The Post-Pandemic Church
I come from a generation that grew up going to church. It was the cultural norm. As a kid, I only knew of one person in our neighborhood who did not attend church.
My, how times have changed.
Church attendance had been declining for several decades, but the pandemic of 2020 accelerated that. Here we are six years later, and the statistics, according to the latest Gallup poll, are pretty bleak:
- 16% of Christians who regularly attended church prior to the pandemic no longer attend at all
- 68% of American congregations now have less than 100 members
- Of that number, 31% have less than 50 members
Many churches have yet to recover from the pandemic, and many churches have closed permanently.
How did we reach this state? There are several key factors:
- Cultural change. There has been a huge shift in society’s priorities and values. Just to give one example: years ago, children’s sports teams never scheduled practices or games on Sunday mornings. Today it is the norm.
- Church hurt. An increasing number of people cite this as the reason “I don’t do church.”
- Church leadership scandals. The media is quick to report these, and many people have soured on organized religion as a result.
- Increased political polarization. The current divide in our society is being reflected in many congregations, leading some to just avoid the turmoil.
- New habits. The writer of Hebrews mentions this in Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another– and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (emphasis added).
Technology: Blessing Or Excuse?
Technology: Blessing Or Excuse?Perhaps the biggest change to come to many churches because of the pandemic is the increased use of technology. When most churches went into lockdown in 2020, many began streaming services online for the first time. It was a blessing to be able to stay connected in this way. It is still a blessing for the ill and elderly who may find it difficult to go to church as they once did.
But when the lockdowns ended and church doors reopened, a large number of people continued to stay at home. They found it easier to watch a service online than attend in person. (It also made it easier to skip services altogether, since no one knew if you were there or not). Gradually this became habitual behavior for many people– exactly what Hebrews 10:24-25 warned against.
If you’re in that category, you might want to put on your steel-toed boots because I’m about to step on some toes. The question to address is this: is watching virtual church the same as attending church in person?
Some would argue yes, but personally I have my doubts. There are vast differences between the two.
Take worship, for instance. If you are watching a service online, chances are that the worship portion of the service has become more of a performance than a participatory event. It probably feels a little weird to sing aloud in your living room. And you tend to miss out on that feeling of connectedness when you are singing in a congregation. There’s also a certain sense of spiritual power that comes in corporate worship that’s missing when you’re merely watching a screen.
I can hear the protests starting already. “Hey, wait a minute! What’s the big deal about attending a service in person? The church isn’t a building, it’s the people, right? Do I have to go to church to be a part of it?”
Well– yes and no. In his article “10 Things That Ain’t Church (Thoughts on Decreased Church Attendance),” church leader and commentator Carey Nieuwhof explains, “Sure, I fully understand that church is not something you go to, it’s something you are. You don’t go to church, you are the church. But the “you” in “you are the church” is plural (“we are the church”), not singular. And church is bigger than you.”
Author Nathan Rose notes, “Too often people think that corporate worship is only about getting their own spiritual needs met…The problem with this view of worship is that it’s too individualistic and self-centered. As Christians, our lives are to be spent serving, helping and encouraging others. Skipping church robs you of an opportunity to serve someone other than yourself.” He adds, “What we spend our time on shows what we truly value.”
“Houston, We Have A Problem”
“Houston, We Have A Problem”I know this is a controversial topic. My purpose in writing this is not to offend, but to point out a problem, and hopefully generate some thought and discussion, and even a positive resolution.
Carey Nieuwhof says there are three things that are true about our culture right now:
- Spirituality has become an individual pursuit, not a communal activity.
- We’ve become withdrawn and isolated. Isolation is a tool of the enemy, and there’s no faster way to render a community ineffective than to isolate its members.
- Devoting yourselves publicly to God and to a wider community is becoming a countercultural act. Church attendance may be a new spiritual discipline; decreased attendance often equals decreased devotion.
I think he’s right. In fact, I believe the church is at a crossroads. We have an enemy who delights in disrupting the spread of the gospel. We must be careful not to play into his hands. We’ve got a job to do, together!
Back during the Jesus People movement, Larry Norman had a hit song that became very popular. The chorus went,
“Me and Jesus, we got our own thing going.
Me and Jesus, we got it all worked out.
Me and Jesus, we got our own thing going.
We don’t need anybody to tell us what it’s all about!
It was a cool song, but the chorus always bothered me. I don’t think it’s the truth.
Me and Jesus don’t make the church. We and Jesus do.
Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” Paul taught that the Church is one body made up of many members. We are more together than we are individually.
Why Go To Church?
Why Go To Church?So, back to the title of this article. Why go to church? Here’s what I came up with:
- Jesus did. “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom” (Luke 4:16). Jesus was in the habit of going to church. We should follow His example and do the same.
- The early Christians did also. Acts 2:42 tells us that the believers gathered together and “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” From the beginning, church attendance has been the pattern.
- The Church is God’s design for spiritual health and growth.
- God never meant for you to do life alone. We are created for community.
- Our faith is strengthened by hearing the Word of God being preached.
- We are encouraged by the fellowship of the saints.
- Participating in church reinforces the fact that we are part of something greater than ourselves.
- In the church we are able to bless and serve others with our giftings and talents.
- Christians become strong and mature when they are deeply rooted in a local church.
Quite a convincing list, don’t you think? And I didn’t even mention that secular science has proven that church involvement can have beneficial mental and physical effects, such as reducing stress and strengthening mental health.
From a personal standpoint, I love going to church. It’s often the highlight of my week. I know I would not be the man I am today if it weren’t for my church. I will forever be grateful for the wonderful pastors I’ve had, and the dear brothers and sisters He has blessed me with. I enjoy spending time with the family of God!
Why go to church? Because you need the church– and the church needs you. If you have a home church but haven’t been there in a while, now would be a great time to go back. And if you don’t have a church to call home, now would be a great time to look for one! There’s a lot of variety in churches, so if one doesn’t seem to be a good fit, just keep looking. God has a place for you!
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“Casual Christianity: Is Jesus Your Mascot or Master?”