In a just-released Barna Research report comparing the practices of the US population in 1991 to those of 2011, the group reports that the number of unchurched women rose by 17 percent and unchurched men increased 9 percent. What do you feel are the reasons for this alarming trend?
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histool on August 2, 2011 at 6:08 am
Many joined churches for reasons that are very distant from the True God. Many faint and loose hope. Generational difference result in differences in motivations. The younger generation tend towards hedonism as the way of life. The link between the life we live and the Giver of the Life is missing. Leisure and “good life” has the most attraction than the Only Source. It is all the result of the lies of the Devil and the tendency of the flesh to gravitate towards those lies.
This trend will continue…and they are expected. Our Lord had predicted it.
edwardcox on August 2, 2011 at 7:37 am
I believe that there are m,any reasons why people are not joining the church or are leaving the church. In my mind it is because the church has drifted away from the Bible and the scripture. Too many churches are in to “feel good” messages; how to be prosperous, or how to feel better about yourself, etc.
This country has been rather prosperous and some have had everything given to them through all the government welfare programs for housing, food and healthcare. So much so that there is a dependency. People have been conditioned to depend on handouts instead of putting their faith and trust in the Lord.
marvin williams on August 2, 2011 at 8:23 am
I wonder if it’s because we have allowed the Great Commission to become The Great Suggestion. The question that I keep asking myself is how serious am I about making disciples? Maybe the church has become more comfortable with and in the malaise of self-centered living. Anything worth having is going to cost us something? Have we bought into the lie that grace is cheap? When men and women begin seeing believers sarificing for Jesus and genuinely living out their faith in him in such a way where it costs, I think people will be more willing to follow Jesus – the real one, not the plastic one we portray at times.
markadcock on August 8, 2011 at 2:20 am
In one sense I agree with Marvin, but for different reasons. I think the Great Commission has been lost because so many Christians fail to act like Christians that the lost see nothing of Christ in them. I believe people are falling out of the church and not joining because Christians are failing to BE disciples. Their lives do not reflect the teachings of scripture but rather they try to use their “religion” to advance their own causes, whatever they may be, and make a mockery out of the truth. We are to be “like Jesus” which means our lives are not our own and we are to live being led by the Holy Spirit to do the will of our Father in heaven without considering how it affects our lives. Then God can truly use us to affect change in another and demonstrate to the world His majesty and awesome power. If Christians would act like Christians there would be more Christians.
AManofGod on August 2, 2011 at 11:00 pm
Man (and by that I mean men and women) have become TOO confident in their abilities and successes. Some people, due to position in life or education level or successes, feel that God isn’t all that necessary. How often have you heard a successful person say “I did this through my own hard work” or “my education has afforded me THIS lifestyle” or any number of misguided statements? When we forget the sourve of ALL our successes we will plant the seeds of our destruction!
Likewise, some people tend to run to the church during times of pain and stress. We fall to our knees and ask God to SAVE US from our situations. And when God brings us out of the mire we quickly forget to stay IN the church. We forget who brought us out of the fire and we go back to our wordly ways.
People, we all need to wake up and realize God is the source of our joy and if we forget to show his honor we are not only showing a lack of gratitude but we are telling God that we only need you when we want something from Him! That is not the love God deserves.
Men and women, come back to the church, and show God the love and gratitude He deserves from us.
AManofGod
imadonna on August 3, 2011 at 9:34 am
I am most certain that the trouble began with the women’s liberation movement, and men not taking their rightful position as head of the family state, and church. God doesn’t make mistakes, when he placed man as the head. That is the way it was meant to be, and now the whole family dynamic has changed and been corrupted, which affects our relationship with God. Everything starts at home. When we put God first, and follow his chain of command, we will see a return to Godly values. (I’m not talking about the old authoritarian dictatorship either)
tom felten on August 3, 2011 at 10:57 am
It’s evident that the effects of parents, who claim to be believers but who are not truly living a surrendered life in Jesus, has affected recent generations. Watched an interesting documentary titled “Divided” yesterday. While I feel the video jumps to certain conclusions and is far too dogmatic in presenting certain aspects of its case case (youth groups have usurped parent’s spiritual roles in their kids’ lives), the overarching theme of the need for parents to step up is right on. If we don’t actively lead our children toward spiritual formation then they will have great difficulty navigating a secular society.
JPW on August 4, 2011 at 2:27 am
I believe in this country, the UK, that there is a growing interest in spiritual matters. We have lost the ‘cultural’ church-goers from our buildings but we are starting to see more people who are interested in The Bible. The message that the Christian life is not a Sunday only matter but 24/7 has great appeal. Some people cannot always go to a Sunday service so we need to provide fellowship meetings/Bible groups during the week. It is interesting that the attendance at our C of E cathedrals is UP. We also now have two national Christian radio stations on DAB Digital Radio – none on AM or FM – (www.premier.org.uk & http://www.ucbmedia.co.uk) so a lot more people are having access to the Christian message and worldview. People in our secular society are looking for God so let us be walking examples of what Christ has done in our lives.
tom felten on August 4, 2011 at 10:39 am
Thanks for sharing, JPW. As many of us look to Europe, we see the sad effects of a land that has turned from biblical Christianity—a truly post-Christian world. It’s so good to read your encouraging reports about the light of Jesus shining in the spiritual darkness that is present.
GChoo on August 4, 2011 at 10:27 am
I think this phenomenal is not only happening in the States but in a number of developed nations and even up and rising ones (eg. China). Our God is a God of relationships. Haven’t we seen around us, relationships (divorces, family, friendships) are breaking up and it leads to people feeling so isolated. A capitalist society and an extremely generous welfare country have made people become concerned about building up wealth and forget about the importance of good relationships.
We need to get back to putting efforts into relationships. As christians, I believe we need to build up a continuing and deep relationship with God first to help us with to grown in our relationships with others.
To help others to know God, merely sharing the gospel is not the only way, we need to establish a relationship with unbelievers and God will make the way. That was what happened to me years back when i was an unbeliever. Many people believed in Jesus because they have a good and trusted relationship with a christian friend. A friend who is there for them not only in good times but bad times. People don’t just go to church to know God but to see how we can be true friends to them.
As christians, we must remember that our behaviour speak louder than words. Put into action God’s love and compassion.
tom felten on August 4, 2011 at 10:42 am
Good thoughts, GChoo. As has been said, “People won’t care how much we know, until they know how much we care.”
mizroby on August 7, 2011 at 1:10 pm
For God’s reasons, it is stated that coming to the end and before Jesus comes that there will be few who follow the path of Jesus and a wider path that others will take. It is happening because the Word said it would happen. The Government is trying to remove God from it’s way of governing and now it is falling apart. Unless you understand and know of what is to come you will not understand it. There is gay marriage now due to God being removed and there will come much more things that will make Jesus weep before he will come. May all Christians show even more in their ways of life to those non-christian that the life lead by Jesus is the way, the truth and the life.
The weather has been changing, children in large count are dying from not enough food, the economy is headed for the largest depression ever, our government may already be headed into the hands of Satan, the people are living a life as they please and worshiping other Gods or no Gods. Only a few are helping those in need, and the laws of man are setting guilty people free. We may or may not be in the time that Jesus will come in on that cloud, but we are certainly getting a lot closer to that time.
May what Christians we have left let Jesus live in them and thier lives in order to help as many as possible.
In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.