Yesterday, I reviewed Rodney Stark’s latest book: The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World’s Largest Religion (2011). Throughout the book he offers considerable sociological insight, including the following paragraph on the shortcomings of low commitment religious groups:
The conclusion that competition among faiths will favor “low cost” religious organizations mistakes price for value. As is evident in most consumer markets, people do not usually rush to purchase the cheapest model or variety, but attempt to maximize by selecting the cheapest model that offers the most for their money – that offers the best value. In the case of religion, people do not flock to faiths that ask the least of them, but to those that credibly offer the most religious rewards for the sacrifices required to qualify. This has been demonstrated again and again. For a variety of reasons, various Christian churches have greatly reduced what they ask of their members, both in terms of beliefs and morality, and this has always been followed by a rapid decline in their membership and a lack of commitment on the part of those who stay (p.359).
So What?
I often blog about the decline of mainline congregations in America. Do you think their tendency toward a low commitment (in comparison to the more rigid expectations outlined by higher commitment groups with more conservative theology) form of Christianity could explain their decline? Why or why not? What are the implications of this data for your local congregation?