Out of Shape

"Not going to church because of the hypocrites is like not going to the gym because of out of shape people" (www.CatholicsMemes.com)

Love should be a defining characteristic of the local church. Yet there can be many reasons why a person might not be in church on Sunday morning (They are listed below). The following quote says a lot about the judgment we make about others in relation to church:

“Sometimes, the nicest people you meet are covered in tattoos and sometimes the most judgmental people you meet go to church on Sundays.” (Carl Dibbles Jr.)

Some think the local church…

·       Is unauthentic

 

·       Leaders are hypocritical, and have too much moral failure

 

 

·         Has hurt people with their self-righteous attitude

 

·         Often prohibits conversations about legitimate doubts

 

·         Is not educating them all about Jesus

 

·         And the pastor is unclear about the take-home message for the congregation

 

·         Is not providing community for its visitors

 

·         Is not perceived as a hospital for the spiritually injured

 

·       Is always asking for money

 

·         Is a place of too much emotional drama and conflict

 

 

·         Is a place of controlling leaders and unskilled teachers

 

·         Can be a place where the unique don’t fully fit in

 

·         Is a boring place

 

·         Is not somewhere a Christian has to attend to go to Heaven

 

·         Day (Sunday) is a work day

 

·         Is something I can watch on TV    

 

People want go to church with individuals who are real, vulnerable, and are willing to sit next to you in the messiness of life. When church feels fake and like it’s not a safe place to be weak, people leave in hopes they’ll find someplace that is like that.

“The church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners.”  (Morton T. Kelsey)

 

 “The Church is not an automobile showroom; a place to put ourselves on display so that others can admire our spirituality, capacity, or prosperity. It is more like a service center, where vehicles in need of repair come for maintenance and rehabilitation.” (Dieter F. Uchtdorf)[i]

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[i] Sources used:

·       “10 Reasons Why People Leave Church” by Benjamin L. Corey

·       “5 Reasons People Have Stopped Attending Your Church (Especially Millennials)” by Carey Nieuwhof

·       “6 Simple Reasons People Stop Going to Church” by Dale Roach

·       “7 Disappointing Reasons People Leave the Church” by Ron Edmondson

·       “Ten Reasons Why America Has Stopped Going to Church” by Alyson Shedd