The headline phrase above was popularized by British sociologist Grace Davie. It is used to describe people who profess a religious faith but whose practice indicates otherwise.
Most recently, the catchy phrase was used to describe the dramatic increase of religious faith in Russia and the 18 countries in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the term might be equally applied to Christians in the United States.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Orthodox Christian faith has experienced a dramatic resurgence in popularity.
Being an Orthodox Christian is equated with national identity in several Central and Eastern European nations such as Russia, Serbia and Greece. That is part of the reason that 10 of the 18 countries in this region count large majorities of Orthodox Christians among their population and 57 percent of the total population of the area identify as Orthodox Christians.
Support of the basic teachings of the Orthodox Church are strong in these countries. A recent study by the Pew Research Center indicated 91 percent of Orthodox Christians in the area believe in God. Fifty-four percent described the Bible as “the Word of God.”
Heaven and hell
Orthodox Christians also reported a strong belief in heaven and hell. Belief in heaven was affirmed by 61 percent of respondents and belief in hell by 58 percent.
Religious practice is another matter. Although 9 out of 10 believe in God, only 1 in 10 attend church on a weekly basis. About 1 in 4 pray on a daily basis (28 percent) and fast during holy times such as Lent (27 percent).
Still fewer read the Bible outside of church at least monthly (17 percent) and a similar percentage share their faith or views about God with others at least monthly (17 percent).
Pew researchers noted the difference in religious practices between Orthodox Christians in Eastern and Central Europe and those of other religious groups who hold similar beliefs. The conclusion was that for the Orthodox, behaving did not always reflect “believing and belonging.”
In the United States one finds similar patterns. For example, 89 percent of respondents here reported belief in God in a 2016 Gallup study. That number was up from 86 percent in previous years but the general trend has been slightly downward since the 1950s and 60s, when up to 98 percent of respondents said they believed in God.
Likewise, belief in the Bible as the Word of God is down since 1976, Gallup reported. That year 83 percent of respondents called the Bible either literally true or the inspired Word of God. According to the May 16, 2017, report, only 71 percent of respondents now affirm that belief.
Unfortunately, the percentage who reject the Bible as God’s Word has doubled during that time frame from 13 percent to 26 percent.
Belief in heaven and hell is strong in America, Pew Research reports. Among all respondents, 72 percent believe in heaven and 58 percent believe in hell.
When that is broken down by faith groups 88 percent of evangelical Christians believe in heaven and 82 percent believe in hell.
Interestingly historically African-American Protestants have a stronger belief in heaven than do evangelicals — 93 percent to 88 percent.
Obviously believing and belonging is strong, but what about behaving?
Gallup estimates weekly church attendance at about 39 percent of Americans. Other studies indicate between 47 percent and 51 percent attend church at least monthly.
A 2016 article in The Atlantic magazine argued that about 25 percent of the one half of Americans who attend church at least monthly are attending more regularly than in the past. The article’s conclusion was that something is going on in church attendance with a growing number attending more regularly.
At the same time, a 2013 Pew study found nine African nations where more than 80 percent of Christians attended church on a weekly basis. That study placed U.S. attendance at 47 percent of Christians.
Concerning reading the Bible a 2014 Pew study found 79 percent of Christians said reading the Bible was an essential or important part of their Christian identity. Yet that same study found only 63 percent of evangelical Christians reported reading the Bible outside of church at least weekly.
It is incongruous that about 25 percent more Christians called reading the Bible part of their Christian identity than actually read the Bible on a weekly basis.
Only 35 percent of all respondents reported reading the Bible at least weekly and 45 percent reported seldom or never reading the Bible.
When it comes to sharing one’s faith, 4 out of 5 believe it is a Christian’s responsibility. However, only 2 out of 5 report having ever attempted to do so. A Pew study did note the growing presence of a Christian witness online, where 50 percent of religiously unaffiliated adults reported seeing postings about faith in God online.
Again the studies show believing and belonging strong. Unfortunately, behaving in ways consistent with believing and belonging is not so strong.
Loving God and others
The apostle John wrote in his first epistle, “Let us not love with word or with tongue but in deeds and truth” (1 John 3:18). His words were about loving others but they apply equally to loving God.
We can believe all the right things and belong to the right church, prayer groups or what have you. But unless that love for God is lived out in “deed and truth” it is just empty, meaningless words.
Believing and belonging is supposed to result in behaving. When they don’t — whether in the Orthodox faith or for an evangelical Christian — then our own hearts condemn us because we have known to do good and have chosen not to do it.
May God forgive us when that happens.
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