Friends, I think this is just another symptom of the "Great Falling Away" as we approach the coming of the "End Times".
John is every pastor’s dream member. He’s a life-long believer, well-studied in the Bible, gives generously and leads others passionately.
John is every pastor’s dream member. He’s a life-long believer, well-studied in the Bible, gives generously and leads others passionately.
But last year he dropped out of church. He
didn’t switch to the other church down the road. He dropped out completely. His
departure wasn’t the result of an ugly encounter with a staff person or another
member. It wasn’t triggered by any single event.
John had come to a long-considered,
thoughtful decision. He said, “I’m just done. I’m done with church.”
John is one in a growing multitude of
ex-members. They’re sometimes called the de-churched. They have not abandoned
their faith. They have not joined the also-growing legion of those with no
religious affiliation—often called the Nones. Rather, John has joined the
Dones.
Sociologist Josh Packard
shared some of his groundbreaking research on the Dones. He explained these
de-churched were among the most dedicated and active people in their
congregations. To an increasing degree, the church is losing its best.
For the church, this phenomenon sets up a
growing danger. The very people on whom a church relies for lay leadership,
service and financial support are going away. And the problem is compounded by
the fact that younger people in the next generation, the Millennials, are not
lining up to refill the emptying pews.
Why are the Dones done? Packard describes
several factors in his upcoming bookChurch
Refugees.
Among the reasons: After sitting through countless sermons and Bible studies,
they feel they’ve heard it all. One of Packard’s interviewees said, “I’m tired
of being lectured to. I’m just done with having some guy tell me what to do.”
The Dones are fatigued with the Sunday
routine of plop, pray and pay. They want to play. They want to participate. But
they feel spurned at every turn.
Will the Dones return? Not likely,
according to the research. They’re done. Packard says it would be more fruitful
if churches would focus on not losing these people in the first place.
Preventing an exodus is far easier than attempting to convince refugees to
return.
Pastors and other ministry leaders would
benefit from asking and listening to these long-time members before they flee.
This will require a change of habit. When it comes to listening, church leaders
are too often in the habit of fawning over celebrity pastors for answers. It
would be far more fruitful to take that time and spend it with real people
nearby—existing members. Ask them some good questions, such as:
1. Why are you a part of this church?
2. What keeps you here?
3. Have you ever contemplated stepping away
from church? Why or why not?
4. How would you describe your relationship
with God right now?
5. How has your relationship with God
changed over the past few years?
6. What effect, if any, has our church had
on your relationship with God?
7. What would need to change here to help
you grow more toward Jesus’ call to love God and love others?
It’s time to listen. Your church, even if it’s one of the rare
growing ones, is sitting on a ticking time bomb. The exodus of the Dones, the
rise of the Nones and the disappearance of the Millennials do not look good for
a church afraid to listen.
It’s not too late to start.
No comments:
Post a Comment