Faking It!

When my kids were still living at home and going to school upon occasion they would attempt to fake an illness to skip school. Maybe they had a test or report due at school that they thought they were going to do badly on or they may have been afraid someone was going to pick on them. No matter what the reason they had for not attending school, dear old Dad had a stead fast rule, if you were not puking to pooping uncontrollably, you were going to school. Most of the time this worked for me, however there were a few times it backfired on me and the school nurse would call me and tell me I had to come pick up my sick kid. Forty percent of all Americans say they attended worship on the previous weekend. However, Sociologists of religion have questioned that figure, saying Americans tend to exaggerate how often they attend. By actually counting the number of people who showed up at a representative sample of churches, it was found that only 20% of the population attended church each weekend. Recent research using cell phone data has indicated that significantly fewer people are likely attending every week. The estimate could be only 10% of Americans attend church weekly. In 2000, the median worship attendance was 137. In 2010 it was 105. In 2020 it was 65. Today 55 is the Median worship attendance that is a decline of 60% in two decades. 

 Hebrews 1: 24-25 ESV And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

My children came up with some very creative ways of faking illness in an attempt to skip school and Americans today have as many or more different reasons for skipping church as my children had for skipping school. According to Pew Researchers 4 in 10 Americans who do not attend church say they practice their faith in other ways. Now that is about as ambiguous answer as I have every heard! According to this same study 37% do not attend because they have a dislike for religious services. 23% said they said they have not found a church they like yet, 18% said they didn't like the sermons, 14% said they did not feel welcome, 12% said they simply didn't have the time. However, in my personal opinion here is the scariest data of all, 28% of those surveyed said there were not a believer in God at all! Yes, I know these figures may not add up to a total of 100% but that is because many of those surveyed gave multiple reasons why they did not attend church! Outwardly people may seem religious. They may make a profession of Christianity, but their actions speak louder than their words. By their ungodly behavior, they show that they are living a lie. There is no evidence of the power of God in their lives.

2 Timothy 3: 1-5 ESV But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Many have given up on the church because they have experienced hurt, betrayal, and abuse. However, Christ said the gates of Hell will not prevail against the church. Christ loved the church and gave his life for her. We must love the church as well and be faithful to her. We must persevere in, love, we must minister to the church. Do you still love your church? Are you faithfully tithing, attending and ministering in your church?