Today, about 28% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated, describing themselves as atheists, agnostics or “nothing in particular” when asked about their religion. This segment of our population is described as the “Nones,” people who, when asked to describe their religious preferences, select “nothing in particular.” What is the number one reason the “Nones” disaffiliate from church?
According to Ryan Burge, co-author of The Great Dechurching, the number one reason that people disaffiliate from church is that “they moved.” That’s right . . . they moved. If you’ve ever moved, you can understand. There’s a new job(s), new school for the kids, new routines, learning the area, new grocery store, making friends, furnishing the house, etc. Often, finding a new church is at the end of the checklist. Christians know they need to find a church, but busyness just gets in the way. This is quite a shift from the 60s-90s where one of the first things people did when they moved to a new area was to seek a church.
This tells us that most of the “Nones” are not atheists who want to argue with us. Rather, they are friendly toward the church, but simply got out of the habit of attending. On a side note, most of the folks we meet are not angry atheists but rather good people who have gotten away from God and the church. And we have a much better opportunity to reach them through kindness and friendship than dogmatic debate and theological argument.
Why do people seek out a church?
Here is some other helpful data to think about when we talk with people who have gotten away from church. It’s important to know a bit about why people seek out a church in the first place.
According to a 2018 Pew Research Center Survey provides the top four reasons:
- To become closer to God – 81%
- So children will have moral foundation – 69%
- To be a better person – 68%
- For comfort in times of trouble/sorrow – 66%.
I’d like us to pay close attention to numbers two and four. Number two addresses people with young children and number four times of crisis or loss. In other words, a significant percentage of people seek out a church to help with their children and to find comfort during hard times.
What we can do…
HRBC – God has called us for such a time as this! These are in our wheelhouse – family ministry and pastoral care. Perhaps God is raising our spiritual antennae to be more aware of the needs around us. With this mindset, we can reach people whose life situations make them more open to talking about Jesus and church!
The same Pew survey also provides data on people who attend religious services a few times a year or less. Ever wonder why they get away from church? 37% say they practice their faith in other ways; 28% say they don’t believe; and 23% say they haven’t found a church they like.
Again, let’s listen to the song beneath the words. What people are really hungry for is friendships and relationship. Ryan Burge has found in his research that the number one reason people come back to a church is because of friends. We are made for relationship and connection! Sometimes all it takes is one person inviting a friend to coffee, a book study, a concert or a church event (think Fall Festival)! Through these relationships, the Holy Spirit will open opportunities to tell people about our church and its ministries.
God calls us to scatter the seed, and God promises to bring the growth. May we be present to our friends and neighbors so that we love, understand (listening) and empathize (walk alongside) with them in times of crisis, change and transition.
May we build relationships with our unchurched and dechurched friends and neighbors and cultivate a spirit of invitation. And in all things, let us trust in the Lord who says, “Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17)
In Christ’s care and service,
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