From Mark Tindall (October 2004):

Wednesday, May. 5, 2004 Posted: 5:43:38AM EST

The most recent study released by the Barna Research Group showed that the number of unchurch adults – those not having attended church services other than for special occasions – doubled from 39 million to 75 million since 1991. The survey, which was conducted between late January and early February of 2004 through telephone interviews, sampled some 1041 adults.

One part of the study observed 18 factors that distinguish how different unchurched adults are from the national average churchgoers. The study found unchurched adults are: – Less likely to read the Bible (19% compared to 44%) and to pray (63% to 83%)

– Less likely to accept Jesus Christ as their savior (17% to 50%)

– In terms of theological beliefs, the unchurched adults are less likely to believe the Bible is accurate, that Jesus was sinless, that Satan exists, that salvation is comes through the grace of God, and that God is the creator and ruler of the universe.

The study also found that on average, men are more unchurched than women, constituting 55% of the unchurched. It was also found that those who are younger than the median age of U.S. adults, which is 43, and those who are single, are more likely to be unchurched.

Regionally, the coastal areas had the highest percentage of unchurched adults: 51% of the unchurched live in the Northeast or West, constituting 23% of the total number of residents in California and New York.

According to the researcher George Barna, what is needed to transform the unchurched to churched is by connecting them closer to God. He said the reason why they don’t attend church is not because they are just lazy or not informed.

“They are wholly disinterested in church life – often passionately so,” he said, “Church events cannot effectively compete with what the world has to offer. The only thing the Church can provide that no one else has is a life-changing, practical encounter – and on-going relationship – with the living God and with people transformed by similar encounters. Until such a connection is made, focusing on features, programs and benefits other than such a life-shaping encounter is more likely to lose ground than to gain it.”

He also addressed the issue of attracting the unchurched youth and that such trends could challenge existing churches to strengthen their core spiritual beliefs to effectively introduce unchruched individuals to biblical principles and practices.

Said Barna: “Millions of young adults are more interested in truth, authenticity, experiences, relationships and spirituality than they are in laws, traditions, events, disciplines, institutions and religion. The confluence of preconceived notions, past experiences and evolving lifestyles and values means that existing churches simply cannot reach millions of today’s unchurched people. The rapidly swelling numbers of unchurched people may be forcing existing churches to reinvent their core spiritual practices while holding tightly to their core spiritual beliefs. It will take radically new settings and experiences to effectively introduce unchurched individuals to biblical principles and practices.”

Barna further observed three unique characteristics that distinguish the unchurched. First is their low interest in the mainstream activities of the society such as engaging in community service activities, participating in church life, and donating money to non-profit organizations.

“The unchurched are more likely than others to be somewhat isolated from the mainstream activities of the society in which they live,” said Barna.

The second characteristic is what Barna calls non-committal nature.

“You can see this emotional and intellectual distancing of themselves through their more moderate ideology, their more ambiguous theological perspectives, a lower likelihood of embracing terms used to describe oneself (such as “generous,” “friendly” and “deeply spiritual”), a substantially lower level of self-professed commitment to their faith of choice, and their rejection of the idea of responsibility for nurturing other people’s faith,” said Barna.

Lastly, Barna noted that the unchurched are very independent as the data indicated they are less likely to marry, less likely to have children (even when married) and less loyal to organizations and products.

Vivian S. Park

from http://www.christianpost.com/dbase/society/627/section/1.htm

MY COMMENTS:

The study found unchurched adults are: – In terms of theological beliefs, the unchurched adults are less likely to believe the >Bible is accurate

Lots of my friends talk about the bible but few think it is accurate.

According to the researcher George Barna, what is needed to transform the unchurched to churched is by connecting them closer to God. He said the reason >why they don’t attend church is not because they are just lazy or not informed.

Hence demands that one has to GIVE more to the church in order to receive are ludicrous! It is not the sermoan, Jesus Jingles or bible study that attracts outside people to church. It is the need to conatct God … and if they do not feel they have contacted God in your church service they leave and don’t come back. I woill go once and once only. If I’m not impressed you don’t get a second chance.

“They are wholly disinterested in church life – often passionately so,”

Yep! That’s me!!!

“Church events cannot effectively compete with what the world has to offer.

Including your music, your “bible study” (sharing of ignorance), your activities, your community!

The only thing the Church can provide that no one else has is a life-changing, >practical encounter – and on-going relationship – with the living God and with >people transformed by similar encounters.

This does not mean “inviting Jesus into your heart”. It does mean feeling a sense of God’s presence and feeling that one has encountered God within the church. I cannot feel that I have encountered God by being bored to death by a simplistic sermoan or singing crappy Jesus Jingles. These definitely turn me off church.

Until such a connection is made, focusing on features, programs and benefits other >than such a life-shaping encounter is more likely to lose ground than to gain it.”

Basically a waste of time.

Said Barna: “Millions of young adults are more interested in truth, authenticity, >experiences, relationships and spirituality

Hello! This is me too.

than they are in laws, traditions, events, disciplines, institutions and religion.

This is still how church presents itself. The laws and disciplines are man made, subjective and arbitrary. Depending on the denomination the traditions can have no meaning or content. The events are lame compared to those in the wiser community and often require one to leave one’s brain at the door. The institution sux like any bureaucracy. The religion is dead and without life.

past experiences

If one has had past bad experiences with church why would anyone in their right mind want to go back for more? Look at the way Christians treat each other on these ngs! This is a sample of church only church sins are sometimes sanctioned by the authoritarian hierarchy.

evolving lifestyles

Some people work on a Sunday. Some are shift workers. Church wants outsiders to conform to its preconceived notions instead of adapting to the needs of the people outside.

evolving …values

The values of a middle class right wing authoritarian church are not my values and do not come anywhere close to anything I cherish.

The rapidly swelling numbers of unchurched people may be forcing existing churches to reinvent their core spiritual practices while holding tightly to their core >spiritual beliefs.

While this happens in large cities where change is normal, in country towns like where I love this will take DECADES! I’ll be dead before I see any of it in my local area. By the time it is implemented it will be outdated anyway. The change is TOO SLOW and INEFFECTIVE.

It will take radically new settings and experiences to effectively introduce >unchurched individuals to biblical principles and practices.”

Radical??? The church!!! ROTFLMAO!!!! HAH!!!!

The Billy Graham crusades of yesteryear, the ol’ “4 spiritual flaws”, the “sinner’s prayer” are becoming obsolete and do nopt use the language of the people.

their rejection of the idea of responsibility for nurturing other people’s faith

If nurturing means turning people into carbon cop[ies, forget it! I don’t want to turn into a clone and I don’t want to turn other people into my clone. Church is for those interested in cloning.

the unchurched are very independent … less loyal to organizations and products.

That means LESS dependence on church for anything. Even the one benefit that church COULD provide (but doesn’t seem to provide) – the experience of God – can be found OUTSIDE the church! This also means less lotyal;ty to any particular church denomination or expression of Christianity.

Church is interested in more of the same old same old … and it’s boring!!!!

Thank God that God is not as boring!!!!