I grew up in this denomination. Most people I met there were not serious about following the teachings of Jesus. It was more about “being nice” and doing something on Sundays to make yourself feel like a better person. I would imagine Jesus’ parable about the seeds sprouting up quickly due to shallow soil would apply here.
I wonder if this is more due to the fact that the denomination has such a lack of passionate people for Jesus and are trying to bolster their numbers. Most likely they just think Jesus is too “nice” to require the hard sacrifice
of resisting desires where there is no “mean outcome.” Like murder or theft.
I was in the comparative organisation here in Australia for over 10 years - Youth Leader, Elder, P/T Preacher etc. People behaved like they got what you were talking about - they even trusted me with their youth but they must have thought I was just saying the right things too along with a few of my friends. At least there was some long term effect on some youth and some of the newer converts but as for the old stayers well lets just say we felt like being George Bush at a Code Pink convention. When this homosexual thing came about it really laid it on the line as to who were religionists and who were brothers and sisters. As with Liberals most of those in power or seeking power were pro-gay all those I would call servants were pro-bible. I resigned that week. It is sad to see people who have faithfully served others maybe for 50 or 60 years in the one spot be torn apart over this but how can a person sit in the pew for that long and not grab a hold of the Word of God or be apprehended by it. My lack of understanding or maybe moreso comprehension in this area is enormous - that is why I shake my head!