I’ve read some shocking articles lately, that talk about the discontentment of the American Christian, and how many are using the phrase “dechurching” for the rise in people who used to attend a church, but now find they feel they are too busy, or they feel churches are “out of touch” with today’s culture.
In fact, in a recent article in the Winter 2025 issue of Influence magazine, the percentages that are quoted for Americans who attend church have gone from 70% in 1992 to 45% in 2023.
Of course, many will claim that this is all COVIDS’ fault. And there is no answer for getting people to take the risk of attending a church service where illness can be caught as easily as it can be caught at the grocery store, however, somehow food is always a priority.
Let me remind you that you are reading the writing of a Lead Pastor of a rural church in Southwestern Minnesota. So not only does this affect the ministry that I feel I am called too, but it also affects the livelihood of several people who count on the church. So, I might be a bit biased. But still, it is a sad state.
I do not believe that the loss in percentage of church goers is to be blamed on anything but that fact that humans are selfish and always looking out for numero uno. (themselves)
BTW – I do not claim to be better at this than anyone else. I fall into the same traps of wanting things to be the way I want them, that I know better than God on how things should be going in my life. And funny, when I concentrate on following a plan that puts God first in not only my actions buy also in my thoughts, I tend to be less anxious, more merciful, less impatient, and more loving.
Could it be that we just need to place our ambition, our strivings for a better life, into perseverance for trusting on the Lord? Could it be that simple? The Bible seems to say so…
2 Peter 1:5 NIV For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge
Philippians 4:19 NIV And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 4:7-8 NIV I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.
It has long been established in my blog that I am a very eclectic music lover. I have so many “favorite” bands. Right now, I am relistening to an album that a very good friend of mine, Mi Hermano, and I would listen to together as we played EverQuest. We would quote lines from the songs as statements of how we were feeling at the time. The band Marillion has an album Misplaced Childhood they did in 1985. There is a song titled ”Childhoods End”, and in the lyrics I find a portion that talks about how we just make it through the day, and how our hearts are so fragile, and how God (my interpretation) is the light we can find to have our heart put back together, because God can do anything.
“Hey you, you've survived.
Now you've arrived,
But that was looking backward.
Now you've found the light.
You, the child that once loved,
The child before they broke his heart.
The heart, the heart that I believed was lost
So, it's me I see, I can do anything.”
Peace,
PTV