Some Not So Random Thoughts On Church Attendance!
In a recent sermon by Dr. Randy Harris, he shared with us some sobering numbers. Most of us have heard and some of us have even quoted the statistics for regular church attendance in the Untied States. Preachers are fond of reminding us of these numbers to prove that America is a "Christian Nation." Since religion is all about feeling good church members leave worship feeling good about themselves because we are winning the war. I am not sure which war it is that we are winning. The war against evil, liberalism, the pagan hords at the gates or what ever the current righteous war might be.
The numbers are often quoted at between 40 and 45% (dependent again upon who is quoting the numbers) of the population of the United States. That sounds like we are winning the war. It sounds like we are truly missional. These numbers, which are so frequently quoted, were derived simply by asking people if they attended church regularly. Of course we all know that people would not lie about a matter as important as church attendance. It is somewhat like calling someone in the middle of the night and asking them, "did I wake you up?" People would not actually lie and say "no," would they?
What the researchers have discovered is quite interesting. Their results were similar to those election officials found when they asked people if they voted in the last election. The numbers they discovered were somewhat inflated, to put is mildly. When people were asked if they voted the number who said they voted was always higher than the numbers the records actually recorded. Someone offered the intriguing proposition, “what if it is just possible that this same phenomenon is true of church attendance.” Someone (I am not sure who) suggested, “why not count attendance” rather than asking if they attended. What an interesting approach, just count the numbers.
What they found when they actually counted the numbers was that the 45% number we were all using was nowhere near correct. The actual number is about 17.5% of the population of the United States attends church regularly. The steady decline is projected to continue into the future so that by the year 2050 that number will be about 10%. If in fact Dr. Harris is correct (and I have no reason to doubt him) and these numbers are accurate then we should be alarmed by this trend. “On any given Sunday” (not simply the title to a bad movie) over 80% of the population of the United States chooses not to attend service with a local body of Christ.
First, I would suggest that the United States like Europe before it is rapidly becoming a post-Christian culture. Second, I would offer the suggestion that we (all of those who profess Jesus Christ as Savior) are failing miserably in the mission that Jesus has given into our hands. Third, I would simply ask a question of us. Have we (the church) become irrelevant, inconsequential and ultimately unimportant to the world in which we live? To ask these questions is not suggest that I have the answer to the dilemma that confronts us. It is simply an attempt to sound an alarm and seek to open a dialogue on a subject about which I care deeply.
Just some things to think about alone the way. I will be seeing you down the road.
Bob
The numbers are often quoted at between 40 and 45% (dependent again upon who is quoting the numbers) of the population of the United States. That sounds like we are winning the war. It sounds like we are truly missional. These numbers, which are so frequently quoted, were derived simply by asking people if they attended church regularly. Of course we all know that people would not lie about a matter as important as church attendance. It is somewhat like calling someone in the middle of the night and asking them, "did I wake you up?" People would not actually lie and say "no," would they?
What the researchers have discovered is quite interesting. Their results were similar to those election officials found when they asked people if they voted in the last election. The numbers they discovered were somewhat inflated, to put is mildly. When people were asked if they voted the number who said they voted was always higher than the numbers the records actually recorded. Someone offered the intriguing proposition, “what if it is just possible that this same phenomenon is true of church attendance.” Someone (I am not sure who) suggested, “why not count attendance” rather than asking if they attended. What an interesting approach, just count the numbers.
What they found when they actually counted the numbers was that the 45% number we were all using was nowhere near correct. The actual number is about 17.5% of the population of the United States attends church regularly. The steady decline is projected to continue into the future so that by the year 2050 that number will be about 10%. If in fact Dr. Harris is correct (and I have no reason to doubt him) and these numbers are accurate then we should be alarmed by this trend. “On any given Sunday” (not simply the title to a bad movie) over 80% of the population of the United States chooses not to attend service with a local body of Christ.
First, I would suggest that the United States like Europe before it is rapidly becoming a post-Christian culture. Second, I would offer the suggestion that we (all of those who profess Jesus Christ as Savior) are failing miserably in the mission that Jesus has given into our hands. Third, I would simply ask a question of us. Have we (the church) become irrelevant, inconsequential and ultimately unimportant to the world in which we live? To ask these questions is not suggest that I have the answer to the dilemma that confronts us. It is simply an attempt to sound an alarm and seek to open a dialogue on a subject about which I care deeply.
Just some things to think about alone the way. I will be seeing you down the road.
Bob
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