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Some are leaving the church because they’ve received a false gospel. Others are leaving because they’ve found the real one. SKYE JETHANI
According to Barna, 1 in 3 people are dechurched. That is a lot of people and you might be one of them. 1
Here is a definition of the word dechurched: Formerly attended church but have not attended in the past six months.2
But here is something you may not expect.
In the book, “Church Refugees”, sociologist, Josh Packard found that a decline in church attendance DID NOT match a decline in religious belief. Even more surprising, Packard’s research revealed that those who are leaving, “didn’t stop doing things to advance what they believed to be the work of God; they stopped doing things to advance the work of the church.”
How do we explain this?
First, we must stop assuming and blaming it is selfishness, kid’s sports, consumerism, moral standards and immaturity that makes people leave. Yes, those things may be playing into it but it is not the whole picture.
The truth is, our churches are driving consumerism by the way we function.
With good intention, we build churches and programs in the hopes our churches will be a place people want to come to. Coffee shops, extravagant kid’s area, concert level worship events, multi- million $ buildings. Don’t get me wrong, I love all this stuff and I see why we do it. The problem is, in many cases, we have created spaces where people connect to experiences instead of God.
By our actions, we are teaching people to GO to church, instead of teaching them to BE the church.
Did you know, Barna Research shows us that millennials go to church to find and commune with God. The sad part of this research shows us that millennials leave church to find and commune with God.3 Apparently, the very place they should encounter God is leaving them empty-handed.
In addition, we have alienated those who need us the most.
Packard writes:
“While everyone’s story is unique, there are some common tensions that emerge among the dechurched. • They wanted community . . . and got judgment. • They wanted to affect the life of the church . . . and got bureaucracy. • They wanted conversation . . . and got doctrine. • They wanted meaningful engagement with the world . . . and got moral prescription.” 4
It has been 18+ months since I left a brick-n-mortar church to plant Pursuit Church Live online. You might think I have given up on the local church. I HAVE NOT. It was my heart then, and still is that every person should have the opportunity to experience the life changing gift of Jesus and Christian community. I still believe the local church IS the HOPE of the world and I will do everything in my power to see it grow. I don’t have all the answers, but I am searching.
What I have learned is personal and doesn’t apply to every pastor or church leader, but maybe it will for you. Before leaving church, I spent 90% of my time as a church leader creating and executing events and experiences instead of loving and caring for our community. I feel great loss for the years I spent on the brink of burnout trying to maintain something that wasn’t working. And if I can be frank with you, I feel even more regret for the hundreds of thousands of dollars we spent on buildings and programs (ALL with GOOD INTENTIONS) instead of finding a way to use that money to help people in need.
Today, my life is radically different. I spend 90% of my time joining with others to BE the church, instead of GOING to church. As Skye Jethani says, I have “found the real one”. And I am grateful.
If you have found the answer in your local church. Please share it below.
Notes:
1 Barna Research. (2017). Retrieved from: https://www.barna.com/research/church-attendance-trends-around-country/
2 Barna Research Glossary of Terms. (2019). Retrieved from: https://www.barna.com/glossary/
3 Barna Research. (2015). Retrieved from: https://www.barna.com/research/what-millennials-want-when-they-visit-church/
4 Packard, Josh & Hope, Ashleigh. (2015). Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why the dechurched left… and what they’re hoping to find. Group Publishing U.S.A.
Wayne Sommers
May 7, 2019Excellent Angela! This is a good reminder and challenge to make sure we are being the church and not just doing activities. The book, The Vine and Trellis, shares how we often spend way too much time on making the Trellis look good rather than on the Vine where the real life and people are. Yes we need to have some healthy structure (Trellis), but people (Vine) are where the life is and where growth takes place. I appreciate your insights and look forward to hearing morel
Angela L Craig
June 3, 2019I will have to get that book! Sounds awesome! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to read and comment. I appreciate you!