American Churches dying

[NewCreation435]

Why is it that it seems so many churches are dying or in decline? Many that I have visited in my area only have elderly adults in them and almost no children. Some have not baptized anyone in years. One particular church that I know of has a three story building for education space and it is empty because the congregation is so much smaller now. Down from what was a thriving church of several hundred years ago to about 20 members now. and it is right in the middle of town, so plenty of people could go to it, but chose not to.

 

[Andrew]

Why is it that it seems so many churches are dying or in decline? Many that I have visited in my area only have elderly adults in them and almost no children. Some have not baptized anyone in years. One particular church that I know of has a three story building for education space and it is empty because the congregation is so much smaller now. Down from what was a thriving church of several hundred years ago to about 20 members now. and it is right in the middle of town, so plenty of people could go to it, but chose not to.

The great falling away?
The signs are happening which Jesus spoke of. Paul was convinced it would happen in his days (the 2nd coming) but the Apostles were right that the end times started after the Holy Spirit outpouring.
Satan has been at work and working in the children of disobedience, most people have become degenerate and slaves to the government whom they are dependent on and rejecting God who would heal the nation if they repented... also in the information age many churches have been exposed as "heretical" due to their history, instead of seeing this as a sign to strengthen what they have left many just depart from the faith all together.. The world has become babylon "a strange land" for Gods people and we are shrinking, the Christians in the east are being persecuted daily and the west is too occupied with prosperity preachers.. hold fast to what we have because one day the churches will be closed and all we will have is the Word

 

[NewCreation435]

The great falling away?
The signs are happening which Jesus spoke of. Paul was convinced it would happen in his days (the 2nd coming) but the Apostles were right that the end times started after the Holy Spirit outpouring.
Satan has been at work and working in the children of disobedience, most people have become degenerate and slaves to the government whom they are dependent on and rejecting God who would heal the nation if they repented... also in the information age many churches have been exposed as "heretical" due to their history, instead of seeing this as a sign to strengthen what they have left many just depart from the faith all together.. The world has become babylon "a strange land" for Gods people and we are shrinking, the Christians in the east are being persecuted daily and the west is too occupied with prosperity preachers.. hold fast to what we have because one day the churches will be closed and all we will have is the Word

I've noticed also the churches that are growing seem to be more due to the amount of programs that the church has particularly for kids. I don't know of any churches that are growing that don't have contemporary services.

 

[Albion]

Why is it that it seems so many churches are dying or in decline? Many that I have visited in my area only have elderly adults in them and almost no children. Some have not baptized anyone in years. One particular church that I know of has a three story building for education space and it is empty because the congregation is so much smaller now. Down from what was a thriving church of several hundred years ago to about 20 members now. and it is right in the middle of town, so plenty of people could go to it, but chose not to.

This trend occurs most often because of the fact that suburbs have risen and the middle of town is no longer close to people's homes.

 

[Andrew]

This trend occurs most often to the fact that suburbs have risen and the middle of town is no longer close to people's homes.

That and I imagine it's an older building probably around town square or in the olden side of town. Congregations where I live are under populated and spacey, never any new church buildings

 

[Josiah]

Yes, Americans are following Europeans and moving further and further from Christianity and the church.

In the USA, 65% of Americans now regard themselves as Christian, down from 77% just 10 years ago.

In the USA, 43% now identify themselves as "Protestant" down from 51% ten years ago, Catholics 20% down from 23% a decade ago.

The largest 3 denominations have all been hit HARD - the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church. But virtually all denominations are down.

Perhaps more telling, adults who claim to attend church at least monthly declined a full 7% in just one decade.

The WHY's are complex....

It presents a challenge to those of us who are Christians and are churched. IMO, THAT's where the discussion should be, what can I do - directly, personally, proactively - about this? Pointing fingers at others, blaming others, telling others what THEY/IT should do is perhaps part of the problem.

But it isn't all necessarily bad. The church often experiences revival and rejunvination in such times. Sometimes this means 'punning' that leaves behind a smaller but healthier church. That's no excuse to do nothin but it can be true.

 

[Michael]

"then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved." - Matt 24:10-13

We live in a society today that is easily offended at anything. Even in the churches, try bringing up Repentance (actual turning from sin), Denial of Self and carrying our personal cross (which Jesus preached we must do), and having to Walk Worthy (as the New Testament commands many times), and a great many church-goers are instantly offended and those preaching the Truth are less than loved. And I speak from experience on this. Most churches in America, if not the world, are dying, regardless if they have a dozen members or 5,000 attendees.

Personally, I have seen many churches decline in number over the years, while others I know have grown huge. And in part, the reason is the same for both. Preaching ear-tickling messages that make little or no demand on the church-goer, other than to 'believe and receive' or make a 'profession of faith', will either cause those seeking for depth to move on, or attract large crowds who want to believe they are "saved" and just waiting to go to heaven now. Add some flashy programs, motivational speakers, and a rock band to entertain during "worship". and you'll soon have a "mega church"!
Truthfully, to these huge program-laden congregations that avoid Repentance and Obedience to God's commands, comes His Word -

“I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. 2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die, for I have not found your works perfect before God. 3 Remember therefore how you have received and heard; hold fast and repent. Therefore if you will not watch, I will come upon you as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come upon you. 4 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy." - Rev 3:1b-4

Recently the Lord brought to spend time in, and meditate on, Jeremiah chapter 23.
His Word concerning the leaders of His people then, is the same Word He says concerning many of the "pastors" and "preachers" today who teach not "all things" that Jesus taught, especially regarding actual repentance -

"I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in My counsel,
And had caused My people to hear My words,
Then they would have turned them from their evil way
And from the evil of their doings."
- Jer 23:21-22

Yes, big and small; Orthodox and contemporary; packed or barren; the churches in America are dying. Not because the heathen refuses to repent, but because so many in the churches who have been "saved" absolutely refuse to believe that God will hold them accountable for their behavior.

God will indeed have His remnant. But if we truly would desire to see the churches in America thriving, let us hear and heed the Word of the Lord Jesus which He spoke directly to those sitting in the pews on Sunday morning -

"I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” - Rev 3:18-22

Amen.

God's Wisdom and Understanding to all.

 

[Lamb]

My former church is actually growing but my current church is an older congregation and when they pass away or go into nursing homes then we see a decline in attendance. The members who had children wanted to be in a church where there were more kids around so they went to the bigger church and that one is growing.

I see more and more people becoming missionaries and going to other countries but the fact is that we need missions right here in our own country. Africa has 2 leading religions...Christianity and Islam. We should start having Africans come here to be missionaries some day

 

[NewCreation435]

That and I imagine it's an older building probably around town square or in the olden side of town. Congregations where I live are under populated and spacey, never any new church buildings

I'm sure there is something to that. Though the church I am thinking about still has a lot of homes near it. I think this sometimes happens also when the community the church is in changes in demographics such as it was a white community 30 years ago and now is mainly either Hispanic or black community.

 

[tango]

Yes, Americans are following Europeans and moving further and further from Christianity and the church.

In the USA, 65% of Americans now regard themselves as Christian, down from 77% just 10 years ago.

In the USA, 43% now identify themselves as "Protestant" down from 51% ten years ago, Catholics 20% down from 23% a decade ago.

The largest 3 denominations have all been hit HARD - the Catholic Church, the Southern Baptist Convention and the United Methodist Church. But virtually all denominations are down.

Perhaps more telling, adults who claim to attend church at least monthly declined a full 7% in just one decade.

The WHY's are complex....

It presents a challenge to those of us who are Christians and are churched. IMO, THAT's where the discussion should be, what can I do - directly, personally, proactively - about this? Pointing fingers at others, blaming others, telling others what THEY/IT should do is perhaps part of the problem.

But it isn't all necessarily bad. The church often experiences revival and rejunvination in such times. Sometimes this means 'punning' that leaves behind a smaller but healthier church. That's no excuse to do nothin but it can be true.

It's also worth considering the transition from a general cultural expectation that people go to church to a sense of freedom that it isn't necessary.

I remember being confused as a child when a census form came around and my father's religion was entered as "Church of England". He wasn't a churchgoer, at the time I couldn't say how long it was since he had set foot in a church, but "Church of England" was the default. As a child and a teenager my wife went to church because it's what was expected on a Sunday. She had no meaningful relationship with God, but church was what you did on a Sunday. I remember going to church for a time for no reason other than one of the girls in the choir was kinda cute (and when I came to realise she had no interest in me whatsoever my interest in going to church fell off a cliff).

Now there is so much less cultural expectation that people will attend a church, and so the people who were just going through the motions don't bother going through the motions any more. I don't know that it's necessarily a bad thing that people who didn't have any meaningful faith don't bother pretending any more.

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

I've noticed also the churches that are growing seem to be more due to the amount of programs that the church has particularly for kids. I don't know of any churches that are growing that don't have contemporary services.

The church I attend is growing without going CoWo.

 

[Albion]

The church I attend is growing without going CoWo.

Obviously, some churches are indeed growing, despite a nationwide trend that is heading the other way. So the question I have is "What accounts for the apparent success of your congregation if it is not a happy feely contemporary worship come in your cut-offs and we won't say much about doctrine kind of church??"

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

Obviously, some churches are indeed growing, despite a nationwide trend that is heading the other way. So the question I have is "What accounts for the apparent success of your congregation if it is not a happy feely contemporary worship come in your cut-offs and we won't say much about doctrine kind of church??"

I would have to say it's because we don't water down the Scriptures, we rightly divide Law and Gospel, we administer the Sacraments, not ordinances and we don't shy away from saying people are sinners in need of God's grace. Ya know, Lutheran and everything that goes with it.

 

[Albion]

I would have to say it's because we don't water down the Scriptures, we rightly divide Law and Gospel, we administer the Sacraments, not ordinances and we don't shy away from saying people are sinners in need of God's grace. Ya know, Lutheran and everything that goes with it.

That's good but there are many churches that meet that description and they are generally having problems.

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

That's good but there are many churches that meet that description and they are generally having problems.

The reasons for declining membership vary from church to church. The reason one church is losing members could be an issue within that particular church while another church could be losing members because of a change in belief or practice within the denomination. It's too big of an issue to chalk up to CoWo for example, and say that's the reason churches are shrinking across the board.

My church saw a great decline for a long time, we were down to 30 regular attendees. Our attendance increases in the winter months, but that's when the snow birds show up. There's a lot of different factors that affect this. Just because a church is shrinking doesn't automatically mean something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

 

[JRT]

Things are not as bad as they have been in the past. Historians and demographers estimate that at the time of the American Revolution only about 10% of the population of the colonies was "churched".

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

The real problem may not be with the churches at all. It may be with the people. I think it's important to ask ourselves, why we go to church. Do we go so we can do something for God? Or do we go so God can do something for us? The answer to the question of why we go to church in the first place may be the key to solving the problem of declining attendance.

 

[Albion]

The reasons for declining membership vary from church to church. The reason one church is losing members could be an issue within that particular church while another church could be losing members because of a change in belief or practice within the denomination. It's too big of an issue to chalk up to CoWo for example, and say that's the reason churches are shrinking across the board.

My church saw a great decline for a long time, we were down to 30 regular attendees. Our attendance increases in the winter months, but that's when the snow birds show up. There's a lot of different factors that affect this. Just because a church is shrinking doesn't automatically mean something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

Yes. It's something of a mystery.

I personally attribute much of it to the mood of the times which is about getting oneself in order. For some things in life, that's great, but not for all of them. Still, when it comes to anything that involves meetings and formal memberships, we seem to be more into finding ourselves than becoming a joiner.

When it comes to religion then, corporate worship and membership seems less than it once did and a personal sense of being right with God has crowded it out for many people, even if that is a POV that's lacking in some respects. For instance, I seem to encounter people all the time who proudly stand apart from all the churches because they feel they're not needed, but yet those same people, untethered from the religious community, believe the craziest stuff!

 

[NewCreation435]

The reasons for declining membership vary from church to church. The reason one church is losing members could be an issue within that particular church while another church could be losing members because of a change in belief or practice within the denomination. It's too big of an issue to chalk up to CoWo for example, and say that's the reason churches are shrinking across the board.

My church saw a great decline for a long time, we were down to 30 regular attendees. Our attendance increases in the winter months, but that's when the snow birds show up. There's a lot of different factors that affect this. Just because a church is shrinking doesn't automatically mean something is wrong and needs to be fixed.

No, it is possible that nothing is wrong in some situations. I know of a church that was in a community that had a population of over 20,000 at one point. It had its own hotel and several gas stations and a grocery store and other businesses. One person told me she could count over 20 businesses on main street. When I was there there was only two left. A hardware store and a post office. The gas company left and then so did all the people and then several floods happened and there are now about 200 people left.

 

[zecryphon_nomdiv]

No, it is possible that nothing is wrong in some situations. I know of a church that was in a community that had a population of over 20,000 at one point. It had its own hotel and several gas stations and a grocery store and other businesses. One person told me she could count over 20 businesses on main street. When I was there there was only two left. A hardware store and a post office. The gas company left and then so did all the people and then several floods happened and there are now about 200 people left.

Just so I understand this, was the community built around the church? There is a church here in the Phoenix area that is very popular called Christ's Church of the Valley. I understand they have like three coffee shops and two restaurants on the church campus. I would say having those on the church campus is a definite problem, because when that happens, where is the focus?