Church Attendance Is Being Affected by Increasing Knowledge
Knowledge is power but can be problamatic
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and from, and knowledge shall be increased, (Daniel 12:4) This scripture has been interpreted as meaning that as the end of time nears there will be more knowledge. Thanks to the Internet we now know things we did not before and have vast resources to research subjects. This is especially true when it comes to church and interpretation of scriptures. As older generations who faithfully attended church services pass away, they are being replaced by younger generations who do not hold to the same traditions. I grew up attending a church in the African American community, and it has been part of our lives. My great-grandmother, grandma, and mother belonged to the church, and I initially raised my children there as well. Love for the Lord and a sense of community and duty motivated members to give their time, talent, and money to keep the church going. We were taught that Hebrews 10:25 indicated that we should not forsake Sunday service and in later years in a different church, Malachai chapter 3 was emphasized as the reason to tithe. The prosperity message came along with rules and regulations that had to be followed to ensure God would bless financially and this distracted from attending service because one loved Jesus. Younger believers are becoming disillusioned with church as they know it and are searching the Internet for answers which can be both a blessing and a curse as not all information is accurate.
Organized religion under fire
We know the church is not the building but 2 or 3 or more who are gathered in his Name. There are benefits when the saints come together but lately this has been questioned. Recently Jerry Falwell Jr. gave an interview in Vanity Fair which was very revealing. He said that organized religion had done more to hurt Christianity than anything else and added that he believed Jesus died for our sins but he does not believe in "church." Talk show host Wendy Williams has said that she is a Christian but no longer goes to church because God is everywhere. The Internet is filled with articles that support Falwell and William's point of view as well as information that decries their position. The issue at hand is pastors who berate parishoners by telling them that God will not bless them unless they attend every church service and tithe and give extra offerings. For every preacher who pushes Malachai 3 there are believers who point out that 2 Corinthians 9:7 says to give as you have purposed in your heart. Those who believe in the blessing and curse of Malachai 3 choose to tithe while others give what they want because of 2 Corinthians. This is why when pastors emphasize tithing and church attendance today it does not move people as in days of old.
Many tools on the Internet
People today search the Internet for answers and when they read that you should give what you have decided on your own and find that the assembling together in Hebrews 10:25 is not about sitting in a building but about assembling with deceased believers when Christ returns there is a problem. As with all of my articles on this subject, this is not an attempt to tell anyone not to go to church or tithe. This is to give an explanation for what is currently happening. In days of old everyone assumed the pastor was educated and that he heard God and no one questioned his take on scripture. Thanks to the prosperity message people have begun questioning things because the promised money for sowing seeds and tithing has not manifested. Many of the prosperity preachers have said there would be millionaires but this has not happened. Christians have become disillusioned so that when an honest preacher mentions money they automatically shut down. Gone are the days when church members sit in pews and blindly accept anything they are being told. Research, new Bible translations, and concordances online are tools that are being used and threats are no longer working. It is true that there is a lot of false information online but when believers find the truth they walk away from absolutes they know are false.
Recommended
The spiritual movement
There is also a movement where younger individuals say they want to be spiritual and not confined to a building and rules. Some preachers teach that unless they are your spiritual covering you are open for attack from Satan but this is also being questioned by those who say they can talk to God on their own and don't need another human being to cover them. These attitudes are because, in many cases, the covering comes at a cost, and you must agree to give your tithes and offerings to the preacher who is your spiritual covering. There are also young African Americans who grew up in church but consider Jesus as a white man's God. They desire to honor their African ancestors and divulge from all things Christian. Dominating and controlling wolves in sheep's clothing is the biggest reason for so much confusion. Young people want to be spiritual without strings attached, whether you agree with them or not. The bottom line is that what worked in 1995 will not have the same influence today. Church membership is down as the generations who believed in attending a local assembly are dying and not being replaced. Some congregations have shut their doors as the next generation is not interested in following in the footsteps of their ancestors. whose blood, sweat, and tears kept the churches going and raised money for new buildings.
The Coronavirus factor
Lockdowns because of the coronavirus have kept people, especially children out of church buildings. Boys ad girls are no longer able to have Sunday school lessons that teach them about Jesus. As they get older, they are scouring the Internet and choosing whatever seems right to them, which could be a wrong path. This is why it is essential for those who shepherd His sheep to tell the truth and not exaggerate or lie. Open your eyes and pay attention because you keep people away rather than invite them in. The message of salvation through Christ never changes, and this is what needs to remain front and center. Online church services have increased; for some, it's an opportunity to give out their PayPal or Cash Ap information and extract money. Young people today are Internet savvy and can smell a con coming a mile away.. They are disillusioned, and it's time for the church to look at what can be done to save souls for Christ. The Bible says God does not dwell in temples made with human hands and no amount of emphasizing church attendance will change that for those who decide not to attend,
A side note
In days of old children were taught to attend Sunday school and church to learn about Jesus. Today adults are told they must attend services in order to receive blessings or face a curse. This change in terminology is causing many to say they don't like being threatened and feel as if their free will is being taken away.
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2022 Cheryl E Preston
