Studies conducted by the Pew Research Center indicate that eighty percent of Americans claim belief in God, yet church participation rate is declining.
Across the board, Americans are in fact holding onto faith but not the church. The question then is why?
Remarkably, the reasoning behind such is rather simple. Americans and others who hold onto a belief in God do not identify with the current state of the Church.
Furthermore, a previous study conducted by Landon Schnabel and Sean Bock titled; ‘The Persistent and Exceptional Intensity of American Religion: A Response to Recent Research,’ claims a similar fate for American Churches.
However, this study indicates that Christians in America are not giving up on the Church entirely, instead, they are leaving the larger, more liberal churches for more conservative ones.
Regardless of the studies, it is evident that a generational change is occurring within the Church. Further, previous generations viewed going to church as mandatory, today’s generations see church attendance as optional. Church attendance may also be declining because of busier schedules and the availability of online sermons.
In addition, the polarization of politics and society pits one side against the other. For example, in parts of California, many Christians claim that they are forced to keep their faith private because of the threat to livelihood caused by the media.
With Church participation rates down, what does it mean going forward for Christians in America? Is California the only state that so many are forced to keep their faith private, or is this widespread?
It’s not about them Not attending a church building, it’s about them not knowing who HE is, and NOT wanting to know. Them comfortable in the lies the world and the false ministers and teachers, both male and female spew to tickle their ears. The voices full of the doctrine of demons (1 Tim. 4:1) … as they walk along doing evil in the sight of God… I then say… Really… It Is Written (James 2:19)
19 “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even “the demons” believe—and tremble!” Yes the devil and his believe who He is… but believing is NOT belonging to HIM. tic toc… time is short.
Kath…
Absolutely… and there are plenty of apostate churches ready and able to accommodate the “tickling of the ears.” I agree that large numbers of folks don’t want anything to do with any church. Their “church” is the sports stadium, their video screen, or some form of perverse behavior.
The younger generation does not have people who will encourage them to come to church. All of the older generations need to mentor and involve the younger generations and teach them.
Several reasons for the decline of “churchianity:”
1) Ignoring many sections of clear Bible teaching, especially in these areas: Abomination of homosexuality; perversion of marriage; the teaching of personal responsibility vs. reliance on government as “god.”
2) Promoting the “social gospel” – the false god of government and forced taxation to pay for “taking care of the poor” instead of the gospel of Christ which promotes giving from the heart and not via coercion.
3) Ritual and convention that most people can no longer relate to.
4) Excess formality that many see as a “fake piety.”
5) Loss of genuine enthusiasm toward faith, Bible teaching, the work of Christ, and Christianity in general due to a hostile culture that promotes the relativism of “tolerate everything and judge nothing.”
Churches that will grow are those that…
1) Sincerely maintain that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God.
2) Affirm moral standards set forth in the Bible are valid; to ignore or discredit them them is destructive sin.
3) Remind us that Christianity was the predominant belief of our nation’s founders, and that the our form of government and liberties can endure ONLY as long as the moral standards of the Bible can be maintained.
4) Have a congregation that cares for one another, shows true friendship toward each other and newcomers, and who are enthusiastic about God’s Word.
5) Esteems trust in Christ and God’s Word more than government, the media or any naysayer they encounter.