When it comes to advertising genius, marketing people are always looking for a great hook line. Probably one of the most popular slogans is…

Where’s the beef!?

The slogan was introduced in the 1980′s when Wendy’s introduced a commercial called “Fluffy Bun” with Clara Peller declaring — Where’s the beef? — Now the ever popular catch phrase has become somewhat of an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance, or lack thereof, of almost anything we can think of.

Many today are looking for some kind of meaning in life. In survey after survey, when people are asked – If you could ask God, or a Supreme Being, one question, what would that question be? – Most respond by saying, “What is my purpose and destiny in life.” In other words, people seem to be looking for the beef in life. Some say there has to be more, while others are simply looking for meaning, purpose and destiny.

A recent Rasmussen poll reveals some interesting results when it comes to the nation’s belief in God, or a Supreme Being. The results showed;

  • 78% believe in God
  • 15% believe in a Higher Power
  • 7% believe in nothing

In other words, according to the Rasmussen poll, 93% of the population in the United States, believe in some kind of Supreme Being. Wow! That’s amazing! If this is true I find myself asking a few questions;

  • Why are churches not full to overflowing?
  • Why do atheists tell us their numbers are on the rise?
  • Where are the believers who don’t show up for church every week?
  • Has the church somehow dropped the ball on attracting those who have some kind of spiritual awareness?

Somewhere along the line those inside the church have shut out those outside the church who, according to the recent poll, do have some kind of a God awareness. Could it be that a large portion of the population who say they believe in God, or at least have some kind of a God awareness, don’t feel welcome in church? If the Rasmussen poll numbers are correct, that would certainly seem to be the case.

I guess the next question could be something like — Is this a bad thing? Is it a bad thing to have a large number of those who say they have a God awareness outside the church? That all depends on what they’re doing. In the early days of the church, the disciples spent more time outside the church, than inside the church. It’s more of a North American culture mindset which says the only way to connect with God is inside a church. Reality is, we’re supposed to be transforming the environment we’re involved in each day. While the early disciples met for daily prayer times at the temple, they were more involved in the lives of those around them on an everyday basis.

So, I ask again, is the Rasmussen poll wrong?

If we’re measuring church attendance as a factor in arriving at the number of 93% of the population having some kind of a God awareness, we have to say the poll is wrong. Why? Because it’s obvious 93% of the population are not attending church. If they were, every church in the nation would be full to overflowing. Many inside the church may lament such a poll and wonder where the people are. But maybe a better approach is to discover ways to help all of those outside the church, but with a belief in God, figure out how to mainstream their message of hope, purpose and destiny so the world might truly be transformed.

A Fellow Sojourner,
Dr. Rus