Yes, many in the rank and file regard church as a place to have a social framework and receive encouragement (on whatever basis) in the midst of life’s pressures. I think a lot of liberal church members like not being challenged to buck the culture, which can produce friction and unpleasantness, but they wish for everyone to just be “nice” and uncritical. Also, the emphasis on good works gives them a feeling of satisfaction.
There is a lot of that going on in the Catholic Church as well. Michael Voris of Church Militant calls it the "church of nice". Check out The Vortex on churchmilitant.tv.