It would seem that in some parts of the world, some Christian churches are in a death spiral of diminishing parishioner numbers and declining active memberships. Various churches have attempted to ward off the decline by rebranding Christian theology, doctrine, and practice, but the trends are starkly clear. I suspect that, among other factors, 'spiritual, but not religious' is one of the social solvents which are dissolving the glue of community that keeps the faithful connected with each other. I have noticed this phenomenon in my own community as congregant age profiles get older, and congregations get smaller in size.
I've read about these instances. I think some of these people have possibly left their churches ,, but not necessarily abandoned their faith. I believe they're still just as religious,, and are continuing their faiths at home,, or other churches. I've heard of a lot of folks that are not liking the societal decay being forced into their churches. Our governments are big force behind this big push for this decay ,, and the churches have been threatened to a sense by basically forcing the churches to accept these other than stellar lifestyles into their churches . I am not a full time participant in churches,, but I have heard quite a few folks that are not happy with what is happening in their churches . Just my thoughts on it .
Out here the church leadership has gone more political (to the FAR left) than spiritual. My take is that they have become elitist control freaks that want to impose their will over the rest of us via the government. I suspect many will have very uncomfortable exit interviews with The Big Boss.
There is a big difference between the church leadership and most local ministers. They may have gone to the same schools and received similar training, but their career paths parted ways long ago. Most are content to be obscure toilers in the vineyards of the Lord, while some crave power, position and influence, plus many of these so-called leaders couldn't lead a Sunday school class much less a congregation. I was raised in the United Methodist Church, and my Father's family has been Methodist since Charles Wesley and Francis Asbury were around, but there has been little unity in the United Methodist Church of late. Because of the church leaderships' support for the progressive/ woke agenda (LGBT rights, climate change, and whatever else comes down the pike) 20-25% of the congregations in the USA have left the UMC and gone independent. With the latest changes wrought by the Leadership Conference I look for that number to increase, especially when the United Methodist congregations in Asia and Africa head for the door. I, myself, am still attending the UMC church that I have attended all of my life, but I am looking at some of the Independent Methodist churches in my area, there are 5 or 6 that I plan to visit soon. Truth be told, my current church is a large sprawling downtown church with a congregation that is both older and much reduced in size. Many younger families have moved to the suburbs and rural areas and attend churches closer to where they live. I don't see how my current church can survive without recruiting lots of new members, but to do that they are going to lose me and a lot of others.
religious??? not sure about calling it that??? many religions have rules/laws that are required... IIRC Christianity only has 1? ya there is much more that ya need to look at and try for... but there is only one real rule/law...
Yeah I saw an article about how big money leftists have been donating to various churches and in return the churchs are pushing leftists ideology. If you're ultra maga and go to church and keep smelling CNN you won't be back.
Out here it's gun control and Socialism. Basically disarm then subjugate the masses. You don't even have to be MAGA to see what is happening. Even some folks I know on the Left (but not Democratic Socialist Left) are nonplussed about what we are seeing. My relationship with God no longer includes a church.
If you're not contempt with "only the police should have guns" (think Schindler's list) and socialism you're already ultra maga.
From my perspective, being a Christian for most of my 73 years, what I've seen is that when a church begins to compromise Jesus' gospel, attempting to caterer to modern behaviors to gain numbers "they loose God's blessing" and become merely a religious institution yet spiritually dead. When people identify with this sort of religion they will fall again easily back into sin having no relationship with God at all and only twisted religious academic theology. The ways of the world can talk them into anything that will dissolve their faith if any. Devils believe in God, but they are not yielded to Him, doing their best to compromise Jesus Gospel. What usually happens is, these become rebellious to all religion, but a rare few when hard times come, usually near the end of life turn back to God for a last-ditch effort to right things. God can turn that scenario several different ways, knowing the heart of man. Typically, in this event, discovering the relationship God had intended one finds deep regret for having put off God for so long. Sin is the absence of God's influence.
or Man's failure to correctly interpret the Word and Will of GOD! Just read the Bible and follow the Eleven Commandments (the ten in the Old Testament and the one in the New Testament), and realize that not everyone wants to be a Christain or is going to Heaven!
