DUIN: Flocking away from churches

I am a 77 yr old senior woman. I too feel shut out in my church. They no longer want our opinions,just our money. We recently moved to be near family because of our declining health. The pastor has only visited 3-4 times in the 2 1/2 years. Few members come to visit. Leaving the church they will not even ask how my handicapped husband is. I refuse to join a church that doesn't supply our needs. A faithful , active member of a church since 1954. Who will be there for us when we die??

Agreed, there's trouble in Paradise. There always is, always has been. As an experienced, ordained minister of 26 years, I can say that some of the problem are found in the consumer driven expectations of people who attend church who are always looking to "have their needs met." Where does it say that in the Gospels? But let me say, whenever someone starts to beef about how terrible the church is, I say, look at Jesus and then remember, Jesus died and arose for that church of saint/sinners. He loves it, warts and all. Then, go back and read the Bible. Try to find for me the perfect church even there. Well it is there, it's found at the end of time when the sheep are finally separated from the goats, and you know the big jolt of Matthew 25:31ff, the sheep and goats are both surprised at their fates! Not to put to fine a point on it...., which are you?

The list of reasons people are dissastified did not include something that seems very obvious to me: churches wear people out with constant demands to be involved in complicated, ambitious projects. Tony Campolo tells a story about a couple who moved to a new town, where a pastor in their denomination came knocking to welcome them to his church. They coldly told him the main reason they had moved was to get away from their old church, which had drained them dry of any desire to serve with its relentless pressure to be involved. Many Americans have painted themselves into the corner of overcommitment, to the point that we feel exhausted all the time. Maybe churches need to have a little more faith in their own people and stop expecting them to attend hours of meetings and events every week.

I think if a person wants to be a Christian, you have to know who Christ is. I think if your Pastor isn't communicating that well in word or action, then put it on yourself to spred the word of Christ and to be a good example of what it means to be a Christian. Maybe by doing this you can spred your joy to others. As a good friend of mine once told me, if your getting burnt out read the funnies.

Greetings - Here are some primary reasons why people have become disillusioned by churches: 1. God is love but many of His "people" are not demonstrating love for others. God's word says, "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:...(I John 4:20) 2. For many, God is not the first love as commanded in Revelation 2:4. 3. A large portion of Christians do not spend quality time alone with God in intimacy - praying, reading the Holy Bible, praising, and worshiping Him. 4. Many do not know from memory scriptures from the Holy Bible, and most importantly, many professing do not practice what the Holy Bible instructs. 5. Many do not hold others accountable when ungodly conduct is practiced, and many cannot handle being corrected by godly loving people. 6. Pride, selfishness, rebellion and disobedience against God is abundant in some of God's houses of worship. 7. Many are not hospitable/helpful and compassionate, through actions, to the poor. 8. Many Christians are not powerful in spirit because of compromising God's absolutes. God will not entrust His power to worldly, selfish, unloving, rebellious people. That is what too many professing Christians are.