church

There are many Christians who have stopped going to church. They have not given up on God, have not renounced their faith, have not denied Christ, and have not become pagans. They simply are no longer going to church. That this is happening is not a matter of doubt, but why this is happening is in fact a difficult question to answer.

They can’t get enough of genuine Christianity and heartfelt worship. But they have gotten enough of churchianity. They are fed up with a church that increasingly resembles the world more than it does the New Testament.

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There comes a point in the journey of every Christian where cynicism starts to look inviting. Even mature.

But there’s a difference between looking for ways to make the Church better and looking for things to complain about. Mature, humble criticism is selfless and redemptive; immature criticism is usually self-focused and doesn’t generally lead to change.

Humble criticism means noticing a problem and articulating solutions instead of looking for problems and wallowing in anger. It means being temporarily disappointed without being permanently disillusioned.

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Jeff Vanderstelt articulates why people are disillusioned and disappointed with church these days.

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We hereby announce that our church [insert brand name here] has officially decided to merge with the Church that Jesus started almost 2000 years ago. Sorry for the confusion we caused by our decision to start a new church.

It’s time that our structures our statements and our actions reflect our faith in the Bible’s clear declaration that “there is one body.” (Ephesians 4:3)

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Today’s Throwback Thursday recalls a post from a couple of months ago in which the author considers the implications to the Church’s identity when it operates for profit.

“When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” There is only one answer to her question. The answer is “Yes.” The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

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Going to church these days can be a bit like eating at a fast food joint. It might be quick and tasty, but it won’t satisfy your soul.

C. Christopher Smith and John Pattison, are part of a loose network of writers, friends, theologians and pastors worried about what they call the “McDonaldization” of church. They say too many small churches try to mass-produce spiritual growth by copying the latest megachurch techniques.

Scott Thumma, a sociologist of religion at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn., says the slow church movement makes for good theology.

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This is a trailer for a movie that appears to be about how church-as-building is on the decline in America. It could be an interesting movie. Please leave a comment below if you’ve seen it. Let us know how it was.

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Truth and lies, hope and despair, real and fake – all tied up in a neat package with a bow and sold to us with the label of “Christianity”. The men in the suits with all the words told us that what they taught was true. We believed them because we were children, and because their voices were the only voices we’d ever heard.

Then we grew up.

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“When a body becomes a business, isn’t that a prostitute?” There is only one answer to her question. The answer is “Yes.” The American Church, tragically, is heavily populated by people who do not love God. How can we love Him? We don’t even know Him; and I mean really know Him.

I was pondering Martha’s question again one day, and considered the question, “What’s the difference between a lover and a prostitute?” I realized that both do many of the same things, but a lover does what she does because she loves. A prostitute pretends to love, but only as long as you pay. Then I asked the question, “What would happen if God stopped paying me?”

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