Why aren't people going to church?
I know "...the church is not a building, the church is not a steeple... the church is a people."
But I would love to have a big fat conversation about the institutional church. Or, "church," in the way our kids use the word when they ask, "Do we have to go to church this morning?" Yes. Yes, you do. Your dad is the pastor and if everybody stops going to church he won't have a job.
In the last year I have observed a couple (obvious) things:
1. Church attendance is tanking in North America
The major denominations have all been in sharp decline, my denomination (Christian Reformed Church), is about 15 years behind but also in sharp decline. Local pastors in church plants (like the one I serve in) have expressed that they feel like "last stop" way stations for people on the way OUT.
2. Christians are quitting church.
Sure, dropping church attendance can be blamed on secularism, individualism, consumerism, rebellion, apostacy, kids going off to college and getting out of the habit, etc. But I'm interested in the people who believe (this includes doubters btw, everyone who doesn't doubts simply doesn't know they doubt). And there are lots! Many, many, many people who believe in Jesus and would never turn their back on God are giving up on small "c" church. And many more wish they could be so brave! Sure we can say a lot of things about our culture, an epidemic lack of commitment, and so on. But come on. There is a problem with the church institution. Let's address it.
3. People want to talk about it
A local pastor recently blogged about the necessity of a "big idea." Books like "Life After Church" are bringing real encouragement (like, "Gee, this band sounds great but I really suspected there was something amiss on this Titanic). Many are calling for new understandings of liturgy and sacraments. Others are saying, "Well, Easter is celebrated in the liturgy once a year, maybe it's time to let it die."
What do you think? This is a conversation I want to have and I'd love it if you'd condescend to join in! I don't know if a blog post is the best way but... We'll see.
At my church, Hillside Community Church in Calgary we are starting to engage in these questions by having gatherings where we ask, Who are we? Who is our neighbor? Can we be a community? Can we love our neighbor?
But those are big questions, aren't they?
Last bit. Below are a few items I identify as reasons church isn't working for many people:
1. Church has little or no connection to the rest of our lives (i.e. work life, family life, social life).
i.e. Our lives are made up of segregated spheres such that the "world" where I work is not related to the "world" where I go to church, my school world, family world, etc. The more "spheres" we have, the more "worlds" we have to carry, the more it is a relief when one sphere falls off (like church). Furthermore, while work, for example, constitutes much more of our time than church does, the church teaches us that work's real "meaning" is merely to evangelize and get people from that world to the church world (so they can be as busy as you). Maybe we should question how the church should be empowering the person to their work instead...
2. Church is designed to maintain superficial relationship that precludes community.
i.e. Pastor speaks, worship leader speaks, we have coffee, talk about the weather, and don't see each until it's more small talk the following week. Faith and religion is expressed on behalf of the people with limited opportunity for interaction, dissension, doubt, or diversity. Do we gather for meals? Make sermons interactive? Share more? Start living communally? :-)
3. Church insists the gospel produces wholeness and happiness but... real life says there is doubt, suffering, and brokeness.
i.e. Insisting from the pulpit that everything is swell doesn't make it so. Are we attempting to profess belief and wholeness on behalf of people who aren't so sure? Are we putting forward a vision of an other worldly heaven as opposed to living into the incarnational ministry of Jesus who brings salvation in suffering more often than "out of" suffering?
4. Church offers a "Jesus product" in the way other companies offer products to fulfill us.
i.e. We emphasize creating a satisfying religious experience over being a community of God's people being transformed and transforming the world. Do we cultivate a "weekly fix" mentality?
5. Church is to God's people what the Record Industry is to music.
i.e. Record labels are losing relevance in a world of social media, file sharing, self-recording, etc. Is the church as a Sunday institution outdated? Is it being left in favor of alternatives for providing community, bible exposition, participation in the sacraments, and Christian life?
6. The opposite of any of the above!
i.e. Church is too connected to my life, church insists on community when I want anonymity, church doesn't satisfy my needs for a spiritual fix, church confronts my comfort and forces me to face my demons, church calls me to a rythym of submission I don't want to accept.
So the questions are simple. What is the way forward? Is there a way forward? What can we do? What should we do? In what way, shape, and form is God calling the small "c" church in North America (and your church, and my church) to be the big "C" church in this time and place?
I love the church where I serve. I feel like it is a place for real God, real community, and real growth. Sometimes I feel like we're more church when we're being unchurchy - camping, eating, having coffee. But I also feel like these questions loom as an opportunity to engage!
So I'll close with a call to action. In the words of Bad Religion, "ba ba ba ba ba ba ba ba, raise your voice!"
