Why people do not go to church
The church is where we can find rest and peace with the chaos and distractions around us. It is where we could meet other Believers and enjoy God’s presence.
It should be a place we all look forward to entering. However, this is not the case.
Christian churches are more accessible now compared to the past. We could find a local church near our home or attend online services.
However, despite our democracy and the accessibility of churches, many people are still not attending church.
Why do people not go to church
Pew Research Center (PRC) released a study from 4,729 Americans about why they do not attend church. We would reveal the result and see why people do not participate in religious services.
Based on the study, here are the reasons why people do not go to church.
It is irrelevance
According to the PRC’’s survey result, 37% of American adults who attend church a few times a year or less often say that churches practice their faith in other ways. They noted that some practices in the church are irrelevant.
More so, some who began attending as young adults because of their family’s traditions deemed the church irrelevant.
See church’s leaders’ hypocrisy and moral failures
People have high expectations of church members, especially pastors and church leaders. Another result from the Barna Group study noted that 35% of millennials said they do not attend church because they see religious leaders' hypocrisy and moral failures.
It is hard for them to listen to their sermons knowing that the leaders are doing unrighteous and immoral things.
Feel that God is not present in the church
Another reason why people do not go to church is because they do not feel God’s presence. There could be several factors, such as the people in the church or the setting of the church.
In the PRC survey, over half of the respondents who regularly attend religious services wanted to get closer to God. This result is also true with the Barna Group study that stated that they attend church to get closer and know more about God.
However, if the church does not meet their expectations, they will probably not attend church anymore.
Feel that doubting is not allowed
In this generation, they have a lot of doubts about their faith due to the influence of the world. Yet, they may find it hard to open up those doubts in the church because they feel it is prohibited or church leaders will judge them.
According to the Barna Group study, one out of ten unchurched Millennials feel that legitimate doubts are not allowed, starting at the front door.
We should not make others feel that their questions are not accepted in the church. As mature Christians, we should welcome and answer these questions without condemnation.
Also, first-time attendees might only want to attend the second time if we feel their questions are welcome.
They do not learn about God
The primary purpose why people go to church is they expect to learn about God. However, if the church is not focused on teaching about God and only their motives, then we need a church’s revival.
Moreover, we have to make sure that all activities or programs of the church are still in line to let people know God more. The church is not a theater to entertain people but a school to teach about Jesus and His ways.
They do not learn any significant insights about faith
Since many people do not learn more about God in the church, they do not go to church because they feel like they do not understand any valuable insights to grow their faith.
The Barna Group study stated that 61% of the respondents said they did not learn any crucial or new insights regarding faith when they last attended.
Thus, the church should evaluate its sermons and ensure they are focused on building people’s faith in Jesus.
They do not feel they belong
Does your church create a welcoming vibe for people? It is a place where first-time attendees would feel like they are not new in the community.
Another possible reason why people do not go to church is because they do not feel welcome. The PRC study stated that about one in twenty respondents attend religious services primarily to become a part of a community of faith.
Additionally, the Barna Group study depicted that one in ten reports attending church because they seek community.
So, we need to make sure that we are a welcoming church.
Why Church Still Matters
Regardless of why we do not feel like going to church, we should still try our best to come to the worship place.
Here are some reasons why attending church matters in our lives based on our pastor’s preaching.
- The church will prepare you for service
The church is where God equips and trains you to be prepared to serve Him. Although pastors and church leaders are not perfect, they are given the authority and appointed to teach God’s people for service.
- The church will teach you about the truth about Jesus Christ
Although there may be some churches that are not focused on Jesus Christ, there are still many churches that teach the truth about our Lord and Savior. We should never stop looking for the right church where God planted us.
We need the church to guide us to the truth.
- The church will teach us how to live righteously
If you understand the value of your salvation, you need people and places to guide you in living righteously. The church is the best place for learning how to live a life that is pleasing to God.
- The church will lead us so we do not lose our ways from false teachings
With the advancement of technology and modernization in this generation, it is sad to say that even immoral activities become acceptable in society.
However, with the church's help, we could still learn the proper foundation, so false teachings would not persuade us.
- The church will teach us to be more like Christ
We are all a work-in-progress, but as we go to the church, we learn more about how to be like Jesus Christ. The church that is Christ-centered will help us understand His ways to lead us with peace and freedom.
There is no perfect church
If you keep looking for a perfect church, you will waste your time and never find one. There is no ideal church, as we are all imperfect. However, we only have a perfect God and a perfect Head of the Church, Jesus Christ.
If you already find a church that focuses on Jesus Christ and feels you are planted to be in that church, try your best to go to church regardless of any distractions.
Moreover, Satan will always use many factors for you not to go to church, but always remember the goodness and faithfulness of God in your life and family. You have to stand your ground to go to church no matter what.
Jesus Christ should be our primary reason for going to church, so whenever we do not feel like going, we still go because of our love for our Lord and Savior.
