Emporia Ministry Blog

Are you a Person of Faith but not Religious?

12/1/2025

Author

Elder Jim Fairchild

Many today describe themselves as “a person of faith but not religious,” reflecting a deep hunger for faith while distancing from organized religion. Recent Barna studies confirm this trend, showing both a decline in formal church affiliation and a rise in independent expressions of belief.

Hungering for the Holy, longing for relationship with God is a universal human quality. The longing for spiritual connection and “home” is deep and pervasive in our world. God yearns for our wholeness and calls us into relationship and response.

This deep longing for spiritual connection and relationship with God is not limited to any specific culture or region, but is a universal human quality that we all share. It is a desire to find meaning and purpose in our lives, and to understand the world around us in a deeper way.

Above all else, strive to be faithful to Christ’s vision of the peaceable Kingdom of God on earth. Courageously challenge cultural, political, and religious trends that are contrary to the reconciling and restoring purposes of God. Pursue peace.
D&C 163:3b

Faith Without Religion: A Growing Trend

Across the United States, more people are identifying as people of faith while stepping away from traditional religious institutions. This often stems from painful experiences with organized religion; whether it be the moral failures of leaders, the exclusion of certain groups, or rigid structures that feel more like barriers than pathways to God. For many, exploring faith independently is not a rejection of God, but a desire to seek Him without religious institution shortcomings.

What Research Shows

Barna’s most recent American Worldview Inventory highlights this shift clearly. Between 2020 and 2025, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian dropped from 72% to 66%, representing a loss of about 15 million adults. At the same time, those aligning with non-Christian faiths or no faith at all have grown significantly. Many are not abandoning spirituality altogether; they are simply reimagining how to live it out.

Barna’s research also shows that Christians who engage in relational discipleship; through small groups, mentors, or spiritual friendships; are more likely to remain resilient in their faith. Yet, two in five Christians are not involved in any form of faith community, reflecting the tension between personal faith and organized religious institutions.

The Church’s Opportunity

Rather than viewing this trend as a threat, the Church can see it as an invitation. People are not rejecting God; they are rejecting hypocrisy, exclusion, and empty ritual. The challenge for congregations is to embody a faith that is authentic, inclusive, and rooted in grace.

We all have imperfections, and we all suffer to some degree. Through this we must continue to have a caring response to our own and others mess ups and difficult moments. God’s grace, especially as revealed in Jesus Christ, is generous and unconditional. Having received God’s generous grace, we respond generously and graciously receive the generosity of others.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works? Can faith save you? If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill," and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that? So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.
James 2: 14-17 NRSV

A Call to Build Meaningful Community

The Barna data reminds us that while affiliation may be declining, spiritual hunger is not. People still long for meaning, truth, and connection with Devine. The Church’s task is not to cling to rigid structures but to offer a living witness of Christ’s love; one that draws people back into fellowship without fear of judgment or exclusion.

The Community of Christ Enduring Principle, "Blessings of Community" highlights the importance of gathering, supporting one another, and working collectively toward common goals. The gospel of Jesus Christ emphasizes the importance of community in creating a space of love and care that is essential for the well-being of all individuals.

Want to learn more about this topic?

Being “faithful but not religious” is not the final word. It is a signpost pointing to the deep desire for God’s presence, a desire that the Body of Christ is uniquely called to nurture.

If you subscribe to this belief, we invite you to explore the Spiritual Formation resource page on our Emporia CofChrist website.

Spiritual Formation Resources

Our Spiritual Formation Ministries offer programs, practices, events and resources for disciples and seekers to engage the inward/outward journey of being formed in Christ.

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Do I need to belong to a church to be saved?

11/1/2025

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Author
Elder Jim Fairchild

The gospel is more than a message; it is the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. It proclaims forgiveness of sin and offers healing from separation, brokenness, and the power of violence and death. This healing is not limited to individuals alone; it extends to human societies and even to all of creation.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 6:23 NRSV

At the heart of the gospel is God’s grace; a loving gift that cannot be earned but is freely given. Through faith and repentance, we step into this new life, one marked by restoration, peace, and hope.

Jesus Himself described this invitation in simple yet profound words:
“I am the door. Whoever enters through me will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.” John 10:9 (NRSV)

In this statement, Jesus paints a picture of safety, belonging, and abundance. Just as sheep find rest and nourishment when they pass through the shepherd’s gate, so too do we find true life when we enter through Christ.

The gospel is not only about what we are saved from: sin, death, and despair; but also about what we are saved for: a life of love, reconciliation, and participation in God’s renewing work in the world. It is about communities healed of division, creation restored from exploitation, and hearts transformed by grace. This new life is the loving gift of God’s grace that becomes ours through faith and repentance.

“Always remember, the way of suffering love that leads to the cross also leads to resurrection and everlasting life in Christ’s eternal community of oneness and peace. Trust in this promise.”
D&C165:6c

Baptism is how we initially express our commitment to lifelong discipleship. As we yield our lives to Christ in baptism, we enter Christian community (the body of Christ) and have the promise of salvation. We experience salvation through Jesus Christ, but affirm that God’s grace has no bounds, and God’s love is greater than we can know.

Jesus Christ invites people to follow him by becoming disciples who share his life and ministry. Undertake compassionate and just actions to abolish poverty and end needless suffering. Pursue peace on and for the Earth.

As a church, we are called to embody this good news. We are invited to be a people who live out forgiveness, who work for peace, who resist the powers of violence, and who bear witness to the healing love of Christ.

And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:18-20 NRSV

Do I need to belong to a church to be saved?

NO!

You need to belong to Jesus Christ!

Click the button to visit the “Who is Jesus Christ?” page on this website to learn more about Jesus Christ, how you can belong to him, and why we follow him in discipleship

Who is Jesus Christ?

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You Have No Idea

6/18/2021

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About a month ago I came home from work and found myself in an empty house. It was strange without having any commotion or conversation happening right when I walk in the door. My family was busy doing other tasks so I found myself sitting on my couch taking in the beauty of the silence. I began praying during this moment and lifting my heart and thoughts to God.

At one point I prayed, "God this parenting thing can sometimes be really draining.”

Almost immediately I got a response. Whether it was my own thoughts or not I felt like it was God replying to me.

God said, “You have no idea.”

This immediately made me laugh understanding our heavenly parent is out there loving and caring for everyone on this planet and here I am having only three to look over.

However this response really got me thinking about God's role as a heavenly parent. This person that is constantly watches over us and guides us down the pathways of life.

God as a Heavenly Parent

Now there are many people that have had unfortunate situations in life which have caused there idea of a parent to bring on some strong emotions. If that is you I encourage you to see God in a different way that fits your understanding and emotional health.

Let's be clear God is not physically shooting hoops with your kid, or helping them with their math homework. So its important to understand the differences between being an actual parent and God. What differences do you think there are?

Despite God not physically helping you with things its about the understanding that there is this mystery caring deeply for you despite all the things of the world. This creator that loves you for who you are. Bad things happen which is not the result of God but God is often hurting and suffering with you during the process. This concept can sometimes be hard to grasp as we tend to blame instead of embrace. We say why did God do this to me? Losing my dad earlier in my life made me think about this thought process a lot. I don't believe God is doing something bad to us, only loving us everyday for who we are and through all the emotions, both joy and pain we feel.

God holds your emotional pain and sits beside you. God isn't going to make decisions for you but is trying to guide you down the best paths in your life. You have been created with an intelligence to make decisions for yourself. God is a parent that continues to provide love and direction if we seek it. Seeking direction from God is usually where we fall short. I know I often miss opportunities throughout the day to just focus my mind and pray when needed. Lifting our hearts and voices to God is often the way in which the divine can work. We have to listen with our hearts, eyes, and ears as God is speaking to us through the daily interactions of life.

May God bless each of you who come to this site and follow along our blog. I pray God's love embraces you and holds you tight.

This week hold those you love close and tell them how you feel about them.

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