Responding to news that he was either dying or dead, Mark Twain famously said, “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”
According to a new report from Barna Research, the same might be said regarding the previous decline of young people’s faith and church attendance.
Released Tuesday as part of the group’s ongoing “State of the Church” initiative, “Gen Z” and “Millennials” attend church more regularly than their older counterparts.
Digging into the data, Gen Zers, those born between the mid to late 1990s and early 2010s, attend church 1.9 times per month. Millennials, those born between 1981 and 1996, average 1.8 times per month.
In contrast, Boomers (1946-1964) and Elders (those born before 1946) attend 1.4 times per month.
David Copeland, who serves as Barna’s vice president of research, acknowledged the surprise that accompanied the findings.
“It’s typically older adults who are the most loyal churchgoers,” he said. “This data represents good news for church leaders and adds to the picture that spiritual renewal is shaping Gen Z and Millennials today.”
But is it really good news that the typical Christian is attending church only two out of every five weekends?
Scripture makes clear the importance of regular corporate worship. The writer of Hebrews urged believers to “not [give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:25).
The Fourth Commandment, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8) may not specifically dictate weekly church attendance, but it does demand our attention and our obedience. As Christians, if we’re not a member of a church and regularly attending weekly services, how are we setting apart the day? How are we not neglecting the call to meet together with fellow followers of Christ?
While it’s a good thing that young people’s faith doesn’t appear as anemic as suspected, if the standard we’re comparing it to is already dangerously low, a sober-minded awareness seems in order.
We’d also be wise to ask some difficult and even uncomfortable questions.
Why are Christians going to church so infrequently? Are we allowing ourselves to be pulled away by very worldly priorities like youth sports, vacation travel, creature comforts like sleeping in and having a leisurely Sunday morning instead?
This has no bearing on a committed believer’s responsibility to participate in corporate worship, but churches themselves should be examining elements of their service and outreach. Are they’re doing everything they can to retain interest, especially from those who may dip in and out, who are on the fringes of Christianity? Are they challenging people enough? Are pastors prepared and interesting, addressing issues relevant to real lives in real time?
Are churches challenging enough? Are pastors prepared and interesting enough? It’s always curious why sports stadiums can sell out week after week, yet rare is the church that suffers from not having enough seats for those wanting to join the worship service.
“Church attendance is as vital to a disciple as a transfusion of rich, healthy blood to a sick man,” warned D.L. Moody.
Some Christians dismiss or diminish the importance of physical church attendance. Instead, they may talk of communing with God in nature, praying alone, or spending their quiet time with the Lord in personal reading of Scripture. Those disciplines are important and supplemental, but they cannot and must not replace corporate worship. The same goes for those able to attend in person but who instead opt out for church culture.
The famed evangelist Billy Sunday once said, “Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than going to a garage makes you an automobile.” He was right. Inner transformation, repentance, and accepting Jesus Christ as Lord of your life is what makes you a Christian. But going to church provides us with community, connection, opportunities for service, and ideally, offers solid spiritual teaching that will help us grow in our faith and strengthen us in numerous ways that will then equip us to share the Good News with others.
Given all those personal and Kingdom benefits available at church, wouldn’t you want to attend more than 21 weeks out of a 52-week year?
Image from Getty.
