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Why people leave church (and what we can do about it) 😯
Unpacking the great dechurching
Did you know that 40 million Americans left the church in the last 25 years?
That is a staggering number. We’re not talking about the people who skip church on Sundays sometimes or reduce the amount of church they attend throughout the week.
We’re talking about 40 million people who completely walked away from community and relationships with fellow Christians. They don’t go to church and they don’t plan on going back.
Why?
We know the reasons well:
Church hurt
Deconstruction
The politicization of the pulpit
And more
But we can do more than lament about the facts. We can take action. Are you ready?
Understanding a crucial distinction: what are they leaving?
These 40 million Americans are not necessarily leaving their faith, they’re leaving the church. Let’s unpack that further. It’s not as contradictory as it seems.
Many people who do not have a home church retain their faith and believe the only relationship that matters is their relationship with Jesus.
They’re not done with Jesus—they’re done with the church as it exists today.
Whether due to relocating, church hurt, or lack of connection, the church is not meeting them where they’re at. They don’t have the relationships that make a church family feel revitalizing and essential.
Church leaders can’t afford to put their heads down and ignore that reality.
How we can help staunch the flow of 40 million dechurched people
At least 50% of these 40 million dechurched people are open to coming back, especially if someone invites them. Sometimes, all it takes is that one extra connection to bring someone back into the folds of the church.
Not because we want their money, not because we’re trying to achieve a specific growth trajectory, but because we want everyone to have the support and network they need to thrive in their faith and relationship with the Lord.
It has to come from a place of care, consideration, and genuine investment in our fellow Christ followers.
That starts with taking actionable steps to not only reach them but also to nurture them once they are through those doors.
Action Items:
Understand the Matthew 18 approach to conflict resolution
Church hurt is a real cross-denominational issue, but it’s usually attached to a specific person within the church, not the church itself.
By using the conflict resolution framework outlined in Matthew 18, we can help pinpoint the issue and hopefully resolve any ill feelings without someone leaving the church on bad terms.
Support families moving to new areas
Do you know who is moving where in your flock? Families who move away from their home church may struggle to find a new church community.
You can help them prepare by researching churches in their new area ahead of time and connecting with them about a plan of action. A little support can go a long way amid a stressful move.
Invite people to join you on Sundays (it can be that simple!)
About half of those 40 million dechurched people are waiting—consciously or unconsciously—for an invite to get replugged into a church family. You could be the exact inroad they're looking for.
You won’t know unless you ask. Taking steps like the above is what can slowly but surely reduce that 40 million and help people rediscover the beauty of church connections when done the way God instructs.
Don’t hang your head in despair at the task. Look around and see who you can reach.