Losing My Religion?

This month we are excited to highlight a blog written by Nate Hughes. Nate and his wife Emily serve with Josiah Venture in the Czech Republic.

A report came out in March saying that certain countries may be completely irreligious soon. The report predicts that nine countries are heading toward religious extinction, with the Czech Republic headlining the list.

Since I live in the Czech Republic, this got me thinking. Here are my initial thoughts on the subject:

• Jesus’ church will never die: Under communism, the Czech Republic was specifically singled out by the communists to see if they could eradicate faith from the culture. While the church shrunk enormously and the vast majority became atheists, a small percentage of believers held on and suffered a social persecution because of their great faith in Christ. These men and women now fill our evangelical churches and, unfortunately, many are now dying off. But their faithful legacy lives on as their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren fill the pews and (more importantly) proclaim the risen Christ to their friends, co-workers, and family. The church is still small, but strong, because of those who held strong under communism.

• Is it wrong if religion dies?: The study says that religious affiliation is dying out. While that is probably not a good sign, it isn’t a bad sign either! Checking a box on a piece of paper with the word “Christian” written next to it doesn’t change someone’s life and eternity. Only personal faith in Christ results in a changed life and eternity. So, while religion is dying, we hope that life-giving relationship with Christ is catching on…one that isn’t contingent on doing good works or going to church, but one that walks in good works because of what Christ has done for us!

• I have hope in this generation of young people: Every summer (and throughout the year) I hear story after story about young people deciding to follow Christ and giving their lives to serving Him. This young generation isn’t shackled by old beliefs. Many of them still proclaim atheism, but are open to discussing the reality of God and the consequences of following Him. Students are MUCH more open than they were ten years ago when I first started coming to the Czech Republic. Most students I talk with believe that there is something more in life…they may not know what it is or know if they want to pay the cost of following Jesus, but some are. And our prayer is that many more will!