Interesting new book, Quitting Church: Why the Faithful are Fleeing and What to Do about It authored by religion editor Julia Duin as reflected in this extract from Al Mohler’s post today: “Church attendance figures are misleading and bloated when supplied by churches themselves. Statistics often cited to comfort church leaders are based on overly optimistic and dated reports. The more current and research-based numbers are scary. The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago estimates that church attendance has fallen from 41 percent of the population in 1971 to 31 percent in 2001. At those rates of decline, no one will be attending church in 2031.”
Julia Duin states in her book: “My research suggested that people are simply not being pastored. Often ministers are out of touch with what’s happening on the ground, as they are surrounded by a wall of secretaries and voice mail. Congregants have to wait up to a month for an appointment, if they can get in at all. Once-a-week home Bible study groups lack depth and theological know-how for help with the serious problems many of us face. Many churches refer people to professional counseling that costs at least seventy-five dollars an hour. Those lucky enough to have a health plan that pays for counseling usually find the only counselors on approved HMO lists have no concept of a Christian worldview.”
Read complete article by Dr. mohler @ http://www.albertmohler.com/
6 responses so far ↓
1 Vince // Nov 10, 2008 at 6:20 pm
I think anyone interested in this topic might consider picking up Barna’s book Revolution or Pagan Christianity by Viola. I have many thoughts on this topic but I will not bore you with them.
2 Larry // Nov 12, 2008 at 10:21 am
I’M one of the faithful that is seriously considering the move out of the institutional church.
3 jeremiah johnson // Nov 24, 2008 at 7:57 pm
Larry, are you against God’s institution of the church or just man’s. Do you see institutuional aspects in the New Testament?
Curious.
4 John Welch // Dec 1, 2008 at 9:10 am
I pray that all would take HEED to this, whatever ones thoughts or feelings on the subject. We all from time to time hit walls when it comes to other church members. I know, I know you’ve heard it all before “We’re not perfect. If it were a perfect church they wouldn’t invite me.” Find and dandy but the truth is that these are all just words to lull and pet a parishioner back into the fold. The REAL issue is REBELLION. The scriptures clearly lay out not only the importance but the mandate for local assembly. If one of the “faithful” is considering not attending local assembly that is either the first step or one of many done in rebellion towards God.
5 jeremiah johnson // Dec 3, 2008 at 2:47 pm
There is no example in the New Testament of believers “leaving” the church. And this is spite of all of the messed up situations that were going on. So why are people leaving it now?
The word says that God has appointed institions, that He is behind them. This does not mean that God is behind every thing that happens within them. Jesus loves the church, just read the seven letters to the churches in Revelation, he both commends and rebukes them, tells them what they are doing well and what they need to repent of, but He loves them all even tho He sees how messed up they are. Jesus never tells people to leave, but He does say to repent. This attitude of screw the church is not of Christ but of the flesh.
6 jeremiah johnson // Dec 5, 2008 at 11:04 am
Richard Baxter on the topic is church attendance necessary
Objection: I can profit as much by staying at home and reading the Scripture or some good book; it is the word of God which they preach, and it is that which I read at home. The books that are written by learned men are better than the sermons that are preached by our ministers.
Answer: What foolish pretences are these against the plain command of God and our own necessary duty! When God hath appointed you your duty, will He allow you to forsake it upon your own reason, as if you were wiser than God, and knew what will profit you better than He?…. Is it not horrible pride in you to think that you are able to understand the word of God as well without a teacher as with one?…. as if your children that go to school should say, “We have the same books at home, and therefore we will not go to school; our master doth but teach us grammar, and other books, and these we can read at home.”
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