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

The Barna Group ^ | 3/20/06

[N. Theknow]

I've known a few "born agains" who said that church is only for hypocrites.

My usual response to this is, where are the hypocrites supposed to be?

[silverleaf]

My mother has been a pillar of her small Presbyterian church for several decades...always organized the dinners, picnics, and organized meals and visits for the people who needed support during funerals, illnesses etc.
She served her time as a deacon....but the church was short a treasurer and looking for a volunteer, so she offered.
A woman took her aside and said they were looking for "new blood" and wanted to recruit a man who had been attending...he is married, separated not divorced but living out of wedlock with a woman who has two illegitimate children to him, and is not a member of the church. Oh and he has a history of skipping out on his rent and leaving landlords high and dry (they want to let him manage the churches' money?
Mom was unspeakably hurt. I asked her if she considered going to the Lutheran church and she said the minister there is a lesbian who skipped out on the congregation during Christmas season to go on a cruise with her live in female lover. So, no.

I thought she would flip when I told her I was converting to Catholicism but she admitted that at age 80, she understands and would consider it herself.

[DoctorMichael]

I attend service every week. I'm also a Catholic in a small rural, southern town so I have a choice of Methodist, Southern Baptist and Episcopal Churches; the nearest Catholic church is 30 miles away. I attend the Episcopal Mass.

[Jaded]

I'm Catholic. When we had an orthodox priest the church was packed. 625 in the pews and people standing. Now that he has moved on and we have a less orthodox priest, there are a lot of empty seats. It's disappointing.

[TravisBickle]

I've been an active member of a 12 step group for more than 18 years, and for most of those years, I kind of looked down on religion. As though the 12 steps had given me more insight to spirituality than what they offered.

And though I attended mass with my family on Christmas and Easter, I felt a bit superior, thinking I knew more than they did about God.

Then, many factors caused me to reconsider. One of them was the thought that if I knew so much about God, I should be sharing it with my neighbors and community.

So last year I signed up for RCIA classes and have been amazed at how little I knew about God, and about how much there was for me to learn from them! So,now I'm nearing Holy Week, and my entry into the church, and I feel more spirtiually invigorated than I have in years. I continue to attend my 12 step meetings, and they have been greatly enhanced because of my new RCIA experience.

[brytlea]

We were not very active Catholics and joined a PCA church when we moved about 2 years ago. I love it, we hear the gospel everytime we go, and I look forward to service rather than dreading them. As for being spiritual and not attending a church, I'm sure it's possible, however for a Christian, it's not just about the individual, but about fellowship, and it's difficult to have that by yourself. I can see a HUGE difference in my spiritual life now that I am attending regularly and interacting with other Christian brothers and sisters.
susie

[Salvation]

Chrisit, the great physician, came for those who were sick (are sick) not for those who are healed!

Check out the scripture. He wanted to reach the hypocrites of his day. Remember the cleansing of the Temple?

[Salvation]

So true. Time to start praying for guidance in your parish and a return to the truth! I will pray!

[Salvation]

Your story brings tears to my eyes! Welcome home!

May God bless you and your family during the Easter Vigil Mass and throughout the new year as a neophyte!

[Salvation]

You can always come home to the
One
Holy
Catholic
and
Apostolic
Church!

[Salvation]

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

[brytlea]

Reminds me of one of the few things Dear Abby said that I liked.

"Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners."

Or something to that effect.

We can all have our excuses for not congregating with others of our faith (before I was saved I said virtually the exact same things as others here have said). Instead of excuses why we don't do it, we most likely should involve ourselves and effect change, or even more radically, move to start our own group.

If people don't want to go to church, they should just say so, instead of feeling they have to denegrate all churches in order to justify themselves.

I have honestly found a church that feels like home when I walk in though, so I suspect everyone can.

susie

[brytlea]

I attended Catholic services in Jan for my inlaws funerals. I had not been to one in about 3 years.
It was a beautiful service, however, even my lifelong Catholic husband who now attends a PCA church mentioned that the gospel was never mentioned. I don't have a problem with Catholics, and most of my family is, but it just doesn't seem to fit for me.
Bless you tho!
susie

[Gamecock]

***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.***

Almost the same story here, except I grew up in the PC(USA). We moved to a new city and visited a PCA church and my jaw just dropped. I've been PCA for 11 years now and it is the second best thing that ever happened to me.

[Gamecock]

Very nice post.

[WalterSkinner]

..post-modern thinking
Man centered rather than God centered theology--
some of the sad elements which have crept into the 21st century church...

[sneakers]

"I'm Catholic. When we had an orthodox priest the church was packed. 625 in the pews and people standing. Now that he has moved on and we have a less orthodox priest, there are a lot of empty seats. It's disappointing"

Same story here. :-( I attend mass every Sunday and all the holy days, but I always leave in tears. I found a website where there's a group who want to learn Latin. I joined. I want to be ready just in case our Bishops come to their senses and bring our Catholic churches back where they should be: i.e., Christ-centered and reverent!

[frogjerk]

It was a beautiful service, however, even my lifelong Catholic husband who now attends a PCA church mentioned that the gospel was never mentioned.

The Gospel is proclaimed throughout the entire Mass. Specifically, the Gospel reading for the day is the culmination of the "Liturgy of the Word."

[najida]

The whole fellowship thing is why I don't want to go to church.

Not everyone can handle groups. For some, it's more disturbing snd like taking a bath in a room full of strangers.

My literal Ah HA! momement was when minister started talking about the community, fellowship that you have to have and I thought "So THAT's the problem."

[SuziQ]

I'm not surprised that a large number of that 'unchurched' group is young unmarried adults. Folks will sometimes drift away from attending church when they're in college, or if they've moved away from their families. When they start having kids, they start thinking again in terms of church and a solid moral foundation for them.