I saw a fact yesterday that shocked me: Lifeway Research reported that the median worship in churches in America in 2000 was 137; now it is 65. Was 137 – now 65. I retyped that for my own benefit. I knew that churches were losing membership and attendance, but this drop of more than half is shocking. And while there are some churches gaining ground, most of us are losing members. It made me wonder; why is it so hard to go to church? I’m not talking about people who have been hurt by the church in some way; they are perfectly within their rights to choose to disconnect. And while those numbers are large, they are not the majority. I am also not talking about people who must work. They have no choice, and we have no right to criticize them. Or people who can’t get there or have a physical (or other medical) reason to not attend. But if the church stayed open based on a vote by attendance, I think most would close tomorrow. The truth is that the vast majority of our churches have never had more than 50% attendance by our members.
Most of the inactive members of churches I have served have clearly chosen other priorities, and the reasons are as wide and numerous as the people themselves. It’s the only day they have to sleep in – it’s hard to get the kids going – they play golf (soccer, tennis, pickleball, tiddlywinks…). These members usually aren’t mad at me or the church or some other member; they just choose to not go. Let’s be honest – it isn’t worth their time. Part of the problem is that most of us joined the church when we were 13 or 14, and it wasn’t really our choice. It also wasn’t much about faith or discipleship. Our parents made us do it and then gave us the insane option to stop attending when we were done with Confirmation classes. That has never made any sense to me; faith by duty or obligation or force isn’t really faith. Many of us were dropped off by our parents (who didn’t attend) to go to Sunday school and church; again, we learn more by what we see than what we are told. We can smell the hypocrisy. And it stinks.
Somehow, church became work. Or it became safe – or boring – or it took too long – or it was filled with hypocrites – or ______. And the birth of adrenaline rush worship and megachurches has not been able to halt the decline of the church at large; there’s only so much flashy lightshows or music we can take before that becomes boring and predictable too. No – church will never be the most exciting thing we do during the week. It can, however, be a place where we grow into better people. It can be a place where we see the power of a faith community that makes a difference in people’s lives. Church shouldn’t be hard work, but it shouldn’t be without some buy-in by those present. Church is a place, but it is also a living entity – we define ourselves as the body of Christ, which means we are supposed to do stuff. Church isn’t about us – it’s about God. It’s about helping others.
If church matters to you (and you aren’t forced to work, can’t get out, or haven’t been damaged by us), you go. You come at 8 and golf (or whatever) at 9. You go for coffee and come at 10:30. The first step, of course, is to be honest. The church could use more of that, even if you don’t show up. We want what’s best for you. See you in church?
Prayer – Inspire us to be Your body, God of doing as well as the God of grace. Show us how to be better. Amen.
Today’s art is called “Landscape with Yellow Church Tower” by Paul Klee.