Even sincere Christians are attending
church less often in our North American culture? This is a statement of fact
rather than approval.
As we entered church yesterday I said to
Christine, "it feels like we've been gone for six months." Really, it's
been a few weeks when we have had commitments, preferences and holiday
elsewhere. We are not the only absentees. This compelled me to read and to
think about why good Christians are attending church less frequently than
before. (Here is what I thought.)
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| Susan Mattinson, 2012-2016. Reproduction permitted with permission of creator |
Their
guilt is diminished. It's a cultural shift. Guilt
was once associated with church non-attendance. Not any more for most people.
Churches need superior motivators.
They
are not seeing a direct benefit. They concur with
the biblical foundation for church but in their local churches there is either
not much of value or as is more likely, they fail to see value. They are less
engaged. They make time for the activities they value most.
They
are opting for self-directed spirituality. The
postmodern mind intuitively avoids churches that act like institutions. With
Internet access to any information and with Christian TV programming they seek
to meet their own spiritual needs.
Their
affluence affords options. This pertains to
Christians with disposable monies and subsequent options like travel and
cottages and weekend getaways that move them away from local church engagement.
Their
church has an online presence. Churches are
increasingly relying on media to impact participants. When they podcast sermons
or entire service hours, people can access them on tablet, TV or phone.
They
attend but don't engage. People who attend but do
not belong, or give, or serve tend to attend less often.
Their
children's demanding activities. Community sports
often require travel and weekends and parents are choosing sports over church.
They
don't have a means of transportation. Many church
sites require transportation. Some people do not have a reliable vehicle or bus
route. When children and youth can attend only infrequently, even that drops
off over time.
Of course there are other reasons. Failing
to prepare for this cultural shifting, churches will not be in time to
respond.
With appreciation
to the ChurchLeaders website.
The reason we have cut down our going to church is that Christians still insist on their RIGHT to wear fragrances to which my wife is anaphylactic to! fIve ambulance rides from church to hospital is not fun!!! So if you really care about your brothers and sisters in Christ, be sensitive and scentless!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a valid non attendance reason that I myself have never heard before nor, I surmise, have church going people considered the effect of perfumes upon others. Andy, thanks for the observance and alert. I expect that this health concern limits so many social atmospheres.
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