Few people will argue that church attendance in many churches in America is declining. Our own research indicates that the majority of churches in our country are not growing.
Most of us have our own ideas why attendance is declining. Many have suggested that our nation is shifting away from its Christian roots, and thus the churches are declining as a smaller proportion of our country are believers in Christ.
I certainly will not argue with that premise. Certainly attendance declines are related to massive cultural shifts in our nation. But I would also suggest that one reason for declines has a greater impact than others.
The Frequency Issue
Stated simply, the number one reason for the decline in church attendance is that members attend with less frequency than they did just a few years ago. Allow me to explain.
If the frequency of attendance changes, then attendance will respond accordingly. For example, if 200 members attend every week the average attendance is, obviously, 200. But if one-half of those members miss only one out of four weeks, the attendance drops to 175.
Did you catch that? No members left the church. Everyone is still relatively active in the church. But attendance declined over 12 percent because half the members changed their attendance behavior slightly.
This phenomenon can take place rather quickly in an individual church. And leaders in the church are often left scratching their heads because the behavioral change is so slight, almost imperceptible. We really don’t notice when someone who attends four times a month begins to attend only three times a month. Nor do we typically catch it when the twice-a-month attendee becomes a once-a-month attendee.
Five Possible Approaches to the Problem
Of course, the heart of the problem is not declining numbers but waning commitment. As I addressed in my book, I Am a Church Member, church membership is becoming less and less meaningful in many churches. As membership becomes less meaningful, commitment naturally wanes.
While I don’t want to suggest there is a magic bullet to this problem, I do want to offer some approaches to address it. These five have proven to be the most helpful in hundreds of churches:
- Raise the expectations of membership. You may be surprised how many church members don’t really think it’s that important to be an active part of the church. No one has ever told them differently.
- Require an entry class for membership. By doing so, the church makes a statement that membership is meaningful. The class should also be used to state the expectations of what a committed member looks like.
- Encourage ministry involvement. Many members become less frequent attendees because they have no ministry roles in the church. They do not feel like they are an integral part of the church.
- Offer more options for worship times. Our culture is now a 24/7 population. Some members have to work during the times of worship services. If possible, give them options. One businessman recently told me that he changed congregations to a church that offered a Saturday worship time because his job required him to catch a plane on Sunday morning.
- Monitor attendance of each member. This approach is often difficult, especially for worship attendance. That is why the traditional Sunday school approach of calling absentees was so effective. Perhaps churches can incorporate that approach in all groups. Members are less likely to be absent if they know someone misses them.
When Church Membership Becomes Meaningful
People want to be a part of something that makes a difference. They desire to be involved in something bigger than themselves.
Unfortunately, in many churches membership has become less and less meaningful. Until we get our churches back to the committed membership the Apostle Paul mandates in 1 Corinthians 12, we will continue to see declining attendance. But when membership becomes truly meaningful, our churches will become an unstoppable force for the Kingdom and glory of God.
Posted on August 19, 2013
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.
More from Thom
280 Comments
Thanks for your constant quality information. Moving from the traditional “Sunday, Sunday, Wednesday” model will be one of the hardest things to do for people, but only the churches that are willing to move from models to meet needs will survive. I love the idea of the three pronged approach: Involve people in one corporate worship service, one ministry, and one small group. Getting this much from people that have a amazingly busy schedules will be a win. That means you will have to provide quality for the supposed lack of quantity. No longer will people just come to church because that is the thing to do. If you are not meeting a need, providing an opportunity to make a difference, allowing them an opportunity to provide feedback and input, and being culturally relevant (without being culturally driven), you are going to lose people. Where I live, we are overly saturated with churches. There is no more maintaining. You are either growing or dying and sometimes a good pruning is spiritually healthy for the community.
Going back and teaching what membership means (and church/Bible basics in general) and giving clear expectations is also great. We will be teaching a “I Am A Church Member” class this fall to our Young Adults.
Thanks again for all the great info. Keep it up. It’s helping!
Thom…great insight. i have always said if you want to know how many people you are actually ministering to at your church look at your monthly attendance not your weekly. Look for those that attend one, two, three, and four times per month. Yo may think you are ministering to 175 but i may be more like 200 or 250!
You have hit on a great way to look at this issue of attendance. Thanks!
Thanks Jerry.
I’ve read “I am a Church Member” just recently, and while there is much in the book and this post with which I can agree, I also find a fundamental flaw.
Our use of the term “church member” grows largely out the translation of 1 Cor 12, which, in many English translations, uses the phrase, “there are many members, but one body.”
I’m not going to say that “member” is a bad translation of “melos”, but it is a poor translation, given how our culture uses the word, member.
Our connotation around membership is that it’s something I can sign up for or exit from. I can be a member of the Rotary, or I can leave Rotary and join Kiwanis. I can join the Republican Party, or I can join the Democratic Party.
But 1 Cor 12 says we are part of the body of Christ. This is not a “membership” which we can move from one congregation to another. We are such an intregral part of of the body, that we cannot extricate ourselves from the body … and that’s a different point than being a “member.”
Further, our use of and focus on membership emphasizes one of the common criticisms of how modern Christianity manifests itself. It often seems, the “church” is more concerned with it’s organizational self, than with following Jesus. Those of us who are olders (I’m past 60) are accustomed to this language of “membership”, but many younger people and many “non-members” are dissatisfied with “organized religion” and specifically, “organized Christianity.”
Part of the solution (certainly not all of the solution) is to choose better language, that focuses on the common goal of following Jesus, rather than seeming to focus on building an organization. If we follow Jesus, there will lots of people who want help organizing to do good things in his name.
David –
Thanks for your contribution. Good thoughts.
The concept of membership has biblical origins, just as you noted. And you are right, culture has taken the word and perverted the meaning. I am not willing, however, to yield the meaning to culture. My hope is for the church to reclaim it and practice it biblically.
Thom,
Our church recently shifted our terminology from “member” to “mission partner” for exactly the reasons you and David mentioned. The culture defines membership in a way that undermined our approach. We got “partner” terminology from Phil. 1:4-5, “In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” So we invite folks to partner with us in our gospel mission. So far it is resonating with many without the cultural baggage.
Thanks Dave.
I agree with you and disagree with Thom…many scriptures being distorted as membership and attendances counts are becoming priority over love, which is the greatest…we are all equal at the foot of the cross even the most enlightened by God, and as such should be treated as equals…Even Christ said he could not be equaled to God but treated his disciples as friends and brothers, do we see this occurring in the church? i see more cliques and social hookups then tender love being spread out with stretched arms especially when it involves the offerings….the lowest should be exalted and the highest, serve…I’ve never witnessed a preacher with a servant attitude but instead, one of “support me” and entitlements which the church, whoever owns it, the rich and powerful, high and lifted up the leaders…I’ve been to their houses, seen how they live and witnessed their superiority complex and it sickens me…when this changes, people will come….even the son of man had no place to rest his head…how many preachers can u say this about? Jesus and the boys sacrificed with their very lives to carry the gospel…we are not witnessing this level of commitment anywhere…sorry to say, but it’s the truth!!
Amen! You post the truth. Blessings to you for your courage to speak this needed truth in love. There is no love in the church only ambition and greed. Its not like a family —-but more like a social club and within 8 years I’ve been to many, many churches in different states even different denominations and different sizes.
Love the perspective on the “how” behind the percentage drop. Also, raising those standards for membership is huge! However, it is possible that the opposite effect may happen. Dan DeHaan, in his book The God You Can Know, asserted that churches that raise the qualifications for membership would find fewer people but greater power.
Trying to synthesize those two perspectives: it seems to me that when the local church experiences greater power, i.e. a more powerful move of the Holy Spirit, there will be more people gathering to see what all the “commotion” is about. It would then stand to reason that the church in 2013 would begin to look more like the church in AD 30-40.
Speaking purely from our perspective as a church, if we fall in to the trap of pointing our fingers at culture and using the “they’re so self absorbed” reason, we will lose our leverage to love on and point people towards Jesus. Therefore, we have decided that we will consider whatever it takes to love on our community exactly where they are in an effort to expose them to the gospel; even if that means considering various service times and non-traditional ministry opportunities.
Tom, I like your analysis and the responses you offer are also right on. Here are some rules for change agents. (Pastors nd ChurchbWorkers)
1. All change is self change. Even addictions are solved by the addicts.
2. The only people who can attract and hold members are the leaders who do things that attract and hold members.
3. The higher the original expectations the higher the member commitment.
4. The more modern members are deeply involved in practical ministry the greater s their commitment. If the Leaders do all the work the members will find other things to do. The modern Christian demands involvement that is important and sitting in a pew is not important.
5. We started doing your list of needed changes in the Mid Seventies. New Members classes, small groups, lay involvement, leader transparency, member centered, and Ephesians 4: taken seriously.
6. Many worship times and many styles for different preferences.
7. High moral and giving standards taught.
8. Lay Counseling, AA Groups, parenting classes, practical ministries.
9. Vigorous lay outreach of mercy and evangelism.
The church grew rapidly.
In my view, the greatest contributing factor to declining attendance over the past two decades is the absence of any true relational component in “belonging” to the Body of Christ. I have seen this in church after church, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Authentic relationships outside the building seem to be suffering or missing. Belonging to something bigger than yourself is where discipleship happens, it’s what keeps the local church community “sticky” and makes the church experience meaningful on campus and off.
If we were to separate “Being” the church into three distinct components, I suppose we could have 1)Believe 2)Belong 3)Be sent. Plenty of effort is applied to our beliefs and to teaching the missional purpose of the church. Sadly, it appears that precious little focus has been given to community, or belonging of late.
Just one or two generations ago, the majority of folks belonged to various people groups within the church and they maintained lifelong commitments to these groups. Today, relationships and connectedness within the church seem to be disposable or temporary, which mirrors society. Of course there are glimmers of hope here and there, but how are we doing overall? The nationwide statistics speak volumes.
One crazy idea may be to do a “Passion Survey”. Find out which missional activities people are most passionate about and then help them connect with like minded people to do something meaningful in their communities. Simply ask; what are you passionate about? What are you good at? It doesn’t matter what you do, but do it together and do it for the glory of God. People will be engaged and on mission, they will minister to the community and your church will be much more visible.
There is nothing more “sticky” than being on mission with Christ in our neighborhoods and cities… together. In this scenario, Sunday becomes a celebration of our “being” the church together during the week. My guess is that attendance will increase, and how you measure the increase that God provides is up to you 😉
In His Grip-
I like your train of thought.
One of the things I have seen is that when you are more affluent you have more options. With more options you make choices, and too often church is not the choice people make – believer or not. They can go away with the family, they can make a day trip. They have a summer home. One of the keys of higher attendance was we were less affluent. My folk and in-laws simoply did not have the wide variety of options open to them. Church became the defacto priority.
You are right Kent. Such is the reason we must regain the priority of church — the saints gathered.
I would also add that there was a time only a few short decades ago when Sundays’ were times you did not go to the mall, engage in organized sporting events, or, except in rare instances, go to your weekday workplace.
These ‘subtle’ changes in our society are now bearing bitter fruit. Church attendance continues to drop. We accept lifesyle choices that were once considered ‘sinful’. We have low regard for neighbor. I could go on, but I think many of you get the idea. Only Jesus Christ can save and renew us as individuals. Nevertheless, we need a ‘community’ of believers to pray with us, support us, and help us to grow in faith.
Sunday School to me is very important…card….call then call on. Also if you will notice Pastors who are expositors…precept upon precept congregations are growing. People want to know and hear the Word of God. I know this takes much more study and preparation on Pastors part. I remember way back when….I use to call it wetting my whistle…pastors would teach/preach and I would think WoW I want to know more. Seems they want to get up and just talk….I did have my whistle wet a few months back about women in church but few and far in between. To me it is the churches fault…we need to be accountable…study…do not forsake the gathering and expect a prepared pastor…not just study on Saturday but all week long for Sunday. Pat
Anytime we say its someone or something else’s fault we are playing the devil’s game. We have given an excuse. I went to a few lousy churches over the years. I had this complaint or that. Some were legitimate complaints they should change but none were an excuse for me being unfaithful. Once I realized that I was called to be faithful just as a bride is then I could see my accountability.
Even if a church is preaching a false gospel that is no excuse not to be a regular attendee to a true church. There are no excuses. Can you give one example where God said we aren’t accountable because of some outside force?
Really, a true church?? there is no true church and the churches I’ve visited, none are preaching Christ crucified, they are all corrupt in some way…we are witnessing the apostate church age…dig deep and don’t just church hop but research the church and check like a Barean would…I would not advise being in a false teaching church…it is very harmful and damaging…ie, cult practices…”come out of her” and be ye separate…i would much rather study at home where it is safe then to be in a harmful church !! U should rethink your views
The Catholic Church teaches the fullness of truth – even though the actual attendees are very flawed – the teaching if researched and accepted is the church founded by Jesus where the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. The largest groups of missionaries and preachers and teachers come from the Catholic Church. Hospitals, private schools, aid to troubled people etc..
A church can consist of two people. Matt. 18:20 “Where two or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them.” A church sermon can be held anywhere Jesus held church outdoor on the hillsides and mountaintop and at the seashore. John the Baptist held church in the wilderness. Church is a total turnoff with all its request for money for building funds bigger buildings, trips, and other crap. Its a big, empty social club that often extinguishes the Holy Spirit that is within. Sometimes when you withdraw from church pray, sing spiritual songs and read or meditate on God’s Word you are replenished unlike church which can sometimes drain you. I attend church because that is my holy mission unto God. But the church has to be cleansed of all the rot, sin, carnality, ungodliness, unbelief and worldliness that has saturated it and driven out the Holy Spirit. God isn’t in most churches. There will be a harsh correction. God will edify His church with strong, Godly people that He will raise up. Their testimony will offend many as they will be chastening rods. But that is what is needed for the church which is filled with heresies and wrong doctrine or simply cold to the gospel of Christ and therefore cannot access His power.
first of allif it is a true church why would they be preaching false gospels!
I agree totally with this article. I have tried to figure out a way to assess attendance in worship services, but we were unable to come up with an effective way to gauge attendance. This would be incredibly effective in not allowing people to slip through the cracks.
Is there a means by which we could do “attendance” in the worship service?
Jeremy –
I hope others will offer their advice on this issue. Most churches I know that are successfully counting worship attendance have people responsible for each actually counting a small section of the total.
One option, maybe — be small enough that everybody knows who is there and who isn’t, thereby creating a culture of accountability. Then, if somebody is gone, check on them to find out why.
>Is there a means by which we could do “attendance” in the worship service?
The more I look at this “solution”, the unhappier I am with it.
Slice the security camera feeds once a second, and archive them.
Run face-recognition software that spits out who was where, and when, based on the security camera slice.
Run “check-in” software that compares the output of the face-recognition software, with the list of church members, regular attenders that are not members, and “known” visitors.
FLOSS that performs those functions is available. The major obstacle being that one has to be a programmer in order to correctly install it. The secondary obstacle is that it is *Nix only.
On Monday, the church public relations officer can run through the output, attach names to first time visitors, whilst sending out the church “thank you for attending” package, and contact people who normally attend, but were not present on Sunday, and for whom no prior explanation was given.
One side-effect of a system like this, is that church greeters can, if the appropriate tools are provided to them, greet everybody but first time visitors by name. This usage can enhance the feeling that the church is friendly, caring, warm, etc. However, for a distinct minority, this usage comes off as the church being invasive, domineering, and wanting to control the individual’s life.
This is satire, right?
I’ve been to a couple of churches that have either implemented what I describe, or are well on their way there.
What could only have been understood as satire in the mid-seventies, is standard practice today.
Wow. I would have a difficult time with a church that operates like the NSA. The sad attribute of all of the technology is the lack of a true and personal experience. Parishoners’ are simply being tracked and monitored. Facial recognition software? Really!?
If you have 5000 people on a Sunday morning you need to split and branch out. It becomes difficult to keep track of three hundred people, never mind 5000. When it becomes necessary to use technology to be ‘personal’ with parishoners you have lost sight of the goal.
Church is about relationships.
Does God relate to you through a database?
We have ushers that count how many members are seated shortly after the service begins. There are visitor cards in the pews that visitors are encouraged to fill out and place in the offering plate. Our church is small and the people sitting in their “claimed” seats know who is missing from their small “area”. We have belonged to our church for 30 years and were very involved in it’s ministries and supportive of the Pastor. Then we go missing and nobody notices or cares? That really frosts me as I myself have called people when they have been missing for 2 weeks. And it’s not a “where were you” call, it was “we missed you the last few Sundays and hope all is well”. I am feeling discouraged about this.
Jeremy,
Our church has two means of tracking attendance in worship, and neither is 100% but it does help greatly.
First, our children’s check-in is computerized. Parents check kids into our facility with a computer that prints a nametag with name, their classroom, allergy info, etc on the tag. It sticks to their shirt. Adults get a tag with matching number to pick-up their child. It is a SECURITY system, with the added benefit of knowing which families attended every week. It does NOT catch those without kids, but it hits many of our attendees.
Second, we ask everyone in worship to fill out an “info” card that they place in the offering basket. It helps us connect with guests and most of our regular folks fill it out regularly to ask for prayer, give praise reports, ask questions, report on those who are sick, sign up for classes, etc. Volunteers enter every card and comment into our database. Those that miss for 4-5 weeks get a note from the pastor asking if all is okay and if we can help them. Fewer people falling through the cracks, better knowledge of who is attending and how often.
Neither may work for all churches, but together we get a VERY clear picture of who is coming and how many people attend overall.
This is an interesting post. Membership is an interesting thing to consider; especially in my denomination that doesn’t have a culture of membership. I’d be interested to know how we can create a sense of membership in our situation.
Kaye –
At the risk of sounding self-promoting (again), I encourage you to look at my book, “I Am a Church Member.”
I think some of these are great ideas; however I think it’s worth pointing out that several of them treat the symptom of two big issues that must be addressed head on. One is the idol of Self, often characterized by the need to be ministered to, a.k.a. “coddled” like stunted children. I have often wondered how much a pastoral staff could accomplish in terms of outreach, teaching, etc., if they were not so engrossed in the culture of pastoral care expectation that goes far beyond scriptural example. The Second is the “ADHD” lifestyle of the average first-worlder, that are so easily distracted by diversions and shiny objects.
I’m sorry, maybe its just Monday morning preacher whining, but I believe many pastors are simply exhausted and frustrated by the effort required in just keeping the flock together and headed in the same direction, when we should be able to devote more time to adding souls to the Kingdom of God.
I hear you Phillip. Your concerns are exactly what prompted me to write my little book, “I Am a Church Member.”
Thom,
First off, not all churches are declining. Unfortunately, most of them are and maybe it’s a good thing. Let me explain.
I’ve attended the same church for about 10 years, and the Pastor does a fine job of preaching the fundamental’s. But as I grow in my faith, I need more than milk, I need meat, but my Pastor continues to serve milk. Here’s an example, it’s often preached in my church that if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved. While this is true, the application question, how does your life reflect what you profess to believe, is never asked.
Nor do I sermons pertaining to the verses in John when Jesus says, if you abide in me, I will abide in you or if you love me, you will obey what I command. used as sermon topics.
Most churches today preach Jesus as a Savoir but seldom as Lord because they’re afraid even fewer people will return the following Sunday.
Too many churches cling to their traditions and routines rather than the Power of the Holy Sprit.
As for me, I’d rather attend a church where people are hungry for God, doesn’t matter if they’re seekers or long time believers as long as they’re hungry for God. Beats being in a room full of make believers or people content with their god.
Could part of this problem stem from the bipolar nature of our services? Do they exist to reach truly lost people (then serve milk) or are they for those who follow? Exactly where are our presentations pointed? Sally Morganthaller’s old book, “worship evangelism” has some good observations on that, and I, as a “worship leader” (hate that term) have always struggled with playing stuff that lost people really like but church people hate or playing stuff that church people love but lost people hate…
I think one of the problems is the focus on the presentation and Sunday gathering and efforts to shoe-horn all teachings on the church into this small window (at least for psuedo-contemporary churches).
I love that Thom listed the point about challenging them more, but I would say that this challenge needs to be more about living outside (not the old, “everyone’s a closer” mantra, but simply living intentionally to love neighbors in the hope that faith discussion arise).
I love the adage that good deeds lead to good will and good will with others leads to opportunities to share the good news. I fear, from my conversations with fellow local pastors, that our focus is on how to maintain financial viability and relevance of our local institutions and it makes me wonder if that’s appropriate given the overwhelming statistics of Christianity growing without these things in other cultures (especially among the first followers in Rome who were poor and typically didn’t have buildings and polity in the manner that we do now).
I don’t condemn our practices but I believe that the weight of the work of Christ in our world is inappropriately placed upon Christians gathering instead of Christians going and by all means, bring the congregation when you go, but if people aren’t walking through the doors, go to them! And if it means you can’t find all the Christian things you like, then ask what’s more important: the mission of God in the world or the things Christians want when they gather?
Just my two cents – I welcome critique!
*fund not find : )
Thom, I could not agree more. What troubles me is that we are a church of about 160 and we have only a small handful of children to take over when the elderly group go home to the Lord. It appears to me that our pastor has to be so busy with everyone’s problems that the fundamentals of the teaching is dying off. Preaching about how Jesus loves you is one thing. Not teaching about the ramifications of being a lukewarm believer is another. We all know that Jesus loves us, but what about Jesus as a god of wrath and judgment? Who cares if they don’t want to hear it. It needs to be preached, to save those that ARE wallowing in their faith. I would love to have a preacher with the heart and conviction of someone like Derek Prince and others who told you the truth, period. Those churches were left with standing room only, week after week. Pastors are tired and frustrated and the attendees are bored and stagnated and that is my view at this time. Thank you letting me share.
Linda Cranmer – I so agree with you. I listen to Derek Prince all the time on Youtube and am SO thankful to have stumbled across him! Another is David Pawson. Both wonderful Bible teachers. Churches just don’t seem to have any outreach or relevance in their local communities. I live in the center of a major city, with several overlapping churches, but there is no outreach: no one ever comes by and invites me to their church, or asks me if I have any needs, or offers to pray with me. Seems like Believers should be an instrument for good in their local area. I’m disabled and can’t get out: the only “Christians” than ever come by are the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and they come every single week! I invite them in, and we have some rock’in good Bible Studies! I don’t agree with them, and they don’t agree with me. But we can all agree to love each other and praise the L-rd. BTW – the L-rd called me out of the apostate church (His words not mine!) into Messianic Judaism (I’m a Gentile). Sadly, the Messianics are just as fractionated as the Protestants.
I love this comment. I have a ministry where I teach the Word over the phone lines 7 days a week. As of today, we have been on for 2000 consecutive days. I have friends who say I am wrong for counting how many days I have been preaching. I admit it makes me feel good that I have been so consistent especially my intent was to do it for only 30 days. I have a core group of about 20 people who are on the phone daily without fail. They are committed to the ministry. Many people say my teaching shows them how real Jesus is and how to apply the Word to their daily lives. Am I wrong for counting the days?
Where can I find your publication mentioned in your comment. If it is online, please send me the link. Should I need to purchase it, please give me instruction on getting a copy.
I second that Phillip!
Brother Phillip,
I can understand your frustration; however, I must say that I believe Pastors today are taking too much on themselves and failing to trust their membership to take on the responsibility for introducing the Gospel to the lost. My biggest frustration with Churches today is that the Pastors and Sunday School Teachers are focused way too much on “milk” and avoiding the “meat” of the Gospel. I firmly believe that the way to fix lagging membership and develop an effective outreach program to the lost, Pastors need to develop sermons that challenge the spiritual intellect of the membership (i.e. serve up the meat of the Gospel). These same Pastors then must take a hands on approach to Sunday School Teacher training and mentorship so the Sunday School Teachers are providing complementary instruction to their classes. (Of course, this will mean that the SBC will have to put some meat in the SS Quarterlies, which I find are so weak as to be likened to skim milk.) If the Pastor, Sunday School Teachers, Deacons and other leadership within the Church are prepared in the Word and challenge the Congregation to reach new heights of Spiritual understanding, I believe the Congregation will begin to walk the walk and talk the talk. The Congregation comes into contact with more potential lost souls on a daily basis than the Pastor can ever hope to come into contact and thus the Holy Spirit has more seeds to water and more of the lost will come to Christ.
I have over 30 years of experience as a military officer and even more years of experience as a Christian and leader within the Church. Humans respond to challenges in a positive manner when they are challenged and trained. The reason the Church’s influence is contracting is that we, the Church, have taken a passive approach to teaching the Gospel because we are worried about offending. Jesus said that He came to offend and He is referred to as the “rock of offense.” Given that the Church is the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ on Earth, we too should be on the offense for Him.
God Bless!
Thank you David!! I am convinced when we hear the Word of God from the man of God we will know the mind of God and the plan of God. Please be sure, I am not advocating the preacher going into some rant and flogging the sheep but in effect taking God’s people to God’s Word the God’s Word may transform God’s people. You said it well when you mentioned “passive approach.” I want to scream. It makes me angry as men who are well educated and well prepared are failing to stand for God before God’s people and lead them into a life-transforming exposition of the God’s Word… Kingdom oriented and leading the charge to reach their community and our world. It brings me to tears…
David hit the nail on the head. After spending 15 years in management prior to going into ministry I learned to delegate by teaching and sending. many pastors have the rock start mentality and they want to do everything or feel they have to. i went into ministry because i went to the pastor and said “i see a need here, what if you guys started a ministry.” The pastor told me “NO, you start the ministry and we will guide you.” 11 years later, 3 degrees later, speaking in two countries and just about every continental state I understand his point. Church is not a business, I ran a 5 million dollar restaurant with 150 employees. Most churches need to get away from the “business” model and return to individuals sharing Jesus! The big lighted signs to not lead people to Christ, the name of the pastor on the sign means nothing to most people. Sharing in one another lives is where most conversions occur. To do this pastors and leaders need to train and expect the congregation to grow spiritually, to share their faith, to serve in ministries and to give. Instead of tending pastors need to be sending. Thanks David for a great comment!!
The biggest problem I see with the suggestions in this article is that they fail to address the real issue in most churches. We don’t need membership classes to tell people they should attend church. Our services and our ministries would compel people to want to be there. If my life is negatively impacted because I miss a service, I will miss far fewer services.
If you are involved in leading a “Seeker-Sensitive” type church model, and members are attending less and less, you have to look at what you actually offer believers in the way of growth opportunities. Why should we come, if we don’t get fed and are only expected to be worker bee’s and bankers in the ministry machine of your church?
This is a “The Emperor Has No Clothes” moment for the church. You can not have a service that is designed to nurture believers and a service that speaks to the lost at the same time. It is one or the other. Choose carefully. If you make your weekend services designed to “reach” unbelievers, you are a fool if you think non-fed believers are going to stick around for long. They won’t.
I so believe what you said I’m tired of the seeker friendly church. What ever happened to pastors who truly seek the face of God for there message and not the Internet or even buy it from another pastor. People are so hungry for the real word of God not the watered word.if they spoke the truth they would see people come to the church.
The first day I attended a particular church I had a random man, who wasn’t in ministry (worship) expected I try and join the team because I had said that I love to play music. Now, I didn’t do it, but as I actually walked into the church when they started playing (I hadn’t even gone to the church before) I saw who was on stage… a boy from my grade from school, who had shown no sign at all that he was saved. I heard and watched the church singing. It was so loud I could have losted part of my hearing! It wasn’t even a big room. The sermon was basically about the advertising, and after the service people were invited to buy fish and chips and burgers from the cafe. I attended that church several times before realising that their primary purposr wasn’t to save souls, but to lure them in with worldly things. And that’s not all. After church one day I saw a pony to ride, a bbq raising money, and a gamer’s van with killing games like at the archades! That’s not all… they are adding a gym to the place, they already have a childcare there, too.
There should be no reason that someone should have to attend classes to be a member of that church. What has this come to? Are we handing out gym memberships? This is ludicrous! What happened to the good ole days when you could walk into a church and people accepted you no matter what? This is not the way I want my church to be, this is not the way I want to believe either. My question is if everyone came to church and no one had any money to give would that church still be able to hold services that next Sunday? If that’s a yes then that’s the church I’m going to.
You’re looking for a welfare church.
Charlotte i’m Probably leaving my church for the very point you just made. No money invested by followers and no money invested in music – no piano no replacement of crappy microphones – I am just going to play praise and worship misic in my home and invite people over to pray and sing. I’m done trying to volunteer where no one appreciates music or the volunteers and where everything is run like a cook aid stand that was just set up today. The Catholics is where I am heading they seem to have somertjjng going.
The real issue is that this was not the church for you but may appeal to others. Just keep seeking.
Pardon me, but I believe we follow after what we see our leaders doing…For me it’s simple…change the landscape of our leaders ego and entitlements and we have a humbled, servitude willingness in the body…if we continuously observe pastors and deacons living out this attitude of elevation, the body will reflect this and be all about self just as they display it in the many things they do instead of giving God reign over His church, soon this body will be mirroring the leadership. I’ve watched for years how the leaders/pastors live an affluent life off the backs of the flocks which Jesus never intended this arrangement to be set up in such a way as the church has done for centuries. I left my church bc of the celebrity status my pastor enjoyed…he lives in an affluent neighborhood, does not hold a nine to five job like your average jo as in the rest of us and expects the body to support him. Get a job like the rest of the body you oversee, be a good example and role model, Volunteer for free like the body of Christ does…how did we arrive at this entitlement lifestyle for those who deliver the word? Jesus and the boys never exchanged the gospel for money, lived off the land, and sacrificed everything even their families to serve the Lord..Do we see this kind of sacrifice today? No, we do not..I don’t even see a church bus coming to my neighborhood to pick up the children nor do i see knocks on my door with those leaders/pastors carrying the word to the masses..Jesus and the boys did this…I see my pastor and his wife sitting at a BBQ restaurant fighting with the wait staff who know his goings on and they turn their nose up at us who are lowly in their eyes…Many pastors are good but many are bad like this one and it needs to change!!…if we superimposed this picture of Jesus and the boys over what we see today, (creflo dollar, joyce meyer, joel osteen, tdjakes) it would look much different indeed. I think it’s a disgrace and i would venture to say it’s another spirit who has ordained many pastors and not by God himself for whatever reason!! Give the holy spirit freedom to move leaders and put aside your agenda and people will return. God is the head of the church, not pastors and deacons.
Interesting comments indeed.It seems as if we are all concern about our local church and what is best to do re growth/outreach/attendance etc. The church I attend is fantastic……love the Pastor and leadership as well fellow worshipers. However……….I do miss a real good message PREACHED under anointing of The Holy Spirit. Most messages is e.g. “for the next few weeks we will learn about living in the LIGHT.” (nothing wrong about this) However …..Hardly ever do you hear….”I waited on the Lord for a message this week for a word from Him to us .” I do miss that. Wondering if that still happens? w.o.w. preaching rather than teaching.(teaching is important but perhaps at the bible study rather than Sunday morning?Sorry if it sounds as if I am blablablabla.
The bible clearly says the the Pastors’ job is to train the new christians for the work while he reads and prays so that he can continue to teach and read from Gods word. Para-pharsing 2 Timothy
This is not what 2 Timothy states. It does not mention “new Christians”. Besides what you mention is only one job of a pastor. Go back and reread and reexamine your views. There is much more to ministry than reading and praying. All Believers are called to do the Great Commission.
I like this statement from your article: People want to be a part of something that makes a difference. They desire to be involved in something bigger than themselves. Maybe it would help if ministers would preach the unadulterated gospel of the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension back to heaven of Christ for people’s salvation from sin. People don’t need programs, or cushions; or self-esteem elevations; they need the hope that only Christ gives them. He alone gives people motivation to attend church. It isn’t about numbers anyway; it is about faith in Christ. Even Christ said, “When I am lifted up, I will draw all men ubto me.” Maybe if all ministers preached Christ and him crucified, the church would grow and we would see a lot more happening in our church buildings.
Amen, Phillip. I’d add that the drop in frequency is often tied to other problems, and that very often when people don’t attend as often, there’s very little follow-through in the church to check on them. People like to feel important, which means they like to feel missed. If they know people have missed them and might want to see them, they’re more likely to show back up. I actually left a church and was gone for at least four months (I think it was closer to six) before my small group leader contacted me to say she hadn’t seen me lately. That only confirmed my decision to leave that church.
and what about those, as in my case, who are suffering from numerous illness’…I had one member of my sunday school class call me out on why i have been absent, even questioning my salvation…I asked her with gentleness and replied, saying, Debra what do you know about Depression? By the way, do you know I have suffered and fought cancer? Debra, do you know I have social anxiety and ptsd and when I’m at sunday school, i have to try really hard to act normal but inside i can’t wait to get to my safe place….Many in the church judge others without first knowing the facts….Also, expecting to serve when a person is struggling in this way is narrow minded and selfish…i have left many churches bc i am the object of predjudices and we are the undesireables the church clearly does not want to deal with. Then we are stereotyped when we don’t show or struggle to keep commitments…we are seen as unreliable and undependable…so unfair and hateful is this attitude of bros and sis’ in Christ it makes me cringe and so what do we do? we suffer alone in silence when we really hunger for fellowship but nobody understands so we end up leaving…this is so out of the character God wants us to display…you do not know what is going on in the lives of those you judge…
I feel the same way, that the people in church are not interested and do not take the time to know a person first. I believe that if the members in the church would take the time to get to really know a person and befriend them first, then there might be greater desire to be involved in church.
For me, church is fine when I go to worship and focus on the word of God, but lately, it has been particularly grading to always see people in their cliques. As an individual at church, I also feel alienated because my church tends to favor families or people who are involved in ministry. I don’t feel that being involved in a ministry that demands a constant commitment is going to make me feel more connected in a church. It just makes me feel more exhausted. I believe that if a church congregation takes the time to know a person first without passing any judgment, then they will be more understanding about a person and less demanding when the person says “NO” to serving or making a commitment. For me, I don’t know how I am going to be feeling from week to week, so I am not in a position to make any short or long-term commitments just to have constant demands placed on me.
Amen
“however I think it’s worth pointing out that several of them treat the symptom of two big issues that must be addressed head on. One is the idol of Self, often characterized by the need to be ministered to, a.k.a. “coddled” like stunted children. I have often wondered how much a pastoral staff could accomplish in terms of outreach, teaching, etc., if they were not so engrossed in the culture of pastoral care expectation that goes far beyond scriptural example. The Second is the “ADHD” lifestyle of the average first-worlder, that are so easily distracted by diversions and shiny objects.”
Isn’t it the responsibility of the minister to “minister” his flock aka church members and guests? This does not mean that the minister has to “coddle” anyone they need to know what is going on in THEIR church and let folks know that they are welcome. There is nothing worse than attending a church for the first time and seeing a disconnected preacher in the pulpit.
I am an adult and don’t need to be patted on the back, coddled or otherwise tended to but I do WANT to feel welcome in YOUR space. I see the church as a body and building whose sole purpose is to serve and honor The Lord Jesus Christ and when the “people” get in the way with their holier than thou, dismissive attitudes and their sense of “this is MY church” the hypocrisy oozes like slime in a gutter.
Your attitude and comments are exactly why many of us feel a disconnect with organized religion.
We do not wrestle with flesh and blood but we do wrestle with princilalities, powers and wicked evil that is intent on destroying the body of Christ.. And they use us against each other. Come higher for the Lord.
Michelle, you are so right!!! I am 44 and have been in FT ministry for 18 years. I have never seen such a baby mentality as this culture. It is all about them. It is like church has become like college football recruiting…Hey we got the largest building and the coolest children’s area. Then the next church counters…yea but you ought to see our band and coffee maker! The 3rd church counters…well, we don’t talk about tithing or any other controversial issue. Deal!!! that’s my church!
Less people think I am being to sarcastic, I don’t think I am being truthful enough. If folks can find a place to come and blend in so that they are not noticed for 8 weeks, they love it. Not to mention the small groups being led any many homes where everyone has their “spin” in what the scriptures means to them. You kidding me! I know these things for a fact. This is very sagacious judgment. The church has become so myopic in its vision and purpose. Kids today do not want to be under any authority at all, they come out of seminary (if they go) and want to pastor a 5,000 member church because they really know how its done. Meanwhile I have people beating down my door for marriage counseling and sexual addiction problems because they cant get anyone at the church they hide in to really talk to them. Look, the early church and 3rd world Christians world laugh at us.
But you know what…just because a marriage gets hard you don’t leave. In fact, I have committed myself to greater spiritual growth to make sure Im not part of the problem. Im not leaving the church. Im hanging in there and fighting for her. Sometimes some things need to be said. It just hurts my heart to see such shallow people in the church. Yes, I know there are some great Christians out there…you just have to look real hard to find them. Just speaking the truth.
have you forgotten that Love is the greatest? many people are hurting and broken…I don’t recall Jesus saying to the Widow, hey get over your son’s death, get a job, or pull yourself up by your bootstraps as is so often commented…people need to be loved, people!
I have been a member of a Baptist church for over 30 years and have known numerous wonderfully thoughtful and talented pastors. However, the times our church experienced the most growth and productivity was during the intervals between pastors when we had “interim” pastors. These intervals usually lasted anywhere from 1-2 years as our pulpit committees conducted their search. It occurs to me that the main reason for this phenomenon is that the interim pastor is focused on preparing the congregation for the new pastor. He is not concerned primarily with growing the church but with healing and nurturing the church. He is trying to keep the flock in tact, unified, and heading in the same direction until the new pastor arrives. These pastors turned their attention slightly more inward, devoting much time to developing relationships among the members and to encouragement. You may call it coddling, but I call it feeding and caring for and loving the sheep, and it is very necessary in order for you to have healthy sheep. I was taught the great commission as a very personal individual responsibility. And when each member is respected and valued (not indulged) and forgiven they will bring in their friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc. Of course, it goes without saying that the pastor should teach and preach the gospel, and members have a responsibility to attend regularly. But without the genuine affection of a loving compassionate fellowship present, it will not be enough.
I think there are two points being made in these posts that have a very fine line separating them. I do agree that a pastor should shepherd and minister to his flock. That is not coddling; it is biblical. Having said that however, once the flock has been fed and trained, it is their responsibility to do something with it; that is also biblical. The Great Commission applies to everyone, not just pastors. There are two many people who want to just blend in and go unnoticed. They show up on a Sunday morning, get their coffee and donut, and seem to have an attitude that says, “ok, I’m here. Now entertain me. I’ll go home and come back next week to do it all again…but don’t ask me to do anything for anyone else because my faith is a very private thing.” It is every Christian’s responsibility to help grow the Kingdom of God.
Hi Tim I believe the same as you. I have wonder in the past that there has to be more than just being saved by God grace and going to church and being taught God words and just keeping the same routine alive, I think that a lot of Christians forget where they was at when someone got up out of their comfort zone to go out and help Jesus gather the lost sheep. I do appreciate your comment and I can honestly say that it was in 2013 when Jesus opened my eyes to this so I am very much so guilty of this also but am wanting to change.
Take my church for example. The Pastor is genuinely cold and aloof. My husband and I were very active in our church for many years. He lost his job, and after two years got a job in a different state. We are in the process of moving, but have been unsuccessful in selling our home. It’s been on the market for 2 1/2 years. We were relieved of our ministries as they want us to have replacements.
The church membership is 85. (used to be 300 20 years ago). We have been discouraged and actually left our church for a while to visit area churches. We returned to our church, but just don’t feel we belong there. We have been discouraged and don’t feel like going. Not a great excuse to be sure. But our Pastor has never called once to see how things are going or say that me misses us when we miss a few Sundays.
Of course, we could call him- but just the fact that he or any of our “friends” at the church haven’t bothered to pick up a phone to see how we’re doing makes us feel less connected. When I was the Church Secretary, I often called people (on my own) if they missed two or three services to see how they were doing. Since the Pastor isn’t very busy (I know that for a fact after being his secretary) and just satisfied with the “status quo”, maybe we should find another church where we feel like we belong.
I am in sales and one of the most important efforts of this job is to keep adding new customers to my funnel. Reason being is that some customers leave whether because of pricing service or just difference of personally with the sale person. But along with cold calling to get new clients we have to be able to service the present customer base that we have presently. It is a very tight line we travel and we have to be we’ll organized and able to deal with people and this in itself is a job we are all different and with that goes personallys. Ministry is a calling as is sales and many are called but few are good at it without organizations, prayer, and the ability to look at ones own faults and CHANGE for the better then pick up ones self and carry on. If this was easy everyone would be doing it. Ask God if this where he wants you and if it is pray for his guidance and then look at what has to be done to accomplish the goals that you need to set for yourself, your church Deacons/Elders and the get your butt in gear and get it done.
Yes that’s good. Talk down to and insult your” flock”. Oh dear, I must go view a shiny object.
Church has become obsolete.
Disagree entirely. You can’t treat adults like children or prisoners. There is no holiness in the church not in the pulpit or the pews because a watered down Gospel is being preached. Believers aren’t allowed to witness or give testimonies. Its always about the preachers being a star and the court of his favorites who serve him. Church doesn’t emphasize discipleship; it doesn’t demand right conduct from erring leadership those in leadership who have sinned are never ex-communicated or censured. They remain. Another important point is that church places overemphasis on raising and getting money and this is all the church cares about. Most people realize pretty quick the church doesn’t care about them physically or spiritually. This is made evident when the pastor asks the church to pray for members on a prayer list but then doesn’t immediately lead the church in prayer for members but moves on to other things. Jesus state “My Father’s house is to be a house of prayer.” Prayer in the church is basically dead, most including the pastors don’t know how to do warfare prayers, there is no contemplative prayer. There are few prayer ministries. Church is guilty of partiality and most churches in America are NOT doers of the Word but hearers only. The church doesn’t encourage unity among believers. Members do not check on one another. There are many lonely, hurting, wounded, damaged people among church membership who are in desperate need of healing, counseling, guidance and most of all love. There is no spirit of love in the American church and no program, book or sermon tapes is going to change this.
I think for the reason of declining church members is because people don’t feel welcomed. I have been church shopping for a few years and I haven’t ever felt truly welcomed or except by other church members. I attended a church once because I wasn’t family. I was like a outcast but the number of people attending was small. You would think that they would want new people attending but guess not. I’m glad Jesus isn’t like his followers!
We’re doing a class at our church right now on the “High Expectation” church.
I for one am muddling over this because it’s the first time I’ve actually had to think about it.
Does the church do enough for everyone? There are many unique problems we face as a congregation as well as a community. My parents stopped going to church over 40 years ago because of issues of keeping my older brother in the nursery despite he was too old. Eventually he would go onto be diagnosed with autism, and is now in a special school run by a Christian family. Took almost 6 years to find, but the damage had been done. I understand that autism wasn’t known about 40-50 years ago, but to hear it told because that church didn’t reach out in love nor compassion it cemented in stone the bad experiences my parents faced in church back in the 50’s. Meaning I didn’t go to church as a kid for the most part, and began going in my mid 20’s. I will now be 50 in November.
Since being in church I find it a safe haven. I feel unaccepted by the world, and want a place to belong. I’ve learned that churches aren’t perfect, but most Christians strive to help the community. To show compassion. Some may not say the right words, or go off on a different subject altogether when someone has an issue or struggle that becomes the elephant in the room.
We may not have the answers, and sometimes wrestle with being loving vs. Blunt in truth. Are we looking for belly rubs, and cups of General Foods International Coffees? I feel the answer is no, but we need to discern so we know how to respond in love. How does a Christian know whether or not someone’s manipulating them especially when they’re tied up in “Don’t Judge Lest Ye Be Judged.” People are apt to strike a Christian with that like a catonine tails.
Do Christians sometimes have to go to other churches to get something that’s not offered at their own church? Perhaps, but may not be practical neither. Been there done that. Went to one church as my home, but since home church didn’t have a singles group I’d drive 25 miles to another church to be with the single group.
Comes back to love and compassion.
It isn’t always the sheep or their fickle “shiny object syndrome” that causes them not to show up. Our family serves faithfully, as committed, faithful, sold out believers….but we are now missing 1x times a month as we look to find another church. We don’t need coddling or hand-holding, however we do need to be respected. Our pastor has guest speakers who often are “yellers”. We have poured our heart into sharing the gospel with our friends and when they finally come to church they have been turned off by the yelling guest pastor and won’t return. I recently told my pastor that the guest speaker actually was giving me chest pains and my heart was pounding. He dismissed me and replied “I don’t see it that way”. When I told him my friend’s daughter cried on her ride home last time this guest pastor spoke, he dismissed me. When he spoke at all three services the next week and told the church that he had been discouraged by people who come up to him with bad reports and then exhorted the body “not to be that person that goes up to the pastor and discourages him” I felt disregarded and uncared for. When sheep show up, give, serve and pray for the church they deserve to be heard and respected. I have been on both sides as a sheep and shepherd’s wife and I must say that it takes a lot of courage for someone to approach the pastor, so they deserve to be heard and respected. So much time is spent on gaining new members that the faithful current ones can be neglected. By the way, we have membership and attendance. I don’t need the absentee calls or check-in texts; I need to be fed and cared for….that’s it. I am not motivated by the absentee call. I rather resent it as it seems artificial. I prefer to be fed and respected and I don’t need a church membership to love God and follow His command of not forsaking the fellowship of the brethren.
Our family was raised in a once vibrant, growing church.
We found for our family that one reason our children have
all maintained their faith in God, their trust in the Holy Spirits leadership and presence is that: then..as now..no one in our family owns or watches TV. As young parents, we felt that family was important. We gathered each day for meals, and times to inquire about one another’s day and activities.Our children were all participants in both High School activities and in the activities at our church.
We maintain this closeness by a concern for each family’s
faith and devotion and needs. Bob Sorenson