Spirituality May Be Hot in America, But 76 Million Adults Never Attend Church

The Barna Group ^ | 3/20/06

[TXBSAFH]

Most of the masses at my church have to have people standing in the back. We sit over 400 and all the pews are usually filled. We are currently saving up to build on.

[cripplecreek]

I'm Methodist so attending church has about the same spiritual significance as watching American Idle these days.

[Semper]

Being "churched" or "unchurched" pertains to being religious more than to being spiritual. As the survey shows, it is possible to have a spiritual state of mind without attending church. And a spiritual state of mind leads to a spiritual path of living.

This is not to degrade being "churched". There are many very good things which come from that practice. But there are some negative aspects also - such as those who believe that their way is the only way and that everyone must be "saved" to their way of worship. Even if they have achieved perfection, their way may not be the only way to perfection.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I'm Methodist so attending church has about the same spiritual significance as watching American Idle these days.

I went to an Evangelical Free church where watching American Idol was part of the sermon "experience." I'm not kidding. I think they used Barna studies to tell them that's what I wanted. When I left a note on their pass-around attendance sheet (they asked for comments) telling them I didn't get why they loved the world so much, or why hollywood is fit to lead their church service, they just got testy with me. Lesson: they don't care what Christians think. They just want flash for cash. They want to replace old Christians with trendy seekers who might part with more money (I guess). In many cases, I don't think real Christians are leading our churches. Maybe Barna should profile what pastors believe and don't believe. That might give more insight into why some people stay "unchurched."

[dukeman]

American Idle

LOL!

I grew up in the United Methodist Church as well. I never really heard the gospel preached until I visited a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation in my early 30's. I'm a member there now and I've never looked back. I thank God for His patience with me.

[dukeman]

Maybe Barna should profile what pastors believe and don't believe. That might give more insight into why some people stay "unchurched."

That would be an eye-opener indeed! I've heard some wild beliefs expressed out there which bear very little resemblance to the 1st century teachings of Jesus and the disciples.

[wmfights]

"Denominationally, the largest share of unchurched adults is made up of lapsed Catholics: almost three out of every ten unchurched people (29%) associate with Catholicism. One out of every five (18%) say they are Baptist."
___________________________________

As a Baptist "Born Again" believer I understand some of this. Our services are typically 1 1/2 hrs or more and the church is aggressive about being "involved". The other stat that stuck out for me was 43% of the unchurched were single adults. It's tough to get up and go to church Sunday morning when your young and single and out late Saturday night. However, what I see are the young marrieds coming especially those with children.

BTW, 25% of our congregation is now former Roman Catholic's who when they started coming to church wanted "meat" not fluff.

[cripplecreek]

They want to replace old Christians with trendy seekers who might part with more money

My grandmother played the organ from the time she was 12 years old until she was in her late 70s. Then they shoved her aside for a stage to set up the drums, amps and guitars. They drove the elderly people who built the Church (in many cases with their bare hands) from the church in their lust to bring in a more modern yuppie style crowd. My grandfather laid the cornerstone for the church that tossed him aside.

The last time I was inside the place, I didn't find hymnals in the back of the pews. I found hard left leaning political literature and save the forest, anti war type stuff.

A couple of weeks back I was talking to my grandmother about the fact that she doesn't attend church any more. She says it ceased to be her church a long time ago. In my opinion she's a better Christan with out that so called "church".

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I agree with you. Give those wonderful grandparents a hug and tell them they aren't alone and to just keep reading God's Word and trust in the One who never changes.

[wmfights]

"A couple of weeks back I was talking to my grandmother about the fact that she doesn't attend church any more. She says it ceased to be her church a long time ago. In my opinion she's a better Christan with out that so called "church"."
________________________________

I'm very sorry to hear about your grandmother's situation.

I taught Sunday School to 1st - 4th graders for a time and the best resource I had (other than the SCRIPTURES) were the "blue haired set" that had been involved in the program for 20+ years. What a shame that the "new" wants to ignore the "old".

[dukeman]

We have a number of folks at our PCA church who grew up and spent many adult years in the Catholic Church. And get this: our senior pastor is Jewish, but accepted Jesus as the messiah while in college. The path between being of the world and becoming a believer can be extremely diverse.

[dukeman]

So sorry to hear about your grandparents' recent experience. I'm in Florida, so we naturally have a lot of seniors in our congregation. What I noticed when I first began visiting this congregation was that the seniors didn't seem "old." I didn't know what to make of that then, but now I know the Holy Spirit keeps you young!

I spend Wednesday mornings at a men's Bible study breakfast. At age 47, I'm the young pup in the group. All the rest are WW II-era retired guys and they're simply the best. It's a privilege to be allowed to hang around with them.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

So basically I have to go to church? HA! Does that mean I have to tithe 10% of my income as well? NOT. I do not need a preacher, priest or father to intercede with God on my behalf. God and I have a mutual understanding and I don't need a Church to listen to Him. There are many reasons I no longer attend church and the foremost reason is the hypocrisy I have seen in many different churches and Christian sects. Nothing makes my stomach churn quite so much as watching holier than thou snobs look down their noses at some one who needs a hand up. Nope no thanks I will stay out of church and the political in fighting that goes on there. The bible tells us that we do not need a church to worship.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” I don't see anything about a church here.....

[lastchance]

Three items in the survey especially alarmed me. They are

64% contend that Satan is not a living being but is just a symbol of evil.

62% believe that a good person can earn eternal salvation.

51% believe that Jesus Christ sinned while He lived on earth.

I do not think it is a coincidence that the unchurched believe this. Awareness of the reality of evil and the existence of Satan remind Christians of the need for Jesus and our being part of His body. There is strength in numbers. In the words of John Donne " No man is an Island"
As for being able to earn salvation. If that is true what need than do we have for grace? Or the need to worship and praise God for the grace so freely given. If my Salvation is in my hands I sure do not need any community to support and sustain me in my walk with Christ.
If Jesus sinned, he sure as heck can not be God. Why go to church to worship someone who is just a good man. A superior moral teacher and loving friend yes. But God no.
I can worship my other heroes at home by myself. Why not this Jesus guy?
The Truth is that the we are meant to worship and praise God as a community. For we are called the Body of Christ for a reason.

[dukeman]

Those "two or three gathered together", repeated many millions of times over throughout the world, is the church. The building where a larger group of believers happens to meet is not the church. It is a building. It is good for believers to get together for fellowship. Iron sharpens iron.

[Alex Murphy]

I grew up in the United Methodist Church as well. I never really heard the gospel preached until I visited a Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) congregation in my early 30's. I'm a member there now and I've never looked back. I thank God for His patience with me.

My experience is nearly the same as yours. A couple of years after I left, my old UMC church began a Sunday night Bible study, using the Matthew Fox book The Coming of the Cosmic Christ, which was when I stopped looking back.

[dukeman]

My former UMC congregation is going through an interesting phase right now. It occupies a beautiful old building in the middle of downtown. Lots of upscale condos and retail space is being built around it. One developer offered about $17 million for the church property and to build new facilities located outside the city limits, but on a major arterial road, for the church at his expense.

Now this congregation is literally dying off. People are walking away from it for theological reasons and others are dying and not being replaced by new members. The board liked the developer's proposal, but too many members wanted to keep things "as is" and not sell. They might have reinvigorated the congregation with the move, but they wouldn't do it. This congregation will get smaller and smaller and it will never occur to them that folks don't want to hear the message that is being preached there.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

Actually Stone sharpens Iron better... But I get the point.

[Dog Gone]

Of all the thousands of verses in the Bible, not a single one reads, "Go to church."