I’m not certain it’s all bad news. Sure, the majority of congregations are experiencing declines in attendance. And many more churches are growing at a pace that is slower than the growth of the community in which they are located.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that attendance declines are good. Such trends mean fewer people are engaging with believers, and fewer people are being exposed to the gospel.
But our nation is no longer a “churchy” culture. More and more, to be involved with a local congregation means you are counter-cultural. It’s now easier to see where the home base for congregations ends and where the mission field begins. There are fewer and fewer persons who show up at church services because they simply want to be part of the crowd. To the contrary, active congregants are now the exception in our nation rather than the norm.
For now, I simply want to share eight common factors that are negatively impacting church attendance. Some of the reasons apply specifically to the unchurched, while others could be related to either the churched or unchurched person.
- In most areas, it is no longer culturally expected for persons to attend church. I live in the heart of the Bible belt in the Nashville area. But when I leave for church services on Sunday mornings, I see numerous families out playing with their children, walking the subdivision, or just enjoying the day outside. They don’t feel the cultural pressure to attend church. To the contrary, they are joining the majority who opt out.
- Congregational expectations of the attendance of members are lower. In the recent past, the absence of a frequently-attending church member was noticeable. He or she might get a call from another member to check on them. Today, if a church member attends three of four weeks, rarely does another member inquire about their absence. By the way, if every member, on the average, attends one less Sunday per month, the overall attendance of the church drops 25 percent.
- Unchurched persons are often very demanding about the perceived quality of worship services. Though some of us bemoan this reality, the entertainment culture is now pervasive. If an unchurched person attends a perceived low-quality service, he or she may not return.
- Many church members are less friendly to guests today. I understand that this statement is categorical and not statistically verified. But I can say, after over 25 years of doing surveys of church guests, I hear more and more about unfriendly church members. So either the expectations of friendliness are higher, or many church members are really not that friendly to guests.
- Churches do not emphasize involvement in groups as much as they did in the past. Simply stated, if a person is only involved in the worship services, he or she is likely to leave the church within a few years or even months. But those involved in groups, such as home groups or Sunday school classes, have natural accountability. They also have stronger relationships to other church members that engender more frequent attendance.
- Most churches have no clear purpose. An organization without a clear and poignant purpose will have members wandering aimlessly. And many of them will wander out the figurative door of regular attendance.
- Most churches have no clear plan of discipleship. This factor somewhat overlaps with the previous issue. Church members are more likely to be faithful attenders if they understand how they can become a better disciple for Christ through the ministries of the church.
- The typical church in America is a low-expectation church. I have written on this issue extensively. And the less you expect of members, the less you will get, including attendance.
Of course, it’s easier to write about problems than offer solutions. But I will be doing the latter rather extensively in the months ahead.
In the meantime, I would love to hear from you about these eight issues.
Posted on May 5, 2014
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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83 Comments
Let the congregations cease, let the churches close, this is a natural course of a free market system of holy-businesses making a profit. The church will survive (and then thrive) again amount His people who are called according to his name and meet together in homes. It’s silly to erect a system of buildings as a measure of our religions health. Let’s then turn our eyes to China where god is moving and rejuvenating the faith, the US is lost already. 🙂 #cynic?
Truth. When an organization ceases to accomplish its purpose, it’s time to close the doors. Old churches are satisfied, and new church plants are preaching easy-believism and consumerism. This is hardly the kingdom Jesus spoke of. Let the “church” as we know it fade away, and let the remnant rise in the small gatherings of the 1st century, filled with self-denial, joy, hope and love for Christ! If you decide to stay open, at least do as Randy Pope does and make true disciples!
Hi,
I gladly stumbled upon your site and am glad I did.
I believe church has become a place where congregants are entertained rather than being stewarded.
I would rather be a servant in a church than being served – this would obviously ensure regular attendance.
Without attempting to throw stones, I would say the “Christian” entertainment industry carries a lot of responsibility for church goers expecting the same during a worship service – one becomes emotional rather than spiritual.
That’s my 2 cents.
Trevor – South Africa
I agree and understand all you are saying. To add to that I’d like to point-out that even sports events are being impacted by the entertainment industry. At a professional baseball game we have T-shirts shot at the audience by clowns or other funny personalities, school groups sing on the field and the jumbo-tron captures the audio and video perfectly, the crowd is constantly invited to text a certain number to recognize the birthday or other event in the life of a friend or family member. If you sit near an aisle the constant stream of people going for beer or other refreshments require you to be a bobble head just to see the game. These experiences build expectations in the average person who walks into a church service.
Lack of passion in the pulpit produces apathy in the pew. The reality of “thus saith the Lord” ought to stir the heart of not only the pulpit but also the pew.
Hmmm. The sheep are avoiding the pasture. Possibly, there is no food there and they are looking elsewhere. If our churches fail to teach our people to do what Jesus actually said to do (Matt.28:20),
how can we chastise them for not showing up. Be sure that God will find a people willing to obey His word even if it is just small splinter groups (where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name)…all the church activities, Sunday school classes, and sermons berating the sheep for not reproducing will not replace this. Our failure to first grasp, model, then teach others how to “follow me as I follow Christ” (as Paul states) is our present condition.
Secondly, our “community” churches are less and less about reaching the neighborhoods they are actually in. Is it possible that these fellowships are finding themselves in the poorer sections of the city as time goes by and not as desireable for mining? Hmmm. I can just see our church leaders explaining to Jesus that they were inadequate giving units…yes, I am rebuking the church in America…because I know that it breaks the heart of Jesus to see this go on in His name. Making disciples was the primary directive of the Master before He left…we decided he meant “build churches. ” when the church in America finally decides that the folks in the pews are the ones God wants us to disciple we might begin again. If not, our leaders will be gathered alone one day in the sanctuary wondering what that obnoxious knocking on their door is all about…only to realize it is the Master Himself..Rev. 3:20.
Amen, brother.
Thom, these are all good points. Could it also be that many churches are becoming more corporate oriented. I’m more involved in my small group than in worship service. Why? Because Sunday morning worship is too structured! Love the music. We have a wonderful music minister. The “teaching pastor” is also an excellent orator.
But, other than the 4 minutes of “say hi to your neighbor” it’s all orchestrated with little involvement from the congregation. Special song from a member today? Of course not,, we don’t have time for that. Personal testimony, oh wait, that was the video as we were coming in. I attend a satellite church of the big guys in town. Much of the decision making comes from the “head office” While I agree that there should be input, church is not designed to operate like that in my opinion.
Many churches, including our megastructure have great ministries and are reaching lost souls. Maybe for newer followers, that’s what they need. Many of us long for the day of old, when there was more involvement of the congregation on Sunday morning.
By the way, what happened to Sunday night worship also? Guess maybe I’m a little old fashioned.
J – you maybe old fashioned, but you are rocking that beard!
Thank you for post, I always find your thought process thought provoking. I agree, with all 8 points and propose we as the Body Christ choose to do something about. It’s a simple word but it is work. The word is ministry. Thom is correct and I can’t wait to see some of his ideas on challenging the status quo of current church attendance trend, but I challenge the church dialogue here to stop looking at the unchurched and complain about them not coming to church and look at ourselves and repent from our lack of being the hands and feet of Jesus and go minister to the lost. I choose to celebrate the decision of a youth group who started 2 new classes in order to do greater ministry and saw a 14 year old unchurched girl come to Christ yesterday. I choose to celebrate the young lady who life was at a desperate dark struggling no hope or peace kind of place two weeks ago who was ministered to by an Older woman in our church and loved and excepted and brought to church and their found the Lord Jesus. I’m sure I’m on a soap box but, please recognize that the unchurched for the most part are more than people that don’t go to church, they are lives destined for Hell
Growth in the disciplines of faith attracts people to the church. Jesus said, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you are making it a den of thieves!” The church needs to be cleansed and then Jesus will begin to heal! This is an inside-out process. Faith, obedience, repentance, and prayer must come from strength in Jesus. Without Him, we can do nothing. Intelligence doesn’t save, nor does entertainment, nor ignorance. “If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.”
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We must put on the full armor of God – Christ Jesus; and stand strong in the power of His might. When our hearts and minds are filled with prayer, praise, virtue, and holiness the idols will flee. It is then that Jesus will dwell in them and walk with them. That’s when the church will truly grow. Be set apart says the Lord.
Business paradigms do not apply to the church. You cannot compare one church to another church. It is what never entered the human mind that God prepared for those who love Him. Spiritual discipline depends on strong doctrinal teaching. Immature and undiscipled people will simply move from one church to another. From the 90’s mid-sized churches have been closing in favor of larger churches. Entertainment must keep up with the culture; nevertheless, after a while the newness wears off. Even the larger churches will eventually fail when they mimic the world. The latest trend toward “multi-site” churches is the latest fade. But it is not new the Catholic church tried it for centuries. However, God’s Word endures forever!
If you want real church growth – put on Christ. “Besides this, knowing the time, it is already the hour for you to wake up from sleep, for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, and the daylight is near, so let us discard the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk with decency, as in the daylight: not in carousing and drunkenness; not in sexual impurity and promiscuity; not in quarreling and jealousy.”
This whole article is about who has social capital. Thom puts the onus on the church, but in reality the church has lost cultural pull because of growing secular alternatives. I think this line of thinking is a red herring. Instead, we need to discover how to engage this rapidly different and changing culture.
Since I’m now in a para church ministry I can look back and say all of your points are valid. I’m not pointing fingers because I’m sure I was part of the problem. We struggled to find a church that we wanted to join when we moved for our ministry here. We finally found a church that we get excited to join not because of what “we get” but because they “expect” us to serve. My 15 year old daughter works the Information Desk & feels needed. She never got that opportunity in our previous places. Youth were entertained. Now she serves. For the first time in 20 + years of ministry my wife & I serve together. (What a concept).
Is our church perfect? No. But they have a clear direction & for a leader like me that is exciting. We went thru a 4 week membership class where we caught the vision. We actually go to one of 10 Satellite locations. I here people criticize them too. I went kicking & screaming but have never felt more excited about church & I don’t even get to preach!
People want to be apart of something bigger than themselves. We now are.
Thank you for that honest and encouraging testimony Kevin