Why My Generation Stopped Going To Church

[OneLight]

It would be interesting to find out why people do not attend church.  I am sure there are those who just feel attendance is not a requirement, yet I beleive there are those who would love to attend but cannot for physical constraints.  I believe there are many who have a form of restriction that can be attributed to their absence.

[nebula]

Shiloh -

 

In several of your responses, it comes across as if you believe I am teaching people to stop going to church. That is not what I am doing.

 

It also comes across as if you believe I never plan on going to church ever again. That is incorrect. I have been expressing where I am at currently and where I have been in the past. Finding a new church home is not easy. Please don't argue points that have no relevence to me and my situation and what I have been expressing (i.e. the college students).

 

And please don't assume I am not trying to follow the Lord's leading. I am. However, I'm not following the stereotypical, "God can only steer a moving vehicle" approach to finding God's direction. There are other ways to be led by Him, and my husband and I are trusting the Lord together in this.

[Guest man]

It would be interesting to find out why people do not attend church.  I am sure there are those who just feel attendance is not a requirement, yet I beleive there are those who would love to attend but cannot for physical constraints.  I believe there are many who have a form of restriction that can be attributed to their absence.

 

 

I don't attend church today mainly because I never did in the past. Early in my walk I tried the church thing but it didn't work out. I trust the Lord to lead me where He wants me. When it comes to church, I don't feel the pull.

[Guest shiloh357]

In several of your responses, it comes across as if you believe I am teaching people to stop going to church. That is not what I am doing.

 

I don't believe I ever even implied that you are teaching people to go to church.  I can't think of one post of mine that hints at that.

 

It also comes across as if you believe I never plan on going to church ever again.

I never said or implied that either.  While I am endeavoring to respond to what you have posted, it appears that you are reacting emotionally to what you have decided I am thinking and assigning that to me in what you post.

 

Please don't argue points that have no relevence to me and my situation and what I have been expressing (i.e. the college students).

 

I am not "arguing" ;the point about the college students.  I was simply pointing to the fact that you are unique in terms of why people don't go to church.  I brought that up in response to a statement you made and the point was relevant to that statement even if it wasn't relevant to the overall reasons that you don't attend church.

 

And please don't assume I am not trying to follow the Lord's leading.

 

 Again, I don't think I have suggested otherwise in any of my posts.

 

It appears that your responses to me are motivated more from values that you have assigned to my responses than what I have actually said.   What was all that stuff about "listening" to people? 

[Guest shiloh357]

It would be interesting to find out why people do not attend church.  I am sure there are those who just feel attendance is not a requirement, yet I beleive there are those who would love to attend but cannot for physical constraints.  I believe there are many who have a form of restriction that can be attributed to their absence.

A former pastor of mine in my city conducted a scientific survey pertaining to that very issue back in 2010.  There is a joke floating around that if there is a "Bible Belt" Springfield, Missouri is the buckle.  We are the headquarters of two denominations (The Assemblies of God and the Independent Baptist Bible Fellowship).  We have two Bible colleges, a Christian university (Evangel University) and the Assemblies of God seminary. There are churches on almost every major street in and around the immediate Springfield area representing every mainstream Christian denomination and some lesser known denominations as well.

 

In a city that has a current population of approximately 162,000, not even half attend church anywhere. Not even close to half.  Many see the Christian faith as irrelevant to their lives.  Some just got out of the habit and it is too hard to get back into it. The number of people who don't attend because of a hurtful incident ranked the lowest.  I don't remember all of the statistics and unfortunately, he didn't post the survey online.   The irony is that Springfield Missouri is the most unchurched city in the state of Missouri.  If every available seat were filled without violating the fire codes, all of the churches in Springfield would only seat 80,000 people.  

 

Most churches in Springfield run less than half of their enrollment in attendence.   Based on what I recall from that survey, only about 30,000-40,000 people in Springfield attend church anywhere and that is taking into account those who cannot attend due to illness, disability and work schedules (doctors, police and other emergency personnel).  Springfield has no  manufacturing.  We are a retail, service industry town.  Most people work in restauraunts, retail shops that force them to work on Sunday to keep their job, and I do believe that factor was also taken into account.  If everyone who wanted to attend church could attend, it would not affect the 30,000-40,000 number range at all.

[OneLight]

 

It would be interesting to find out why people do not attend church.  I am sure there are those who just feel attendance is not a requirement, yet I beleive there are those who would love to attend but cannot for physical constraints.  I believe there are many who have a form of restriction that can be attributed to their absence.

A former pastor of mine in my city conducted a scientific survey pertaining to that very issue back in 2010.  There is a joke floating around that if there is a "Bible Belt" Springfield, Missouri is the buckle.  We are the headquarters of two denominations (The Assemblies of God and the Independent Baptist Bible Fellowship).  We have two Bible colleges, a Christian university (Evangel University) and the Assemblies of God seminary. There are churches on almost every major street in and around the immediate Springfield area representing every mainstream Christian denomination and some lesser known denominations as well.

 

In a city that has a current population of approximately 162,000, not even half attend church anywhere. Not even close to half.  Many see the Christian faith as irrelevant to their lives.  Some just got out of the habit and it is too hard to get back into it. The number of people who don't attend because of a hurtful incident ranked the lowest.  I don't remember all of the statistics and unfortunately, he didn't post the survey online.   The irony is that Springfield Missouri is the most unchurched city in the state of Missouri.  If every available seat were filled without violating the fire codes, all of the churches in Springfield would only seat 80,000 people.  

 

Most churches in Springfield run less than half of their enrollment in attendence.   Based on what I recall from that survey, only about 30,000-40,000 people in Springfield attend church anywhere and that is taking into account those who cannot attend due to illness, disability and work schedules (doctors, police and other emergency personnel).  Springfield has no  manufacturing.  We are a retail, service industry town.  Most people work in restauraunts, retail shops that force them to work on Sunday to keep their job, and I do believe that factor was also taken into account.  If everyone who wanted to attend church could attend, it would not affect the 30,000-40,000 number range at all.

 

 

Taking into account that this is a city where there are many possibilities, could you dig deeper in his studies to see how many wanted to go but could not because of a disability of some sort?  This would be an interesting figure to know.  Eliminate those who have to work and focus on those that could if there was a means to get them there.

 

I am curious as to how many are disabled and would go if they could go.  I ask because I wonder if their feeding of scripture and relationship with God is hindered in any way.  I personally knew a blind lady who could not attend, yet if you read her scripture and misquoted it, she would correct you.  Her love for the Lord was great.  Not attending church did not affect her love for the Lord or her neighbor. 

[oak]

It would be interesting to find out why people do not attend church.  I am sure there are those who just feel attendance is not a requirement, yet I beleive there are those who would love to attend but cannot for physical constraints.  I believe there are many who have a form of restriction that can be attributed to their absence.

 

First of all, if I would address the topic in a general way which was not my original intent - Shiloh and Nebula have taken over and I let them be -  I would have quoted "The Parable of the Wedding Feast."  Which I will do now: "See, I have prepared, and my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready...they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another  to his business.... Mat: 22:4-5  It's usually the mundane, please don't bother us with God we're busy trying to make a living. And that has not changed except now we have more things competing for our attention.

 

Also, as a former Research Director for WB / Fox / UPN, traditional church services are regulated to the lowest level of broadcasting. Mass and traditional services are hash marks - meaning no significant number is watching from a wheelchair or are bed ridden.... The TV prosperity preacher's is another story but to me they don't represent Christ. So I'm understanding that my generation has important things to do, when I ask them. "why don't you go to church."

 

Last thing you should be aware of in terms of statistics that you'll find on church going. It's known as the "Halo Effect." In short when people fill out forms they want to be seen in a good light; their not going to say, "Oh I watched some porn while downing a 5th of J.D.

 

Oak    

[missmuffet]

It would be interesting to find out why people do not attend church.  I am sure there are those who just feel attendance is not a requirement, yet I beleive there are those who would love to attend but cannot for physical constraints.  I believe there are many who have a form of restriction that can be attributed to their absence.

I have attended a Church but I found it more and more difficult to attend.I loved my pastor's sermons but I felt a wordly environment to the congregation.People being more concerned for the social aspect of Church rather than the real reason they are there "Jesus".I found that most Churches have a huge issue with cliques and I hate cliques.In addition to the tithing they always wanted money for one thing or another.They were wanting you to give all the time.They seemed to look down their noses at you if you were not always giving to some kind of fund.Many of the women dress inappropriately which I can not respect as a Christ believer.Once the associate pastor made a crude joke during his sermon and the whole congregation laughed....this really turned me off..  

I guess my perfect Church will be in heaven.....

[Fez]

I attend a church in Mozambique when I am there. It is a small reed building that houses about 80 people max. One old man (in his late 60's), walks 4 hours to church and 4 hours back every Sunday. Another is blind and he is led to church by a grandchild. it takes him over an hour to get there.

 

I could never do that.

 

I attend a church and really love going to it, and participating in all it's ministries. but ask me to get up and start walking at 4 am, attend a 4 hour service and then walk 4 hours back?

 

I could not do that.

 

What that says about my faith I am not sure. I got up at 5 am last Sunday, drove and hour and a half to a church service with my pastor, drove back, had lunch and went to my church in the evening, but to walk 8 hours in a day? I could not do it, I just know I could not.

 

We are all in different places when it comes to church, and there is nothing wrong with that. 

 

But I won't make an excuse. I am to lazy and unfit to walk 4 hours to church.

[Guest shiloh357]

Taking into account that this is a city where there are many possibilities, could you dig deeper in his studies to see how many wanted to go but could not because of a disability of some sort?  This would be an interesting figure to know.  Eliminate those who have to work and focus on those that could if there was a means to get them there.

 

 

I am curious as to how many are disabled and would go if they could go.  I ask because I wonder if their feeding of scripture and relationship with God is hindered in any way.  I personally knew a blind lady who could not attend, yet if you read her scripture and misquoted it, she would correct you.  Her love for the Lord was great.  Not attending church did not affect her love for the Lord or her neighbor. 

 

I am unable to comment further on the survey as I have no access to it. 

 

I know several who cannot attend church due to physical issues and it has not hindered their personal walk with the Lord in any way.  In fact, their disabilities have caused them to draw closer to the Lord.

 

The point I have endeavored to make, however clusmy my efforts have been, is not  that lack of church attendence would make one a sub par Christian.  Our walk with the Lord is a personal one and is not tethered to external circumstances. 

 

Not attending church DOES mute one's ability to make a lasting and significant impact on the world.   Our focus as Christians cannot be limited to what serves our personal interest.   The church is commissioned to take the Gospel to the world.   That is where the focus should be for us.  The Lord blesses and strengthens us to fulfill His agenda, not just to make life easier while we wait for His return.

 

I think of the believer's relationship to the local church and the local church's relationship to the greater Body of Christ as tributaries that merge into one body of water, like a river.   Some rivers are fed by individual streams and individually, those streams cannot supply much in the way of water particularly to areas that need water.  But as more and more tributaries merge, together they form an unstoppable force like the Mississippi river.  

 

Each of us is like that individual tributary that by ourselves can't really address the real and massive needs of people around the world, but together, our arms are longer, our money goes further and makes an impact that address the needs of people everywhere.  When people and churches unite to spread the Gospel we find that we can serve God better together than we ever could on our own.

 

If a person's mindset is, "I can worship God and  fellowship anyhwere; I don't need a church,"  they have missed the point of what being a part of a Church is all about.