I think the decline has little to do with Covid.
Churches have become the “latest fad” to attract crowds. Gross modern ? “music” to bring in the generation following Boomers. It’s getting old to the latest generation.
Guess what, you now have to have naked men prancing up and down the aisles and men who have tucked everything they have and donned make up and skirts to attract the newest generation. Don’t forget Bible-stories read to our children by drag queens and of course, gay marriage. That should boost attendance.
That is the problem with making “religion” a fad.
” Gross modern ? “music””
The ONE thing I like about organized religion. CCM Contemporary Christian Music.
God LOVES music. God LOVES singing. He gave most of us the gift of music appreciation. He gave others the gift of creating/performing music.
Of course satan HATES anything God loves. That is why satan destroys (or tries to) the lives of those who produce music.
By your description, Gross modern ? “music”, I suspect you don’t like Contemporary Christian Music, but think hymns are great.
Look at the copyright dates of the hymns in your hymn book. You will see that most are from the 19th century. ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED plus years BEFORE Christ.
So WAY back in the 18 hundreds, your favorite hymns were Contemporary Christian Music.