Good News OR Bad News?

Which do you want: "the good news or the bad news?" It seems like you now have your choice. 

First, according to Rodney Stark a world renown sociologist we have some good news: church membership in the United States has been on the increase for the last 200 years.  Sounds great, until you hear from the Barna group that church attendance has fluctuated and remained stable for the last 20 years or the research from Dave Olson who says only 19% of Americans really attend and most exaggerate their regular attendance.  So which is it "good news or bad news?"

Back to the good news:  in the middle of a tough economic crisis MSNBC is reporting that Americans continue to be generous and give to charitable causes.  And now for some bad news from The Barna Group that is reporting non-profits and churches in particular are in for a really tough time and could stand to lose billions of dollars. 

So, what is it people, good news or bad news? 

Comments

[Doug Murphy]

Honestly, I prefer the bad news side of things... The good news seems to lead us to a place of being complacent. Not that we should try to look at the cup as half full. We just need to be willing to take of the rose colored glasses and realize there is a lot of work to do.

[Scot Longyear]

Both. Bad that things are tight, but amazingly good in that it forces us (all people) to be more open to spirituality.

Seems that a depressed economy often brings an increased sensitivity to God. If a worse economy means that more people come to Christ, maybe we should change the way we pray.

[Jeff]

Ya know....I'm not sure which to call it. But when I think of this article I read today:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7740887.stm

I'm feel that while it's great that many "get it", others are focused on the wrong part of this world.

[Mark Matlock]

I have respect for both Stark and Barna. I am wondering though if the data allows for true apples to apples comparisons. Often different stories can be told with data that isn't altogether different.