Why Americans Left the Church

And can we blame them?

This is not going to be a “religious” post per se’, but I am going to address a few things regarding religion.  If you are turned off by that sort of thing, feel free to give me a quick like and move on.  😊  But seriously, I hope you will take the time to at least consider what I’m saying here. 

There’s no way that in two pages or less I can adequately address the topic of my post today.  I plan to just touch on some of the reasons why Americans have abandoned the Christian church over the last couple of decades. 

As I was walking this morning and reflecting on life, God, nature and all of that stuff, I asked myself, “Why is America such a mess?”  Of course, I thought of numerous things like bad food, bad air, bad water, bad education, bad politics/politicians, bad medicine, bad… well, suffice it to say, a lot of bad stuff came to mind.  But the nagging thing behind all of that was “bad religion.” 

I can’t even begin to count how many people I have spoken to in the last couple of decades who, when the topic of religion comes up say, “I used to go to church, but now…”  

Why?

I have a few thoughts as to why:  It’s the church’s fault.  More importantly, it’s the people in those churches who are to blame.  From the pulpit to the pew, the church has failed to do its duty to love and care for the people.  If people don’t feel loved and welcomed in a congregation, no number of “programs”, classes, pot lucks, “concerts”, “dances”, or any other gimmick is going to convince someone that “church is the place to be.”   Why should we go to church to be “entertained” when we can sit home by ourselves or with people we know love us and be entertained? It’s less stressful right?

There was a time when I was very active in church.  I mean… if the door was open, I was there!  The church I attended was incredible.  The people were loving and caring and the Pastor was gifted and also had a knack for pointing out the wrong in our lives while providing the answer as he saw it from the Holy Bible.

I was almost fanatical in my belief.  To the point of becoming judgmental to anyone who was not part of the “club.”  I had a huge bumper sticker on my giant Chevrolet Caprice Classic that said, “JESUS IS LORD!”   I was in traffic on the interstate and someone behind me was tailgating (which was driving me nuts).  I slammed on the brakes and that person went around me. I rolled down my window and gave them the middle finger while screaming for them to go bleeper themselves.  Does anyone think that person went home to look up their local church?  Probably not.  I feel bad about that to this day.  If we display our belief on a bumper or clothing, we darn well better be living that belief because people are watching.

Some years after I left the aforementioned church, I was speaking with a friend who was attending a certain church. He proceeded to tell me they had a visitor to their church that Sunday.  He said, “We had a transvestite in full drag come to church today!  We were all shocked and disgusted that someone would come to church looking like that. How dare he!”   I was only in my late 20’s at the time and I remember what I said to him verbatim: “What’s the difference between someone who wears their struggles on the outside and those of us who keep all of our struggles on the inside?”  He didn’t know what to say in response.  Does that mean we shouldn’t have standards and just tolerate everything in church and society?  NO.  But churches should be welcoming people and offering help.  Do you think this transvestite ever went back to that church?  Probably not.  This reminds me of the New Testament where Jesus was being criticized by the “religious” leaders of that day for eating with drunkards, prostitutes, and sinners.  Jesus simply stated (paraphrased), “I didn’t come for the people without problems, I came for those who have problems!” 

How about 2020 and 2021?  Pastors, Priests, Shepherds… all failed America when they almost gleefully slammed shut the doors of the temple because the “government” said to.  Churches were refuges in ages past to help care for the sick when there were diseases, pestilences, and famines.  But this time around?  Nope.  You can’t come in.  We aren’t here for you.  We don’t care if you are sick and afraid.  These so-called Shepherds should be ashamed of themselves.  But guess what?  Those true shepherds who bucked the system and refused to cave to the threats (even though several of them even went to prison for standing firm) have seen unprecedented growth!  People are flocking to these establishments where *true* religion reigns supreme.  (Caring for the sick, feeding the poor, loving your neighbor)

And how about the charity that churches used to provide to one and all?  There was a time when churches fed the homeless, sheltered widows and orphans, and numerous other charitable activities.  No questions asked.  I’ll never forget what happened one time at a church I was attending.  A dirty (possibly homeless) woman came in and said she needed diapers for her baby and some food.  She was asked, “are you a member?”  When she said no, she was given a list of phone numbers she could call to get help.  Seriously?  Do you think that woman ever reached out for help at another church in her life?  Probably not.  What ends up happening to people like that is they reach out to government for help, get a bit of help and become addicted to their new god, which is said government. 

There are dozens more examples and I could write for 20 or 30 pages about this subject.  Am I perfect?  Am I doing what I am called to do?  Am I loving my neighbor, feeding the poor and assisting widows and orphans?  Hmm… not so much.  But I try.  I really do.  And I think that trying is half the battle.  If we consider ourselves believers, we must practice those beliefs.  We must *live* our faith.  Do you have extra tomatoes in your garden?  Pick out the very best ones and go give them to a neighbor.  You don’t have to talk “religion” with them.  Just say you had extra and thought they would like to have them.  Are you pulling weeds on your property and notice a bunch on your neighbor’s property line?  Pull those too.  Are you going to the store and know that your neighbor is home-bound for whatever reason and cannot go out?  Offer to pick some things up for them. 

We don’t need to be in a church to be believers, but if we count ourselves as believers, we *must* do our best to set an example that speaks to unbelievers and attracts them to us.  They may not ever end up believing the way we do, but they will respect us.  This is the true church.  The church that America needs to get back to.  In doing so, we will go a long way towards fixing all the other problems we are facing in these times. 

“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.”  King Solomon