessed Mother” as suggested by Father Jim Martin in an article for Slate.com.  In it, he focuses on her first words and last words noted in Scripture.

To begin with, the first time Mary opens her mouth in the New Testament, it is to question God. “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” she asks, after the angel tells her that she will give birth (a reasonable enough question). “You have to admit that buried within this supposedly pious and saccharine Bible tale is the vivid image of a strong, resilient, and self-possessed woman. Her response to something surprising in her life—and that’s quite an understatement—is to question. To doubt. Who hasn’t wanted to ask in the face of a life-altering change, “How can this be?”

Mary’s final words in the New Testament come at Jesus’ traditional first miracle, the Wedding Feast of Cana, as recounted in the Gospel of John. When she suggests that Jesus help the host who has run out of wine, Jesus turns to her and says sharply, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me?” Placidly, his mother turns to the host and says, “Do whatever he tells you.” Perhaps she understood Jesus’ ultimate ministry better than even he did at that moment.

Read the whole article and then say three Hail Mary’s. Happy New Year!

He became what we are, that we might become what He is.

- – John Chrysostom

It is a simple little cartoon with a challenging little message.

Christmas is probably not really the way that we think about it, or sing about it: it’s not how we presently imagine it.

So, getting past layer after layer of  “creative license,” the nativity is still very much a tale worth telling…

Two thousand years ago, a Savior was born of a virgin in the town of Bethlehem.

Two years ago, an angry Italian priest got Red Bull to pull the enclosed commercial on the grounds it is disrespectful to Christianity.

Father Marco Damanti, from Sicily, described the commercial as “a blasphemous act.” He complained that “The image of the sacred family has been represented in a sacrilegious way” and that “Whatever the ironic intentions of Red Bull, the advert pokes fun at the nativity, and at Christian sensitivity”.

As for me, I actually think it is intriguing to actually see the Christmas story reflected amidst the onslaught of Christmas advertising. And, not really understanding a word, I sorta enjoy this version.  But, if you want, here’s the English version as well.

Mark Batterson is one of my daily blog reads and pastor of a dynamic young adult friendly multiple site “mega-church” in Washington, DC that houses their services in movie theaters and a coffee shop…  And he ruined my December beach vacation to Florida.

While on vacation, I made the mistake of reading an advance copy of his third book Primal that his publishers had graciously sent to me in hopes of a blog posting.

In the book, Batterson works through Mark 12:30 which is Jesus’ response to “”Which is the first of all the commandments?”  The first, or primal, commandment is You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  I had entered the vacation weary and tired from a busy year of “doing ministry” towards attempting to give my all towards loving God. I was weary with the uncertainty that my efforts were enough.

Throughout the book, Batterson examines  his understanding of the primal elements needed to love God with your all: compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy. Our challenge becomes, not to love the ways we have chosen to manage our relationship with God but, to love God.  It is not our words, our actions, our vocation and ministry that makes a difference in our loves or our world, but it is God’s grace that is enough. If we can seek, discover, and attempt to reflect that grace with compassion, wonder, curiosity, and energy, then we might be flirting with fulfilling Jesus’ primal commandment.

It’s a great book – a good and easy read – but don’t take it on vacation with you unless you are open to a vacation becoming a spiritual renewal.