One recent article spoke about this trend. Entitled “The Rise of the ‘Done With Church’ Population,” it looks at this scene – primarily in America – but does not offer us any clear indications as to why this is becoming such a problem. The article begins:
John is every pastor’s dream member. He’s a life-long believer, well-studied in the Bible, gives generously and leads others passionately. But last year he dropped out of church. He didn’t switch to the other church down the road. He dropped out completely. His departure wasn’t the result of an ugly encounter with a staff person or another member. It wasn’t triggered by any single event.
John had come to a long-considered, thoughtful decision. He said, “I’m just done. I’m done with church.”
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16 comments:
That flash of insight, when reason sets in.
I'm one of those people.
I'm probably as passionate about my relationship to Jesus as anybody you will meet, but most of the congregations I've seen have become more about the 'experience' than about serving God. Churches have become theaters and rock concerts, and many of them are so scripted and worldly that there isn't much happening that is Spirit-led.
And then there are the more 'traditional' denominations.. drying up and blowing away because they have drifted/been pulled so far to the left that they aren't even really churches anymore. And, there too, it's all about people going there to feel good about themselves, not to learn how to be humble, obedient servants for God. There are a few sincere believers left in them, but not many.
The Bible talks about these last days before Jesus returns.. that perilous times would come, that people would be lovers of self, proud, boastful, blasphemers, perverted..
Many 'churches' now have lesbians in their pulpits and child molesters in the pews.
The time of great tribulation and judgement is at hand, and God is calling His true believers out of the organized denominations and working through each obedient one individually (and collectively) to minister His love to hurting people in the marketplace, at work, in homes.. everywhere. He's issuing His last call.
It won't be long. Jesus said He would return for His Church, then the judgement would come.
The time has come.
It's a total cop out. When you stop going to church, it's too easy to loose faith. My pastor put it well "church is a hospital for sinners" You need daily instruction and support that can only come from others in a group setting.
It's like an ember in a fire. The ember stays red while in the fire, but left to itself, it eventually dims and goes out. There is no perfect church and you will always find personalities that are hard to get along with, but overall it can be uplifting and a comfort in times of trouble and conflict in one's life.
Personally speaking I attended a Methodist Church In Salisbury for years. after over 20 years there it was the 5th minister at this church who would have nothing to do with me after coming there like I was a leper. You just know when someone doesn't like you they don't speak to you and won't even look at you. After over a year of this I tried leaving him messages, sent e-mails, asked to speak to him before services, after services no response. Suddenly one day he calls me to the Church for a meeting, I went and I was told by him that he did not like me, and his wife told him he was unfair he needed to speak with me. He apologized saying he was told an untruth about me and he listened to this person who told him I never liked any preacher there without asking me or those other preachers. About 8 wks later I decided this church and especially this preacher was not living right himself so I left. After he told me he was sorry by the way he never changed his attitude toward me in those weeks that followed. I have not lost my faith and never will, God loves me and I answer to him and live my life accordingly, in my own home I choose not to attend church.
Seem that church's are all about money and building a shrine to themselves and less about God.
Their staff waste money on extravagances and they cry about being poor and burdening their congregation with more debt.
I become leery when they preach about spreading the word of god and needing to bring more members in. For the money or for god?
Then there is the pressure to give a % of my earning to the church. 20% - and if I don't I am shamed. If they were truly christian it would not be about money. I do not have 20% to give to you.
Religion is becoming more and more of a cult and the preaching is always their interpretation of the scripture.
Live a fair, compassionate and useful life. Help those that you can. Be kind.
God's love comes in many forms.
I am tired of the single minded mantra that every one else's religion is wrong.
10:12
I feel for you, but don't let this stop you from going to church. I had a similar thing happen to me at a local church. The preacher didn't like me because I simply asked the question why we never study the book of revelation? He called my out by name and stated "Why should we study something so depressing?" We already know how it is going to come out!!!
It is one of those non denominational feel good churches that use a rock and roll band and a praise team. The bible is rarely used except for a small reading. Anything goes and you can dress anyway you want. After about a year of this, I got out. I am now in a more traditional church that preaches the word and still has a choir and church organ. I am happy in this church and have never looked back!
8:55 Scott, IF "church is a hospital for sinners" then we really have a problem with today's churches as they are being run today.
Churches have people (so called leaders) who are put in charge of recovery groups in therapy settings that have NO training in psychology. Therapy is not for the beginner and it is NOT safe with an untrained person at the helm. It, in fact, it can be very dangerous. This is going on in Salisbury and there are people in the church that are aware that it is going on.
If a church has a person leading any type of recover group that is not trained in the process of true therapy skills they are playing with fire. I have seen too many well meaning people that know scripture cover to cover placed in a position of leadership with no therapy skill set at all. They may even have their own mental health issues that are going on. Knowing the bible does not make you a therapist.
Churches need to be aware that people with true mental health issues go to church seeking answers to life problems as a refuse. That is not a bad thing. I think that any church that sees itself as "a hospital for sinners" owes these people a pat on the back, a good education in scripture and a referral to a professional who really knows what they are doing.
I am one of those people as well. You are bullied to take a "job" in the church and even if you are not able to do the job...you are shunned if you don't do it.
After some thought on this matter thought I'd mention from former church goers who stay at home and some insights into how churches may bring about change. I hear from a lot of the more elderly that once they cannot help at church functions due to age and health, and transportation stay at home. No one seeks them out and offers them transportation, and eventually calls and visits disappear, but they are contacted still for $. Sad but true try to reconnect with these people often and the church, congregation and God would be most appreciative.
8:55 Oh and please give us money. It is a total scam to keep you hooked on their feel good drug.
One of the most beautiful settings for Christians to meet is in each others homes. We as Christians are to fellowship with other Christians but it is becoming more and more impossible to fellowship in a atmosphere of greed and guilt that modern churches are pushing at people. I left a local big church which is going through major changes at this moment. I don't believe that churches have evolved to meet the needs of the parishioners but to keep their doors open. One final comment that comes straight from scripture that says it all "Look for the fruit." And I don't mean the fruit that is is controlling everything pretending to be God.
Joe...this article needs to be a rerun. There was a lot of talk about this at work today and apparently a lot more people are talking about this issue than you know.
No one religion has the path to God.
Jesus said 'I am the way, the truth and the life.
No man comes to the Father but by me.'
There's only one road to God.. His Son Jesus Christ.
The act of falling out of the church is an ongoing problem in American Christianity. As the article points out, many of those who leave are disenfranchised. What was thought to be Christianity was either a mega-cult of personality or something historical that was willing to abandon its doctrines (teachings). As an aside, it is equally interesting to hear of people who throw off Christianity altogether for similar reasons though they may have not heard real Christian doctrines; they became inoculated to a false or muddled Christianity. The real problem, at the heart of the issue is the absence of the Gospel in many mainline denominations: Jesus Christ Died for the forgiveness of all sinners (1 Corinthians 15).
The average American Christian congregant will not be confronted with his or her sin (his or her inherent evil nature). This is the first message all humans must hear. No one can stand to God's righteous requirements (Romans 3:9-20), everyone sins constantly because as it is written in 1 John 1:8 (ESV), "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and, the truth is not in us." and no one who is righteous does good and does not sin Ecclesiastes 7:20 (one righteous before God is baptized Christian by the gift of faith – 1Peter 3:17-21, John 3:5-8, Ephesians 2:1-10). The understanding of "original sin" clarifies why Christ came and had to die; Jesus died so that those who would believe through hearing God's word and being (in the existential sense of the word) baptized by Him could be averted from deserved damnation (John 3:10-21,).
The character, John, in the article missed out on two realities which was blocked by a form of works-righteousness (a list of do's and don'ts to appease God) and a church service that more likely sent John on a pseudo-quest to feel God's presence (akin to being a Jedi). Jesus Christ being God and His death on the cross to bridge the rift between God and man are the central doctrines of Christianity. This is the good news: Jesus Christ, true God and true man, died so that the sinfulness of every man, woman and child (babies included) is forgiven (justification); anyone may receive the gift of eternal life in the new creation. Ultimately, though a believer will die he or she will live because of the love of God through his Son despite man’s disgusting state.
John may have been surprised to know that God did not leave him in this world listless; God baptized John and adopted him as His own son (Titus 3:5-7, John 3:5-8, Ephesians 1:3-14) and God, the author and perfecter of John’s faith, feeds John with Jesus’s actually present body and blood in the Lord’s Supper so that he may be given God’s love in the continuing forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1Corinthians 10:16, 1Corinthians 11:27-29). John no longer has to despair that he does not live up to God’s expectations though he should still be contrite (He may also see the false expectations set before him as well). The sacraments are to be a comfort to him as he goes on to the end of his days in this creation. John’s surprise may turn into relief (a closer synonym to the biblical joy) which then would bring him to performing good works (sanctification)(Good works can be more mundane than one thinks read ).
It is sad to see people like John who won’t come to church. He shows his sin by rejecting the preaching of God’s word (i.e. included under breaking the third commandment). More so, John misses out on communing with the orthodox Christian church (that is to say a generic group of true Christians who share the same confession of faith as taught by scripture) where God graciously comes to His people in the preached word and sacraments. John should look for a church that is focused on Christ’s atonement and the giving of the sacraments while not being dismayed at the population of forgiven sinners (Romans 7).
This is a final note that concerns the solutions given by the author. It is apparent that the underlying assumption in the author’s view is that we must fix, build and revitalize the church; the contrary is true: God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is not incompetent. A large crowd is not a definitive marker of the true faith; rather, it is the purity of the doctrines confessed. It is better to have one faithful, catechized Christian than a mass of heterodox (or worse heretical) ignoramuses. Orthodox Christians should see this as a separation of those under Christ versus those under false teachers. It is all the more of a reason to preach the true Gospel and “fight the good fight.”
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