Why Don't You Go to Church?
Friday May 29, 2009
I receive frequent emails and comments from readers who have given up entirely on the idea of church attendance. Some blame bad experiences that have left a bitter taste in their mouths, causing them to become disenchanted with the practice of going to church. Others say that conventional church activities are missing the biblical mark.
If you are a follower of Christ, but you've quit attending church, we'd like to know why.
• Tell Us: Why Don't You Go to Church?
Image: © Bill Fairchild
Honestly, I hate to say it, but most church services don’t seem terribly spiritually relevant. I think people, ideally, go to church to feel closer to God, to strengthen their testimonies of Jesus, scripture, etc, to identify with something larger than themselves. However, most services–at least in more traditional denominations–seem more about correct behavior. For me personally, I only have so much time every week to spend with my family, to work on my own hobbies, etc, it’s hard to convince myself I want to spend 1–2 hours sitting in a chair.
The culture is shifting priorities away from the spiritual to the material; believe it or not, there once was a time when Christiandom would set aside at least three times to pray, and observe the first day of the week (Sunday) to rest and focus on God. Now it’s seemingly impossible for people to go to church for even an hour or so.
Why is this? There are a myriad of reasons, but one of the biggest involves the breakdown of community and the rise of the Individual. When everyone in the surrounding culture was going to church, and all the shops were closed, it was much easier to participate. There was a sense of cohesion — much as there still is within certain Amish and Mennonite communities today. Now that much of Western culture has become more mobile and de-centralized, and as families and neighbors are becoming more self-focused and “busy”, it has become quite difficult to keep up the pattern of church attendence — even if that pattern has been around for centuries.
Also, the sheer variety of faiths available is overwhelming to some. In America alone, there are at least several hundred distinct denominations, just within Christianity! This leads to a strange sort of “shopping mentality” which can lead to fatigue. “This church has a great youth ministry, but a dismal preacher.” “That church does a lot of mission work, but I can’t stand their worship service.” Etc, etc.
As for myself, I am not currently attending because of a spouse who recently dropped out. That said, I hope that this is only a temporary situation, as I sincerely believe that we are meant to be in spiritual community with like-minded people; for as the Lord said: “For wherever two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
I was raised in a Christian church my whole life. I stopped going because it indoctrinated really badly and couldn’t think for myself. Parents should NEVER allow children or some teens to be exposed to any religion.