Why Church Membership Is in Free Fall But Faith in God Remains Strong
Why Believers Are Ditching Church for a Deeper Connection
A man stranded by himself on an island was finally discovered. His rescuers asked him about the three huts that they saw there. He pointed to the first hut and said, “This hut is my home.” Then he pointed to the second hut and said, “And this one is my church.”
“And what about the third hut?” asked his rescuers. “The third hut,” said the man, “That is my former church.”
Have you ever become so disillusioned with the church that you considered leaving it altogether? Chances are, you’re not alone. According to research by Gallup, the past 20 years have seen an acceleration in the drop-off in church membership in the USA, with a 20-percentage-point decline since 1999.
Despite the precipitous decline in church attendance, belief in God remains high. Another Gallup poll from 2021 asked, “Do you believe in God.” 81% responded in the affirmative. It is a baffling statistical anomaly that so many believe in God, but fewer and fewer attend church.
When I talk about the church in this article, I’m talking about the institution. I’m talking about Sunday services and pews and sermons and potluck suppers and, of course, the physical building in…
