Alarming Number of 'Stayaway Saints' Affecting Today's Church

[ffinder]

http://www.charismanow.com/a.php?ArticleID=10615

Alarming Number of 'Stayaway Saints' Affecting Today's Church



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An alarming number of Christians are staying home on Sunday mornings and the trend is affecting today's church. Believers who have become "stayaway saints" are alternately worrying and exciting church leaders, pointing to what is being seen as either a serious threat to the spread of the gospel or the actual cusp of a revolution that could usher in the sort of revival many have prayed for and dreamed of for years.
A recent study by The Barna Group, a California-based Christian research organization, found that about 13 million Americans whom the researchers identified as being born again were "unchurched ... not having attended a Christian church service, other than for a holiday ... at any time in the past six months."

Revival historian and teacher Andrew Strom found painful evidence of "a worldwide phenomenon." After speaking on radio about what he has dubbed the "Out of Church Christians," and writing about them in one of his e-newsletters, he was bombarded with responses from people around the world telling him, "Me too."

He found "people leaving the church in droves." "It got so bad, I got carpal tunnel problems trying to answer them all," Strom told "Charisma" magazine in the February issue, out now. The full report on stayaway saints can be found in the magazine.

"I was really surprised by the response. It told me this was no longer a small thing -- it had become much bigger," he added

David Barrett, author of the World Christian Encyclopedia, estimates there are about 112 million "churchless Christians" worldwide. He projects that number will double by 2025 -- though it includes both nominal believers and those part of underground churches in nations where they face persecution for their faith.

Concern about the growing number of Christians she had met who no longer attended church regularly prompted Pat Palau, wife of international evangelist Luis Palau, to collaborate last year on a book, "What to Do When You Don't Want to Go to Church."

Ted Haggard, senior pastor of 11,000-strong New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, sees the abandonment of regular churchgoing as more than just a personal preference.

"It's a huge problem in the fulfillment of the Great Commission because God is the one who established the local church as His primary method of discipling people. So we lose the united prayer support, the financial strength, the missionary efforts," he warned.

He believes pastors have been the reason many have left the church. "They have been let down by church leaders whose children are wild and disobedient or who are in adulterous marriages," Haggard said.

Though some church dropouts are finding new expressions of church life, which he welcomes, Haggard does not believe the answer is to bury the institutional church. "We need to get it healthy and dynamic," he said. "There's no mystery to that -- just as there's no mystery about how to have a healthy marriage and wonderful children."

[2+2=5]

"It's a huge problem in the fulfillment of the Great Commission because God is the one who established the local church as His primary method of discipling people. So we lose the united prayer support, the financial strength, the missionary efforts," he warned.
I think the loss of financial strength is his main concern.. :sorry:

[New_Wineskin]

An alarming number of Christians are staying home on Sunday mornings and the trend is affecting today's church. Believers who have become "stayaway saints" are alternately worrying and exciting church leaders, pointing to what is being seen as either a serious threat to the spread of the gospel or the actual cusp of a revolution that could usher in the sort of revival many have prayed for and dreamed of for years.


I would say that they are more concerned with the idea that people aren't there to listen to their sermons that are told over and over and over .


Revival historian and teacher Andrew Strom found painful evidence of "a worldwide phenomenon." After speaking on radio about what he has dubbed the "Out of Church Christians," and writing about them in one of his e-newsletters, he was bombarded with responses from people around the world telling him, "Me too."


Me too ! :wave:



David Barrett, author of the World Christian Encyclopedia, estimates there are about 112 million "churchless Christians" worldwide. He projects that number will double by 2025 -- though it includes both nominal believers and those part of underground churches in nations where they face persecution for their faith.


No mention of the growing number of home groups .



Ted Haggard, senior pastor of 11,000-strong New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, sees the abandonment of regular churchgoing as more than just a personal preference.


You betcha' . ;)



"It's a huge problem in the fulfillment of the Great Commission because God is the one who established the local church as His primary method of discipling people. So we lose the united prayer support, the financial strength, the missionary efforts," he warned.


I know of nothing about the Lord establishing groups the way they are now . The "financial strength" point could be capitalized .


He believes pastors have been the reason many have left the church. "They have been let down by church leaders whose children are wild and disobedient or who are in adulterous marriages," Haggard said.


Those are the smaller reasons from what I have heard . But , the idea of the leaders being a major issue is correct from what I have heard .


Though some church dropouts are finding new expressions of church life, which he welcomes, Haggard does not believe the answer is to bury the institutional church. "We need to get it healthy and dynamic," he said. "There's no mystery to that -- just as there's no mystery about how to have a healthy marriage and wonderful children."

Well , if they can actually do that , it would be wonderful . If they take too long , the alternatives will be entrenched and well known .

[New_Wineskin]

I think the loss of financial strength is his main concern.. :sorry:
At least they were honest in listing it as a point .

[Bevlina]

I too believe it's the loss of financial support here. Many people who have Home Churches are very happy with the work they are doing. I know we do.

[Rev Joe]

:( I am suprised of the number of patients, I see in the hospital, who tell me they no longer need to attend Church because they can "Watch It At Home On TV". Some have even told me their pastor is (Whom ever they watch on TV). As a Hospital Chaplain we are there for the patients and staff but when Life's end is near and the patient needs a Chaplain where is their TV Pastor?:scratch:

[New_Wineskin]

:( I am suprised of the number of patients, I see in the hospital, who tell me they no longer need to attend Church because they can "Watch It At Home On TV". Some have even told me their pastor is (Whom ever they watch on TV). As a Hospital Chaplain we are there for the patients and staff but when Life's end is near and the patient needs a Chaplain where is their TV Pastor?:scratch:

Why would someone *need* a "chaplain" when the end is near ? Jesus is always there and is quite capable of being with them at that time .

[Rev Joe]

Why would someone *need* a "chaplain" when the end is near ? Jesus is always there and is quite capable of being with them at that time .

:) A family request for a Chaplain. I know GOD is there! Some families feel guilty about some things and this is when they seem to feel all will be right when I respond. Please don't get me wrong I am there for any patient even if they are not near death. Although not a critical situation there have been times we are asked to see a patient before they go into surgery but after surgery, GOD or One of HIS Instruments (a Chaplain) is no longer wanted because they survived the surgery. I just pray that they did thank GOD for being with them when it was convient for them.

[watchman7]

People need Christ. I hope that is what you offer. Caring is needed, but without Christ, it is useless.

[Johnnz]

The institutional church is structured around a non biblical professional/laity pattern. One result of this is the disenfranshisement of most of God's people from any real importance.

John
NZ

[Rev Joe]

People need Christ. I hope that is what you offer. Caring is needed, but without Christ, it is useless.

:wave: I agree!:pray:

[talitha]

Reading over these responses, I am saddened that apparently the main problem is that many organized churches are not acting like churches at all. I am thankful that this is not the case in the church I attend.

On a marginally related note, I have actually met Ted Haggard, and I happen to know that his main two concerns in life are evangelism and intercession --- wow, same as most of you home-church people :) -- am I right? I don't think the rest of you know the man at all, so you really can't say that finance is a chief concern of his. *smile*

blessings
tal

[ninelives]

It is sad that a lot of churches do not act more like the body of Christ that we should be.

I do not know the man, never heard of him. But, I've heard similar comments made from those in community churches even in my own area. There seems to be misconceptions all around concerning this particular topic.

Were the churches back then like the churches today?
What is the 'Great Commission' and how did they go about it in the Bible days?
Is prayer support lost when we do not meet in a particular spot locally to do it, or if we do not have certain number of people present?
Is it financial strength that truly causes growth of the Kingdom of God?
How is it that many would rather make it to church on time than stop to help someone along the road who needed it?

If I found a group of people who belonged to a church and had the right answers to these questions, then that is where I would be going to church. ;)

[Andyman_1970]

The institutional church is structured around a non biblical professional/laity pattern. One result of this is the disenfranshisement of most of God's people from any real importance.


I couldn't agree with you more............... :thumbsup:

[watchman7]

As a Hospital Chaplain we are there for the patients and staff but when Life's end is near and the patient needs a Chaplain where is their TV Pastor?


Welcome to the home church forum, Rev, Joe. I don't fully understand your rhetorical question. Could you re-state this question in relation to your view of the home church? I will attempt to answer your inquiry. As Christians, we are priests. We do not need an intercessor. Christ is our intercessor. We of the home church as well as those of the institutional church watch TV preachers. I think I understand your position but I am not sure. Elaborate if you care to.


I just pray that they did thank GOD for being with them when it was convient for them.


Are you talking about Christians or unbelievers? Christ is not "convenient" to His people. Christ is the very Life of His people. I do not know of any greater assurance than the resurrection of Christ, His unconditional grace and His complete forgiveness of our sin.

[discernomatic]

Alarming Number of 'Stayaway Saints' Affecting Today's Church

Concern about the growing number of Christians she had met who no longer attended church regularly prompted Pat Palau, wife of international evangelist Luis Palau, to collaborate last year on a book, "What to Do When You Don't Want to Go to Church."

Ted Haggard, senior pastor of 11,000-strong New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the National Association of Evangelicals, sees the abandonment of regular churchgoing as more than just a personal preference.

"It's a huge problem in the fulfillment of the Great Commission because God is the one who established the local church as His primary method of discipling people. So we lose the united prayer support, the financial strength, the missionary efforts," he warned.

He believes pastors have been the reason many have left the church. "They have been let down by church leaders whose children are wild and disobedient or who are in adulterous marriages," Haggard said.

Though some church dropouts are finding new expressions of church life, which he welcomes, Haggard does not believe the answer is to bury the institutional church. "We need to get it healthy and dynamic," he said. "There's no mystery to that -- just as there's no mystery about how to have a healthy marriage and wonderful children."

Ted Haggard and Luis Palau (his brother-in-law's name is Ed or Edgardo Silvoso) are part of the Church Growth Movement. More and more churches today are trying to attract the elusive unchurched or those that are "seekers". New methods of music, teaching and presenting the gospel are being developed for this purpose. A google, yahoo or whatever search for those names and for the Church Growth Movement may bring interesting results.

discernomatic