Michael Graham and Jim Davis: What ‘The Great Dechurching’ Means for Church Leaders
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- čas přidán 28. 08. 2024
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Michael Graham and Jim Davis join “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast” to reveal findings from their study on “The Great Dechurching”-the largest and fastest religious shift in U.S. history. Their data is sobering, but also encouraging, and highly relevant to American church leaders.
Very helpful and insightful. Thanks for helping me to reflect and hopefully reach these that have grown disconnected.
It is good to hear that people are dechurching and lowering the priority of faith and religion in their lives. I think this will lead to a more moral future. It is very apparent to me looking at the christian insurrection, the christian support for doing away with democracy and many other issues with christianity, that christianity isn't the way forward and isn't making people more moral. I think putting an emphasis on sports is an improvement over focusing on christ. Of course, seeing what christianity is, I think pretty much any focus is going to lead to a more moral population than a focus on christ.
I have noticed that christians focus a lot on stating what they believe is true. Christians tend to use the word "truth" a lot and repeat very often what they believe to be true. They don't tend to say much about evidence. They don't tend to spend a lot of time questioning what they believe to be true. They don't tend to spend much time presenting objectively verifiable evidence for what they believe is true or questioning what they believe is true. I would suggest flipping that. Keep in mind, faith isn't a valid way of determining what is and isn't true. Truth is determined by objectively verifiable evidence. Evidence is what matters, faith doesn't matter.
Good discussion of this de-churching trend. Thank you for doing this. I will raise one big issue you didn't bring up. People, like me see a huge liberal swing in churches. They make up reasons and throw out certain verses to justify their liberal leap. It seems liberals have an idea that anything goes so long as it fill seats. This swing turns the stomach of myself and other conservatives. That drives a lot of us out of church because it doesn't seem Christian but Democrat annexes.
It’s the politization of Christianity by people like you who have caused dechurching.
Whats strange is that mega churches are booming so it looks like churches are growing. I wonder if some people are becoming disillusioned with the mega churches and electing to stay home instead of sitting in a huge auditorium watching someone on a big screen who will never know them.
“There’s a belonging that we long for in our souls that God has created for us; especially for Christians.” ? What? Really? Everybody else is substandard? This is one reason why I left the church. It’s this hubris within standard brand Christianity which is a turn off. “Truth is one. People call it by many names.” -The Rig Veda. The problem for me is that Jesus (and I believe in Jesus more than ever, mind you) was placed high up on the right side of God by the early Church as the one and only son of God and if you don’t believe (you “others”) you are going to hell. And we are asked to take up our cross and follow him when (at least standard Christians) don’t know that about themselves at all (i.e. they don’t have the benefit of being the one and only Son of God). Yet the gospel admonishes us to forgive lest ye be forgiven. How can you be admonished to forgive when Church is telling you there is no forgiveness from God if you don’t believe in Jesus as his one and only son? It makes no sense. I subscribe to what Jesus said, “I and the father are one. And he who has seen me has seen the father.” We are all sons and daughters of the most high (Jesus realized this better than any figure in human history) and we have all eternity to realize that. Until that time, yes you will not enter the Kingdom; that Kingdom of God which is within you. Contemplation = Being still in the temple (con templum). There’s no room for contemplation in church at all! Churches are are great places for community but they are talking shops, and the message is people be good, or else! And all you lesser “others” - watch out! I no longer accept that. Jesus is about acceptance, unconditional love, and a non-judgmental (be you a prostitute, a woman, a Roman tax collector, etc..) way to that Kingdom. Wishing you all peace in that pursuit!
I’m quite sure your intentions are good & a hint about this situation… In love, I notice an embarrassment of sameness amongst these pastors.
Great discussion, but Michael, I had to skip every time you talked. Please just get to the point.