Sermon Text: John 6:35
Sermon Excerpt
. . .the dominant spirituality in our country back in the 1950s was a spirituality of dwelling. Church was at the center of society. In many places, churches were literally at the center of town. They were one of three pillars of stability along with small town life, and Americanism.
This was the height of church building and expansion projects. These larger spaces were needed because increasing percentages of Americans were joining local churches.
People went to church – they traveled to a specific sacred place to encounter the divine. This is what a spirituality of dwelling is all about; it emphasizes habitation.
The sacred space was intentionally different from other spaces. In worship the liturgy sought to connect Christians not only to God but also to other worshipers across the ages. Clergy attire clearly differentiated them from everyone else. Parishioners wore their Sunday finest.
Church became a spiritual home. Increasingly churches offered activities beyond worship. These gave people a reason to come to church several days a week.
Then came the 1960s – a decade of change. Everything in church life that people assumed was constant started to change; Christian theologians declared that God was dead, and the Catholic Church’s Second Vatican Council opened worship . . . (read manuscript or watch video)
So What?
Robert Wuthnow, an esteemed sociologist who has taught for many years at Princeton where he also serves as the Director of their Center for the Study of Religion, suggests that since the 1950s the most dominant spiritual framework in America shifted from dwelling to seeking to practicing. A spirituality of practice is likely the most common framework within your congregation. It is, however, also likely that some (perhaps a sizable percentage!) continue to approach spirituality primarily from an orientation of dwelling or seeking. (More information about each is contained in the sermon).
- Which word best describes your spirituality – dwelling, seeking, practicing? Explain.
- Of those actively involved in the life of your congregation, estimate the percentage that approach their spirituality from each perspective. (e.g., dwelling – 10%, seeking – 25%, practicing – 65%)
- Do you think practicing is the word that best defines American spirituality in 2015? Why or why not? If not, what new word do you feel is most appropriate.