#1 Reason People Don't Attend Church & What You Can Do About It
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- Опубликовано: 23 мар 2024
- The number one reason people aren't attending your church may not be what you think. In this video, Carey discusses the reason people have stopped going to church and what you, as the leader, can do to address the issue and grow your church.
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The indifference is anchored in the lack of relationship that is emotionally healthy & built up from a foundation of the JOY of being together. So many of those staying home are disgusted by the TOXIC SHAME that they have to wade through. We have got to understand how to become a people who are transformed into the character of Jesus because of the JOY of relationship with HIM and His people. No relationship will always be a turn off… like the TV series CHEERS… we all want to be where EVERYBODY KNOWS MY NAME.
Thank you for mentioning that persecution is not the reason why people leave our churches, Carey! And thank you for sharing your wisdom with us.
great thoughts carey
I have a lot of friend who aren’t going any more. And a lot of the reason is the state of the church in America. Christian nationalism was the last straw. It’s hard to see how Christians could believe following Trump has anything to do with God. Most of my friends would rather get together with a few people and get back to focusing on Jesus and caring for people instead of focusing on the church machine and who we don’t like.
We do a simple church in our home and it is devoid of politics... unless you count Jesus and His kingdom. There is a movement in the US of simple churches that is beginning to gain traction. If you or anybody else you know is interested in knowing more I'd recommend the More Disciples Podcast. 🙂
Until nationalism in the church is discussed the church will only continue to shrink. (Which isn't necessarily a bad thing.) We also need to discuss how the church got to this point of worshiping Trump. How can a church that has solid, biblical teaching for years, has had nothing but pastors come from Dallas Theological Seminary, be so unbiblical and unchristlike and apathetic on the issues of racism, injustice, police brutality, immigrants and refugees, equality, homeless, poverty, health insurance, etc.These are NOT partisan issues or political issues! These are issues of disobedience to the passion and heart of Jesus.
I was skeptical of this video with the title. But I think Carey makes a strong point here. Romans 12:8 calls leaders to lead with ZEAL💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
Hey Carey, can you also show the Canadian stats too please
People stay in the church for the people first, the activities second the fellowship along with the activities and the sermon last. It's up to the pastor to be passionate and to come up with new ideas for their church. You can't just stand up there every week and preach and then leave. I'm especially alarmed by the lack of the use of teens and young people and ministering to them and getting them to bring their friends.
This is one of your best shorts “ 5 minutes” . This is one to travel all over Canada with. Please we need white hot leaders again with passion for thier mission! This is crucial. All the other leadership tips and tricks pale in comparison to this Carey!
That is so true - fire heats what it comes contact with...greg
Raise somebody from the dead and you will have Revival. John 14:12
I would say this guy is half-right. What he calls "indifference" is really a decades-old problem of people seeing less value in the traditional Christian worship service, regardless of denominations. There is also so much other material that is available now, whether on the Internet or in the burgeoning Christian scholarship of the past 40-50 years. Clergy-people just don't how to catch up to his "indifference" of having been to the same basic church service hundreds or thousands of time. The clergy are distraught and petrified that their churches will close, and some do, every week. They feel helpless, because they are not inherently creative people.
Great thoughts on leaders passion. But, would we even consider some of these folks followers of Jesus? Prob not…it sounds like a lot of cultural Christianity. Maybe it’s time we start categorizing Christian vs Practicing Christian?
This is actually the problem right here. Nothing on spiritual warfare. It's the Holy Spirit that leads, and if you are truly called to pastor you won't care about numbers, only the flock the Lord puts in your care.
The reason people aren’t going to church is that Jesus isn’t really that important to them. He’s not worthy of their worship or their time. He’s simply not their Lord. Jesus will tell them Himself: “I never knew you.”
It’s that simple. Pastors and churches can’t fix that.
@drc3po jesus is very real. Muslims and non-biblical historians such as Jocephus document this. Seek Him out and you'll see. He changed my life. He can change yours too.
@drc3po I'm sorry you feel that way. You can pick Albert as your source for truth, I can pick various theologians for mine but really, when the Holy Spirit reveals truth to you, you will see that Jesus is who he says he is, did what he said he'd do, and will do what he said he will do. Without him, there's no hope for a future and life is meaningless. I pray you'll see it soon. Love to you.
Maybe in the USA, but I have difficulty believing the only or even main reason is indifference.
Here in Australia, I have seen a number of different possibilities. One would be not actually preaching the true gospel with an aim towards changing lives.
Another would be too much politcs and not enough love and good Christian community.
Indifference? Nah, I'm more inclined to think tired and lost our true purpose. Watered down by side track issues.
“More people have left the church in the last twenty-five years than all the new people who became Christians from the First Great Awakening, Second Great Awakening, and Billy Graham crusades combined.”
Jim Davis - "The Great Dechurching"
It’s hard to relate to people who think the election was “stolen” or that Covid was a “hoax”, let alone a number of other things.
If that’s the highest value of the relationships is that everyone has to agree on politics, then a quick re-read of 1st Corinthians 13 may help explore what the most important thing should be. Mature relationships can see others different from themselves even as enemies and still love them. Immanuel, GOD WITH US, is a HESED BONDED RELATIONSHIP with people who hated Him. How do we become people that live like Jesus lived and become attached to those who are nothing at all like me in order to “LOVE MY ENEMIES…return blessings for curses,”. We have been sent to make disciples of all nations… how do we make a disciple (student/learner) if we don’t first make them a friend?
In this day and age, how can one believe in the virgin birth, resurrection from the dead, turning water into wine, etc? I don't believe in myth but I do attend church because I believe in the Golden Rule proposed by the prophet Jesus who was a holy man and not a god. If Churches emphasized the principles of his ministry and not the pagan myths that surround the man people would find Christianity more palatable.
I honestly believe it’s because the church isn’t preaching (and hasn’t been for some time) the true Gospel anymore. Instead most churches are either preaching Biblical principles (mixed with some pop psychology) to help you “live your best life”, or they’re preaching a mix of “Biblical worldview” with Americanized political philosophy (right and left). When the true Gospel was preached in the early church, it spread like wildfire. If you have to compel people, or even just strongly encourage them to share the Gospel, you’re not preaching the real thing to them. People hearing the true Gospel preached can’t stop talking about it to anyone who will listen.
This is the Gospel Paul preached:
”Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.“
Acts 13:38-39 NKJV
And this is the reaction when people hear it:
”So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.“
Acts 13:42-45 NKJV
I was excited to listen to this but to be honest it’s not enough. In my experience, the leaders I’ve seen and had the privilege to work with are the most passionate & dedicated people in the room. They ooze Jesus but that’s not enough to keep people. They still see people walk away and lose interest. Yes we need good leaders who are the real deal but it’s not enough. If it’s mostly on the leaders then our churches would be full. Very few people who have left the church or walked into deconstruction of their faith have said it’s because the pastor isn’t passionate enough or is indignant.
It can't be the pastor alone, very true. What do you think a good step is?
That is a very good & large question@@CareyNieuwhof. I even though I do believe many churches are making disciples I think there are many who are happy with numbers over depth. Consumerism in the church is a real thing. Many come for the show or what they can get out of it instead of being connecting with God. Many people are following a passionate leader instead of following a our Lord & Saviour. I get leaders are very important but Paul said, "Follow me as I follow Christ." Christ is the motive. I don't ask people if they call themselves a Christian but I ask, "Do you follow Jesus?" It should mean the same thing but it often does not.
But in regards to church I get why people are indifferent. Who wants to just show up and do the same things every single week? And I say that knowing that I'm very passionate and committed to my church. What I've discovered is that I need the church and the church needs me. I need to connect with God. I need to connect with other followers of Jesus to do all the one another verses. But for me I'm more interested in discipleship than attendance. I want to be challenged, to learn something, to understand God better. I'm not there for the show but to meet with God. And I want to fulfill His mission.
So that's a lot to conclude, I think discipleship & mission are needed over just attendance and experiencing the show.
I would disagree, there are passionate Christians that are praying for a true Ekklassia, every church I visit seems to be there gathered for themselves, not God, and I just can't compromise my faith.
Apathy, still a tool of the devil so the church sleeps.
that is such a good way to show it
I left the church because I don't believe the Bible anymore
What about it do you not believe?
People who don’t “see value” in going to church are not filled with the Holy Spirit. Preach a biblical Gospel and stop worrying about attendance; that’s the solution.
Do you think people, because they are not busy with church programs, actually have more time for the mission of the church? I wonder if we sometimes get the mission confused with growing our particular church organization. And when suddenly we are freed up from keeping the organization alive, we actually feel less busy and more satisfied, because we suddenly get to spend time in relationships with people who matter to us and time to rest and recover from hectic crazy schedules. So I think people are definitely indifferent, not so much to God but to the added burden of busyness the church organization puts on us to keep the programs of the organization going.
thanks for sharing Peter, great things to consider here