USAToday, CNN, NPR and a host of other news agencies recently reported on a survey done by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life. The U.S. Religious Landscape Survey "shows a nation constantly shifting amid religious choices, unaware or unconcerned with doctrinal distinctions" and says that "unbelief is on the rise." (USAToday)

Perhaps the most striking statistic is that 44% of those surveyed said "they're no longer tied to the religious or secular upbringing of their childhood. They've changed religions or denominations, adopted a faith for the first time or abandoned any affiliation altogether."

There is some good news there and some bad news. The good news to me is that people are searching. Many who were raised without faith or with a faith divorced from life are searching for meaning. Many are changing from a secular outlook on life to a spiritual outlook - or at least to a spiritual journey. Searching is good.

There is some bad news there, too. Americans are consumate consumers. We've been raised that way. We've been taught that a good consumer gets the best, most satifying product for the lowest price. We want maximum benefit with minimum investment. And, of course, we all know that our consumer approach to life has now made Americans religious consumers as well.

The religious consumerism of past decades has gone to a new level. Religious consumers used to simply be defined as "church shoppers" - those people who were constantly on the lookout for a better deal. They wanted a church that gave them more of what they wanted but that didn't have great membership demands. But now we're not only seeing "church shopping," we're seeing "religion shopping" as well. I read one journalist who said her journey had led her to embrace a combination of Christianity, Judaism and Zen Buddism because each one had something to offer that she wanted.

We all know that there are several reasons for this uniquely American way of looking at religion. As I said, part of it is the consumer mindset of our culture. But part of it comes from the fact that churches have fallen into this mindset and have presented themselves as "products" that offer "results." (I won't even get into the prosperity televangelists and their infomercials.)

The New Testament uses a variety of metaphors for the church, but one that is most prominent is that of a family or a "household." Now I know that in this age of larger churches it is very difficult to operate the church as a family. It is one of the great challenges I face constantly as a pastor. But think with me for a moment. I'm a member of a nuclear family. I see other families with bigger houses and more exotic vacations. I see families that are younger or older, bigger or smaller. But I'm not looking for a better deal. My joy is in my family and my challenge is in making it safe, loving, joyful, and life-giving. It just would never cross my mind to look for another family.

One of the great strengths of the emerging church is the emphasis on community - real community. Community is a challenge. It's a moving target. It's messy. But it is the vehicle Jesus chose to save the world. He came and built a community. Not a community designed simply to please and comfort its members, but a community designed to embrace the larger community of all those for whom Christ died. When you're part of a community - a family - that is trying to learn how to love one another and how to love this world, well, you're not looking for a better deal.