So, are you a None? That’s not the same as a “Nun.” In opinion surveys, more and more people are declaring that they have no religious affiliation, which explains the word “None.”

It was popular, a few years ago, to say “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.” I don’t hear that much anymore. Now, people that I know just don’t have an affiliation … “None.”

This seems to be a consistent trend, and we are going somewhere. So, where will we be in twenty or forty years?

Will we believe anything?

There is an old saying “God has no grandchildren” which means that God only has children. There is no second generation. Imagine what will happen in the third generation. Will our grandchildren believe anything?

There are two ways that we can go with religion: 1) Something new 2) A religious revival 3) There is no “None” really.

1) The News:

We all believe. When the “None” numbers grow, new religions start. A famous Science Fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard started a religion, different from most religions that we know. I think it attracted “Nones” who still wanted to believe, and it is still famous. It’s one of the new beliefs in a “None” society.

In upper-state New York, about two hundred years ago, people went from not much religion, “Nones” to some intense religion. In that “burnt-over area” people filled the churches, or they started new groups, like the Mormons, and later the Jehovah’s Witnesses.

There will be new religions, or belief systems when the number of “Nones” grows. Watch for it.

2) The Revived:

In those “None” times in history, people can be bothered by not believing, and then some preachers stir up the people, and something called a “revival” starts. When I was a boy, our family church was big, but people in my generation were distracted by other things.

I remember the revival.

Some people came to our church. I don’t remember who they were or where they came from, but they were not professionals. They told us that God was changing their lives, and they had never felt anything like it before.

I can’t explain what happened to me in those meetings, but something changed. There seemed to be an invisible force in the room, and my life was never quite the same.

If you drive down a street in your city, you will probably see some churches. Among Christians, it is surprising how many groups, or denominations, started with revivals. The “Nones” were stirred up, in history.

Brace yourself, this will probably happen to us.

3) Yes, there is a third category, the “New Containers.”

I’m a Christian, and when I go to church, I try to remember what religion was like when I was a boy. Do you remember wooden pews (benches), pianos and organs, hymn books, and people wearing suits and dresses? Maybe you are still living that.

The old message is often found in new containers.

Now, for me, there is no pipe organ. We have drums and guitars, and giant video screens. If we don’t go to the main campus, we can go to a satellite site closer to home, where we watch the preacher speak from the main campus, on a giant screen.

When I open my Bible, I take my cell phone out of my pocket. There is an app for everything, and my Bible app can give me almost any English version, and any major language. I carry a Bible library in my pocket.

If you wonder what is happening to that “Old Time Religion,” it is in some new containers.

The Internet is changing us in a big way:

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So, here is a history lesson: You are living in history.

“Nones” don’t really exist, at least not for long. We all believe.

If we need help navigating a spiritual world where everything looks different, we are told how to believe in God, who made us:

“Without faith it is impossible to please him, for the one who approaches God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Some new things are just styles, and we can still find God.

Some new things are dangerous, and they will take us away from God.

We need to be skilled navigators, as the world changes around us.

“The Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise. No one can fathom his greatness. One generation will praise your deeds to another, and tell about your mighty acts. I will focus on your honor and majestic splendor, and your amazing deeds. They will proclaim the power of your awesome acts. I will declare your great deeds. They will talk about the fame of your great kindness, and sing about your justice. The Lord is merciful and compassionate; he is patient and demonstrates great loyal love.” (Psalm 145: 3 to 8)