Eric Reece
As a person grows older, do they get more religious?
One reason I asked is Graham County is growing older -- and the projections are it will continue. Our friends at the U.S. Census Bureau have our median (midpoint) age as 46 years old, as compared to 39.4 in North Carolina.
For comparison, the median age in the U.S. is 38.9, which is the highest on record. This is attributed to the aging of the baby boomers and an overall lower birth rate in America. As a nation, we are getting older with retirees growing in numbers.
Is America getting more religious as we get older? Without thinking, I would say yes.
It just makes sense -- as we get older, we contemplate more about life after death, redemption, God and hopefully make a decision of faith.
This -- along with the fact I have heard for years the younger generation is less religious -- it seems safe to say this.
But, is this the case?
Ryan Burge is a professor at Eastern Illinois University and a Baptist minister. He has written a number of books -- the most recent is, “The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving” Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?”
With the most recent census data, he examined the counties with a growing younger population -- as compared to the aging counties.
Surprisingly, this is what he found.
“Among counties where the median age is 30 years old, about 55% are attached to a religious tradition. Among those counties where the median age is 50 years old, about 45% of folks are attached to a religious tradition.”
According to this study, the older a county is, the less religious it becomes. I would have never imagined this statement being true.
What does this mean for Graham County as we continue to get older?
Recently, I was in a meeting with ministers and members of local churches where the leader brought up a new term “Free Range Evangelism.” Free range is natural with freedom to move around. Evangelism is sharing the good news of Jesus Christ and his love. Free Range Evangelism is depending on the Holy Spirit to move us in those places where we meet people and offer them Christ.
Often when I listen to churches about their context and hopes, I hear the words, “We wish we had young people in the church.”
I am sure this is true of all churches, yet with the population aging do we say, “I wish we had more middle aged people in church.”
People of all ages stand in need of salvation and the church has a window of opportunity to do everything in its power to reach out to people of all ages.
Jesus said, “But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting” (John 4:35).
One thing I hope: as Graham County gets older, we get better!
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.