people leaving church

With the onset of COVID 19, many regular church attendees failed to keep up the habit. It became easier and a regular lifestyle to watch at home. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to lack of interaction with others. But, there are cases where it doesn't matter if the church meets online OR in person, the lack of community is prevelant in many areas. 

Church is no longer a widespread community event, it's a single person, couple, or family event. Many 18-20 year olds don't return to church because they don't really see it as a priority anymore.  It was just something they did when they were younger. This is again, a failure of the church to establish a community. Making a strong connection with the kids is very important. Church activities should not always only be on Wednesday night, Sunday morning and Sunday night. 

Many churches have cliques-they might not mean to make cliques, but they are there. 

They have engrained in their brains the "right" way to be a Christian, the "right" way to think about current events and the "right" way to worship, so, whoever fits that criteria, that's their clique. They accept those who think from differently, but will never fully accept them until that person changes THEIR thinking to match theirs. They have it all figured out and don't want to have to think about something else. 

The good news is that many who left church during the pandemic are willing to come back if they are asked to church. 

In other cases, people leave church because of a life altering incident. 

Then there are others who leave because they can't fit in or find people their age.

Many will respond to this with the attitude of they should be going to church for God, not friends. True, but then what happened to "bear one another's burdens?" Did the disciples ever have a church service alone? Did they ever try to figure out issues alone? Next time you go to church, don't socialize with anyone. 

Or on the flip side, maybe you can reach out to others and ask them to coffee and chat. Maybe you can get to know them. Give them a reason to stay in church and connected to God. Christianity is not meant to be a lone ranger activity. We are supposed to love, learn and support each other. We are supposed to encourage others. 

Let's start a new trend and give people a reason to return the church. Start reaching and loving them, just as Jesus would. the onset of COVID 19, many regular church attendees failed to keep up the habit. It become easier and a regular lifestyle to watch at home. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to lack of interaction with others. But, there are cases where it doesn't matter if the church meets online OR in person, the lack of community is prevelant in many areas. 

Church is no longer a widespread community event, it's a single person, couple, or family event. Many 18-20 year olds don't return to church because they don't really see it as a priority anymore.  It was just something they did when they were younger. This is again, a failure of the church to establish a community. Many churches have cliques-they might not mean to make cliques, but they are there. 

They have engrained in the brains the "right" way to be a Christian, the "right" way to think about current events and the "right" way to worship, so, whoever fits that criteria, that's their clique. They accept those who think from differently, but will never fully accept them until that person changes THEIR thinking to match theirs. They have it all figured out and don't want to have to think about something else. 

The good news is that many who left church during the pandemic are willing to come back if they are asked to church. 

In other cases, people leave church because of a life altering incident. 

Then there are others who leave because they can't fit in or find people their age.

Many will respond to this with the attitude of they should be going to church for God, not friends. True, but then what happened to "bear one another's burdens?" Did the disciples ever have a church service alone? Did they ever try to figure out issues alone? Next time you go to church, don't socialize with anyone. 

Or on the flip side, maybe you can reach out to others and ask them to coffee and chat. Maybe you can get to know them. Give them a reason to stay in church and connected to God. Christianity is not meant to be a lone ranger activity. We are supposed to love, learn and support each other. We are supposed to encourage others. 

Let's start a new trend and give people a reason to return the church. Start reaching and loving them, just as Jesus would.