Thank you. I agree 100%. I am one of the (formerly) highly involved who has become sick of church. I am trying to hang on...but I keep thinking we should go back to house churches. And, by the way, I am using "What if Jesus Was Serious " with a group of women I'm a online study. I have been camped in The Sermon on the Mount for over a year and your book is the best study of it I have ever done. Thanks again! Grace and Peace to you.
Omg! This was so on point and well thought out. I, too, am a "seasoned" Christian who has been heavily involved in church. I loved serving. But now, I'm sick of what I'm seeing. I started a nonprofit ministry to reach youth and young adult to build community and help them understand to grow in their own personal relationship with God. And it's quite sad that when we do our outreach sessions, there is no real church to point them to in our area. Too many churches have indeed made themselves a destination that needs financial support instead of being a simple vehicle to get us to God.
I too am involved with a church and what I’m realizing lately about churches all across the globe is that if a church doesn’t find God and it makes church attendance, biblical rules, and all good works more important than finding God, this is where the issue really comes in.
Great video. I'm at the point of almost leaving the institutional church altogether because it has become a circus. The focus is NOT on Christ and the Scriptures anymore.
I stopped going because the sermons were shallow. Always at the level of the new believer. So many relationship sermons, spouse, kids, parenting, work, sex, dating etc. I was not learning more about God. In my youth, people who taught Sunday school had Bible training. Now they have growth groups led by a friend or my nextdoor neighbor. The topics have to be really elementary because the host have no biblical training. I became bored. Now I study at home with Bible materials from people who actually went to a seminary or have taught for years.
@@talicialee now we are at a Bible preaching, Christ centered church. I believe this post was reflective of a time when we couldn't find the right place. We have joined a Sovereign Grace church, which I think was the right move for us. We tried home church, but it was very unstable long term.
A lifelong Baptist, I now attend a traditional Lutheran Church. Scriptures, hymns, organ, choir, communion , the Lord’s prayer. The fundamental churches around here are rock concerts 😔
Churches became like the Titanic, and will suffer the same fate as that beautiful ship did because they would not heed the multiple warnings given to it, and were too filled with pride to consider the warnings valid.
I remember a church I was attending had so much smoke from the smoke machine on stage that the pastor had to wave it from his face and was coughing LOL..I look back and laugh now but seriously...what's with all the glam these days?
@skyejethani you miss the most important point: Tithe. Why should I give 10% of my income to the church organization when God does not require it but the church leadership insists on it? So I quit going to church and we read the Bible daily and pray and have communion as a family.
Great points!!! For these reasons, and for the simple fact that many pop "worship songs" being played as well as sermons are not Jesus centered, but me-centered. If Jesus was mentioned more than once, or if the sermon was more scripture based, then Christ's church would flock to fellowship every single week without failure. My husband and I grew up in the church, we currently are not attending Sunday services for these very reasons. But continue to study together as a family and instruct our children in God's Word faithfully and follow His guidance in our lives; loving unconditionally and sharing the peace of The Most High with those we come into contact with.
How is it that you summed up what I have been feeling for the last 8 years, formerly on staff at a church that desires so much to be a "mini mega church" (small building) in a 6 minute video that is just so well done! I am a former C&MA guy, went to Crown College in MN but am now in a Converge Seminary Transformational Leadership program, and I am hoping that we can recapture what it is that the "church" should be. Thank you for this video and all your other great content!
Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer make me want to be a Christian. When I learn about churches and why they’re becoming Philadelphia Eagles verses Chicago Bulls or restaurant headquarters or another University, it’s amazing to realize that our most important relationship is with God and his son Jesus Christ. Believe me I have felt offended and felt like I need to be forced to worship the church but it’s time to make God and his son Jesus Christ the number 1 focus. Phil and Skye are so awesome because they make me want to become Christian. Yes activities at church and religion is good ideas but let’s make God the most important focus if we want to become Christian. I love your videos Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer. Real Christians right here
I am so thankful you have put this out there and I hope it stirs up the conversation and gets the elephant in the room out in the open. I believe there are many facets to this issue, consumerism mentality being a great part of it. But the church itself I see has perpetuated the consumerism mentality, if not helped to create it, with the huge churches, bells and whistles and elaborate programs. Interesting the gospel is spreading like fire in Cuba through house churches alone with church plants by the hundreds. No church buildings...all house churches. Same in Muslim countries and China. We do not need the buildings. I think a lot of people are comfortable in a huge church...they are not known or challenged. I have always attended a small to medium church....where you knew a lot people and you were not a number. I moved to Chicago area and started attending a very well known large church with several campuses. People are disconnected. Between three services you aren't connected b/c there are different people attending each service each week, not to mention hundreds to over a thousand (some campuses) per service. People choose the service most convenient for them. The focus is on small groups and discipleship is severely lacking in practice (they believe in it....not being done b/c left up to small group and strength of leader) Elders are not available. I believe the church has the best of intentions and it is NOT all bad. But it is very broken in many ways as are most large churches. I changed to a small church. And Donald, I agree with your statement that the message "come out of her My people" re: the harlot is speaking to a church. An unfaithful church which is totally wrong with biblical doctrine or maybe has sound doctrine but not faithful to Christ. Faithful to the church, its programs and attendance, but not faithful to Jesus. Living like the world does, but attending a church. The contrast in Rev is the pure church and the unfaithful church....Israel was always called an adultress when being unfaithful to the One true God. I personally hope there is a transition back to the simple church where people come to seek God, live authentically and to be in a community of believers to serve the community. Where new believers are truly discipled into maturity and church discipline actually happens according to scripture. Nothing fancy is required. God is not impressed by our programs. And I agree...they have been done with good intention. But it does not mean they are effective. I said to some good friends just recently, who are mature godly Christ followers, that if such a high percentage of kids are leaving the church after high school or around college years then these fancy (multi million dollar in some cases) children's ministry programs are obviously not being effective. The glitz is not keeping kids in the church. If they are going to youth group to play games, eat pizza and play foosball then they are not coming to be with Jesus and grow. So when the cool youth group is over, there is no reason to come. If our kids ministires are not effective at rooting kids into their faith they are not effective period. AND...as parents we cannot entrust the kids ministry program to train up our kids. How many parents let the church do that and never teach and train in the home or model it? Kids programs should reenforce what is taught at home mainly and for the kids whose parents don't come to church then it serves as the main training. Nothing inherently wrong with games at youth group...but when hanging out and having fun is what draws them, they will not be transformed by that. Christ and the Spirit transform us through the Word. That has to the be focus. Sorry....this issue has really been on my heart for a while and it is multi faceted. and I think about the facets a lot. I just want to see""the church" be more pure and authentic where people see us and want to know more just by how we live. It is all about Jesus, the gospel and living our faith out in real life. They will know us by our love one for another....not by the biggest churches or most vocal in political issues. Ok....I'll stop. Blessings to all! Jesus is faithful and true.
As you continue to experiment with different venues for being heard among the herd, Skye, I'd encourage you to do more of these. I think you'll connect with a lot of people this way.
As you say, it goes both ways. The idea that people are finding God outside the church may be only a matter of perception for those who have redefined what they want God to be. On the other hand, so many of us even as pastors I'm sure get caught up often times in "doing a good job" with the sermon and the service and need to be reminded to let God be the center. The video was helpful, thanks.
Amen and Amen Sky! I can't help but think about how Jesus might be overturning the tables the modern-day mega-church! After All church should be about us in relationship with God resulting in how we then share him with the comunity around us by be the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and dieing world.
I left because the leaders talked about the "community of believers," but what they meant was people sitting in pews not looking at each other and not exercising their gifts for mutual edification. Instead, community meant listening to a sermon from the same man over and over again. The early church was like an extended family. It was very decentralized. All members participated and would eat a fellowship meal together. The modern church, by contrast, discourages fellowship and consists of a humdrum lecture.
Hello I have been listening to a couple of podcasts by frank VIOLA, one called CHRIST IS ALL PODCAST an another called the INSURGENCE the gospel of the kingdom of GOD. They both are filled with the RICHES of knowing JESUS CHRIST. In the last 4 or 5 years I have went from religious to knowing JESUS. I encourage u too check these podcasts out ,u might be able to glean much from them. Either way I agree with uy comments GOD BLESS YOU
I agree. I’m close to god and He has opened my eyes to the truth and shown me the deceit in the churches today. I leave my church for not preaching the word of God correctly.
How funny this was 7 years ago. That’s about how long I’ve been struggling to pin down this very concern (which is odd because that 7 years include my credentialing process in my denomination and almost my whole seminary journey).
I really loved this. Hit a little too close to home, though lol. I really hope you continue to make more- I always appreciate your thoughtful words on Christian culture! :)
Thanks Skye for talking about a subject no one knows how to deal with it or take responsibility for it. Keep talking and writing about the Christian church and culture. I agree that the church is the mega cruise ship.
There is also the MESSAGE given out at churches. I don't hear the cross, the blood or anything with any meat on the bones - just bones. That is why I quit looking for the God of the Bible at institutional churches, He had left before me.
I left the church after 29yrs. I was crazy to stay as long as I did. My faith is as strong plus your more open to be watchers. A lot is happening. I'm much more settled now. The church has become the world.
A short video that explains, even to myself, why I stopped church activities many years ago. I didn't stop loving, honoring, worshipping and fearing God - I was just done with the churching. Thank you!
I miss church, I'm not sick of it. I don't know if church attendance, at least consistent attendance, is the measuring stick. It matters to pastors trying to make a name for themselves but not to the members.
The reason for my first visit to a church following my salvation was to find others to whom this had happened and to share experiences, to grow in knowledge of Him, and to have corporate worship (not necessarily singing) of the God who had saved us. I continued going to church and later got involved in ministry for the same reason. Over the years, I became increasingly disillusioned by unseemly divisions, petty arguments, hyper partisan political discussions and a “social club like atmosphere”. I saw less of the excitement of being born again and knowing God in Christ Jesus, and more excitement around being part of a “club”. I’m disappointed with how I’ve personally navigated my walk of faith and my fellowship with the Saints of God.
I’ve been in church all of my life and there’s something I’ve been realizing recently about churches even the popular churches is the biggest issue which I love what Skye said right here with why people are tired of churches is they act just like the world and I can’t mention which churches do that because I don’t want to offend any of my Christian brothers and sisters but I’m starting to feel the same way. People in the church act like the world and they just become another place that has to seem important and we also are supposed to be finding God but instead we’re finding a place that spends a majority of the time complaining about same-sex marriage issues, science, etc which don’t get me wrong I believe the Bible is the truth but seriously why can’t God be the most important. I’m becoming the same way about the church which I’m about to have enough because I get tired of people representing Christianity like a cult or a University. Nevertheless my focus will always be on God no matter what but it’ll depend where I’ll go when that time comes.
Skye, doesn’t God dwell with in believers? So can’t He be found where His people are gathered together? So if a group of believers goes bowling, wouldn’t God be there also? Don’t we meet God and grow in our faith through time spent together? People looking to get in and out of church, never interacting with fellow Christians, aren’t they the ones missing the boat? A small church community focused on mission seems like a place to meet God. Thank you for this interesting discussion.
Woa to them who go into Egypt for help. We are the church of the living God. And it is time to recognize that Christ is you, and stop looking for him to fall from the sky like manna from heaven.
This is so awesome because it's true. I'm battling giving up on church. I've been at 7 churches in 5 years. People seem to be the focus and not God. Frustrated.
Brother I to am frustrated, I know now that the church is the believers in the LORD JESUS, so I'm even having a tough time answering the question, where do u go to church Jeff? Bc I am the church wherever I go. I've been revived to be revival lol. Anyways in my perplexed state I have been led to a few authors. Frank VIOLA who has a few podcast on u tube, HE has written many books an coauthored in several others FRANK has a podcast called CHRIST IS ALL AN another called the insurgence by frank VIOLA, I believe the LORD has an is leading me in this direction. I know I have been brought into a closer relationship with JESUS CHRIST in the last few years verses 20 years of mostly religious duty an knowing about JESUS CHRIST. I am unlearned to relearn how to know HIM. Anyway for someone who knows there is more an its IN KNOWING JESUS CHRIST. GOD BLESS U ,I encourage u too give those podcast a listen too
Like another UA-camr stated, the Messiah preached the Gospel for only three years because there's only a limited number of ways that you can preach the Gospel of Salvation. Everything preached in the modern institutional church has been rehashed tens of thousands of times, not to mention all the nonbiblical false doctrines that are being taught. I officially left the institutional church once and for all in 2011. And the irony is, that since I left, I've become much closer to God than I ever did when I was a member. Needless to say, going back isn't even an option.
It's true! Often it seems there's not a lot of deep theological teaching/learning going on. People could attend for 20 years, still be so lost, having learned hardly anything, just attending as a social gathering, paying tithes, enjoying the band, snacks, beverages, etc., but not being spiritually fed, not growing their own close relationship with God.
When I was a boy we visited Riverside Church in NYC, bastion of the East Coast Mainline. My father knew some staff there. Do you know what they had in the bowels of Riverside Church? A bowling alley. :)
I'm tired of church because every topic is about MONEY or around MONEY!!! SO SICK. What happened to the cross, the resurrection? The true message of the gospel. I'll never stop believing but it's safe to say .. ya we got a problem! I'm in finance as an occupation, I don't need to hear that every week.
Appreciate the video Skye. That is a great picture of what has happened. What does this mean according to Scripture. Is God calling His to come out of her, referring to the harlot Babylon? I'm speaking of the church system, or the cruise ship, not the people on board. Romans 2:17-24 is why I would believe this to be true. The world sees the church as hypocritical people. Why? They all see people who go to church but break the laws of God. They see people who claim to know Jesus and claim to know the Bible. So as the world sees these people, so they see the church. Because of this, the world, the ones who want Truth, will not look in Scripture to find it. I would like to know your thoughts on this. I want to see people believing that God is found in Scripture and in their own hearts. The church was never meant to be a place to find God, but a place for the Bride to encourage each other. The 2 are hand in hand, but God always teaches in our hearts, through the Scripture, by His Holy Spirit, no matter where we are.
Excellent video my friend. I would agree with you totally. The church has been much more influenced by the world and its ways, and has had very little influence on the world. This is very sad. I am like you. I live in the Bible belt, yet it is very hard to find a good solid traditional church. I tend to call the modern churches CEC. Christian Entertainment Center. Jesus said my house shall be a house of prayer, not entertainment. But we live in the entertainment age.
In an effort to be “relevant”, we have mixed the sacred with the profane and come up short of the power of simple communion with God. People can get entertainment anywhere… They have often never experienced what is sacred and that can have a very powerful influence on peoples lives.
Hey Sky, who told you that you had to enter a church building to find God? What saith the scripture? "the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet" Acts 7:48 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: Acts 17:27
How much of this falls under the category of "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism"? I have really been searching for the answer to the question, "where are the lines or boundaries of reasonable faith?" I am all about singing a new song and using pieces of a culture to reach a culture, but how far can we go or should we? Do "MegaChurches" push past the limits? Are we experiencing a great falling away? Are Mega Churches the apostate church that will birth the falling away? I would love to do an interview with you. Adam Young
Interestingly, a ton of traditional church architecture (not so much Baptist and modern Evangelical) stems from ship architecture. My current church has some of those elements. So that analogy has literally been built into churches for centuries.
If you leave the organized church, the pastor will say, “he was anti authority and had commitment issues. He’s a Lone Ranger and is now out among the wolves...” Lol. 👍🏼
Jonathan Grandt Exactly what happened to us. We were also called “immature” Christians, when, in fact, the pastor was just a glutton for attention and didn’t want anyone to call him out. We’re now established in a very small little country church where the Pastor actually studies the Bible!! What a novel idea.
hmmm what about also helping them turn to community with one-another, and truly live out the one-another passages? I feel churches shouldn't JUST be focused on helping us connect with God, but truly connect with one another (" they will know you are disciples by your love for one another..."
I don't like the familly emphasis. Famillies tend to be controlling and introverted. I am looking for a community church where I can gather together socially. I need to share with others not listen to some one up front telling me what to think. I meet with God 24/7 wherever I am. Why wait for Sunday.
The problem is you believe today's churches are the real church. Most christians have never experienced real church. Where "ALL" get to take part. All get to share their stories, all get to sing their songs, all get to share their prophesy. In this all are being guided by the Holy Spirit and being influenced personally by Christ in their lives. It's not a shock to hear that the people that are hunger for God leave and those that aren't stay. Today's institutional churches seem to work for spectators but are not very fulfilling for those who wish to participate with Jesus all, all and all the time. In todays single clergy churches people are starving for attention and interaction with Jesus. The problem is most preachers hate attention sharing. If you left your institutional church please read Frank Viola book reimagining church. God bless!
Very good, this is who the LORD has led me too. I have read quite a few of Frank's books, the master classes are amazing, I am praying that the LORD will bring me into a body of believers who desire to know JESUS AND desire to live in the centrality of HIS BEATING HEART,which I believe is his true purpose. I think that is another reason people are coming out of the organized system. Anyway I'm from OHIO,GOD BLESS U AN YOUR FAMILY
Yes some very good insights, what about those who gave up every thing to be totally committed to church, only to find it became a private club of leaders who totally ignored any one capable of ministry , seeing them as a threat to their own position, playing the authority card just like the world does, no sense of the body of christ were we all have a part in him, and cannot function without each other, just a select few dominating and controlling the show, well we can see through it and were fed up of wasting our lives on them, add to that all the false teaching, and falling away from the true word.......etc....etc....
I liked this. But I think there was a flaw in thinking. The fact that more people are flocking to megachurches would indicate that the 'destination' mindset is actually working. We are reaching a tipping point where the Megachurches that are thriving will continue to do well. And the churches that haven't made it to a thriving destination size might suffer the fate of many smaller unsustainable churches.
Hi Scott, that's a good point, but megachurches "working" and "continuing to do well" are relative. To continue with the video's metaphor, the cruise ship mentality keeps us going in circles, and it is more concerned about our entertainment than spiritual growth. I have been to a cruise ship church and was heavily involved in it. Most of these cruise ship churches are not preaching the full gospel because that would ruin the fun. The cross, the blood of Christ, doctrine, etc. are not flashy enough to keep the cruisers' attention. These churches are many times very careful to coddle those in attendance in order to keep the programs and the money flowing. So, the question is not really, "Is this working (increasing attendance)?" but, it should be "Is this following Scripture and Christ's example and teaching?"
The point that Skye is trying to make in this video is not that the megachurch destination ploy isn't working, but that it's working for the wrong reason. Going to church isn't about meeting with God in a community of like minded believers as much as it is a social club with tons of amenities. I also think the facts are in clear opposition with statistical facts. The rapid megachurch expansion isn't sustainable. The number of megachurches have increased drastically, but the total number of churches are plummeting, and church attendance overall is slowly but steadily declining. For these reasons I believe there is a megachurch bubble.
NO NO .....When we put all our faith and trust in Christ then we come to know what the true church is. The building is not where the true God dwells, He dwells in the heart of the true believers. The building is where the devil and his followers dwell. The building is where the flesh is not the spirit. Stay away from the building or you will be told that you are not known. Jesus Christ will say be gone for I don’t know you. The word of Christ...... “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
The spirit of Christ Jesus told me that He does not dwell in buildings, He wants to dwell in my heart. Do you not know that your body is the temple? My Father the creator of all things seen and unseen is at no time to be compared with the world.... “And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matthew 21:13 KJV “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.” Psalms 69:9 KJV Jesus Christ is the church and only Him
You are almost there... It's fine for churches to be like a cruise ship until they stop being the church. When churches began supporting the sins of their members instead of showing them how to repent, turn from their sin & have a personal relationship with Christ, they also began inviting Christians with traditional Biblical beliefs to leave! It is almost impossible to choose a "cruise line" these days. Their labels mean nothing, so cannot be trusted to teach truth to those I love. I can find ways to fellowship & study the Bible with like-minded believers in my community outside the physical church. I can be disliked for my faith anywhere these days & I don't need to deal with that IN the church!
The falling away is not leaving the church but falling out of Christ into the antichrist spirit movement from the inter man the heart. U can remain in the church and yet is a falling away... dont be fooled.. ur leader ur God is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the good shepherd look to him. The one who comes in another way is a thief and a robber.... know who u love today Him Christ the Lord or the church
When you realize that we ARE the church, you start to wonder why you scramble to get to a building every Sunday morning where everyone puts on a persona and pretends. Where’s the friendship, accountability, discipleship and people using their spiritual gifts? It’s not in the American church.
In the time of COVID cruise ships and churches are BOTH in trouble! 😄😄 Personally I'm not going to do either! I can meet God at home...& Cruising I did in the 2000's
Church sucks. I have to get up early on my day off, dress nice, smile and act like I got my life together, sing stupid songs, feel guilted into giving them my hard earned money, and sit through a boring motivational talk and get nothing out of it. They always try to come up with ways to be relevant and do a "new thing" (cue Nehemiah 1 sermon!). But it's the "Christian thing to do" and my wife, family, and friends will think I'm an unbeliever if I stop going.
If you love God you will leave the building and become the church outside the church once you recieve the baptism of the holy spirit you DON'T need man to teach you & let the spirit teach & lead you....All ages are leaving its called the great falling away its going to happen
I agree with the video but also think that it’s hard for members to watch their hard earned money subsidize extravagant lifestyles of head pastors. There are so many issues with the Church today. Sadly, This video is just the tip of the iceberg.
The church isn’t the church; it’s that simple. Try Orthodoxy. As someone who searched actively for 17 years for something that was as beautiful as Jesus, but who was unable, I testify that ONE attendance of Divine Liturgy was enough to sate my starving soul.
When you go to a place that is so divided, compromising, hypocritical, favoritisms, and conflict, you just want out. When people talk but dont walk the talk you take a walk right out the door. No more. Jesus is outside the church nowadays. The church is for believers to be encouraged and grow. Not to entertain the world. :(
So close but yet so far...I stopped going to church because it has a huge problem with depression which no one seems to address. The Church's "business model" is to use the constant reminder of sin nature to fuel the individual's need to attend and give through money or skills or time, and there is always some sort of sin that needs to be addressed, everything from an addiction to just negative emotions. Meanwhile, the Church tells people that everything good in life comes from God, not from good choices that individuals make. Hence, varying levels of depression that I have seen in countless believers, including myself. Also, the Church has become a literal sanctuary from the troubles of the world where believers simply escape their worldly problems instead of learning and maturing. The Church is also stuck in the past, trying constantly to either slow down any kind of change that reflects the rest of the world or trying to return to the "wonder years" outright.
There is also a problem with the number of churches that are available. Not too long ago--and especially in New Testament times--if you went to church, there were very few churches to choose from, so people who attended church had to learn how to adapt to viewpoints other than their own and mature through that social dynamic. Now, if you don't like what someone in a church community does or says, then you can simply go to another church down the street, which means that people now congregate only with like-minded individuals, which means that churches have become sociopolitical echo chambers. Throw social media into that mix, and you get a swirling vortex of negative perceptions about anything outside of an individual's sanctuary.
So, we go back to being the way the church was pre-1960? I thought you started the video by saying people stopped going to that type of church? Near the end, you mention a study that states people went to church "to be close to God". I think that hints at the root cause. As a believer, you are the temple of God! And the church is not a building and therefore you will not find God in a building! He lives in the heart of the believer. That is where you find him. What is the church then, if its not a building? The church is fellow believers. Do you want to experience the power of God? Repent, turn to Jesus. Read the Bible and do what it says. You will experience first hand what the power of God can do in your life. And yes, the Bible does tell you to get together with fellow believers (the church) and doing that in a building makes a lot of sense just don't get the two confused.
You miss the point. True Believers leave the church because they are looking for Ya, but HE is not in the pagan roman circus nor the protestant carnival. The saints of old spoke ancient Hebrew and obeyed YaSha (Jesus) and the FATHERS' COMMANDS. Not saul/paul/baal. We have inherited lies, and that's exactly what rome intended. Loose the last 26 roman books and everything starts to make sense. YaSha YaRaYa!!!
I left the church because of availability of information in this internet age. It was triggered by revisiting the big questions and so i did a study for 4 years comparing facts of mainstream science and history vs the bible, and also including the roots of judaism and history of the bible itself (how the bible was written). After 4 years of my study (and continuing), i was comfortable enough to have become an Agnostic/Atheist. On hindsight if i look at story of Adam and Eve, talking snake, talking donkey, Noah"s flood and Babel tower, i could not believe i was made to believe those stories from childhood that claimed to be history but they are more equivalent to fables and fairy tales. I am now more fascinated by methodologies of science which is more within grasp to validate objective reality. As i learn more of the basics of evolution and also as i read more on mainstream history, christianity is just an ancient way of knowing things, it is more of a superstition.
there are religions all over the world. whether it's islam, christinity, catholicism, judaism, etc etc. you know the reason i stopped going to church was after I read the bible and was amazed too see that I was the only one who actually read it.
The problem here it is that this guy, as many other pastors and church leaders can't accept the idea that diversity is the most important factor in God's plan. I'm pretty sure He is laughing at all this conspiracy kind of arguments against megachurches, cool new churches or whatever. God will use all kind of churches to get all kind of people. It doesn't matter if the church is big or small, if it gets people in, it will make God's work. All these pastors and over jealous kind of pharisees members whinning about mega and cool churches should dedicter their efforts to preach the gospel in the way they feel God called them to do it. Preach and save more people. Forget about what other are doing.
Thank you. I agree 100%. I am one of the (formerly) highly involved who has become sick of church. I am trying to hang on...but I keep thinking we should go back to house churches. And, by the way, I am using "What if Jesus Was Serious " with a group of women I'm a online study. I have been camped in The Sermon on the Mount for over a year and your book is the best study of it I have ever done. Thanks again! Grace and Peace to you.
“Maybe people aren’t giving up on the church because they have moved away from God, maybe it’s because the church has.”🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Omg! This was so on point and well thought out. I, too, am a "seasoned" Christian who has been heavily involved in church. I loved serving. But now, I'm sick of what I'm seeing. I started a nonprofit ministry to reach youth and young adult to build community and help them understand to grow in their own personal relationship with God. And it's quite sad that when we do our outreach sessions, there is no real church to point them to in our area. Too many churches have indeed made themselves a destination that needs financial support instead of being a simple vehicle to get us to God.
Good work you are doing for the Lord. You are putting your faith in action. God bless you
I too am involved with a church and what I’m realizing lately about churches all across the globe is that if a church doesn’t find God and it makes church attendance, biblical rules, and all good works more important than finding God, this is where the issue really comes in.
Great video. I'm at the point of almost leaving the institutional church altogether because it has become a circus. The focus is NOT on Christ and the Scriptures anymore.
i left last year
I stopped going because the sermons were shallow. Always at the level of the new believer. So many relationship sermons, spouse, kids, parenting, work, sex, dating etc. I was not learning more about God. In my youth, people who taught Sunday school had Bible training. Now they have growth groups led by a friend or my nextdoor neighbor. The topics have to be really elementary because the host have no biblical training. I became bored. Now I study at home with Bible materials from people who actually went to a seminary or have taught for years.
@promomail1768
What Bible materials do you use?
@@talicialee now we are at a Bible preaching, Christ centered church. I believe this post was reflective of a time when we couldn't find the right place. We have joined a Sovereign Grace church, which I think was the right move for us. We tried home church, but it was very unstable long term.
A lifelong Baptist, I now attend a traditional Lutheran Church. Scriptures, hymns, organ, choir, communion , the Lord’s prayer. The fundamental churches around here are rock concerts 😔
Thank you Skye Jethani for digging deeper and for not assuming the simple answers that some do !!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Man, this was really great!
The Church has lost its saltiness.
Churches became like the Titanic, and will suffer the same fate as that beautiful ship did because they would not heed the multiple warnings given to it, and were too filled with pride to consider the warnings valid.
I remember a church I was attending had so much smoke from the smoke machine on stage that the pastor had to wave it from his face and was coughing LOL..I look back and laugh now but seriously...what's with all the glam these days?
@skyejethani you miss the most important point: Tithe. Why should I give 10% of my income to the church organization when God does not require it but the church leadership insists on it? So I quit going to church and we read the Bible daily and pray and have communion as a family.
Great points!!! For these reasons, and for the simple fact that many pop "worship songs" being played as well as sermons are not Jesus centered, but me-centered. If Jesus was mentioned more than once, or if the sermon was more scripture based, then Christ's church would flock to fellowship every single week without failure. My husband and I grew up in the church, we currently are not attending Sunday services for these very reasons. But continue to study together as a family and instruct our children in God's Word faithfully and follow His guidance in our lives; loving unconditionally and sharing the peace of The Most High with those we come into contact with.
My husband, two little ones and myself are doing the same, for the same reasons 🙏🏼
How is it that you summed up what I have been feeling for the last 8 years, formerly on staff at a church that desires so much to be a "mini mega church" (small building) in a 6 minute video that is just so well done!
I am a former C&MA guy, went to Crown College in MN but am now in a Converge Seminary Transformational Leadership program, and I am hoping that we can recapture what it is that the "church" should be.
Thank you for this video and all your other great content!
Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer make me want to be a Christian. When I learn about churches and why they’re becoming Philadelphia Eagles verses Chicago Bulls or restaurant headquarters or another University, it’s amazing to realize that our most important relationship is with God and his son Jesus Christ. Believe me I have felt offended and felt like I need to be forced to worship the church but it’s time to make God and his son Jesus Christ the number 1 focus. Phil and Skye are so awesome because they make me want to become Christian. Yes activities at church and religion is good ideas but let’s make God the most important focus if we want to become Christian. I love your videos Skye Jethani and Phil Vischer. Real Christians right here
I am so thankful you have put this out there and I hope it stirs up the conversation and gets the elephant in the room out in the open. I believe there are many facets to this issue, consumerism mentality being a great part of it. But the church itself I see has perpetuated the consumerism mentality, if not helped to create it, with the huge churches, bells and whistles and elaborate programs. Interesting the gospel is spreading like fire in Cuba through house churches alone with church plants by the hundreds. No church buildings...all house churches. Same in Muslim countries and China. We do not need the buildings. I think a lot of people are comfortable in a huge church...they are not known or challenged. I have always attended a small to medium church....where you knew a lot people and you were not a number. I moved to Chicago area and started attending a very well known large church with several campuses. People are disconnected. Between three services you aren't connected b/c there are different people attending each service each week, not to mention hundreds to over a thousand (some campuses) per service. People choose the service most convenient for them. The focus is on small groups and discipleship is severely lacking in practice (they believe in it....not being done b/c left up to small group and strength of leader) Elders are not available. I believe the church has the best of intentions and it is NOT all bad. But it is very broken in many ways as are most large churches. I changed to a small church.
And Donald, I agree with your statement that the message "come out of her My people" re: the harlot is speaking to a church. An unfaithful church which is totally wrong with biblical doctrine or maybe has sound doctrine but not faithful to Christ. Faithful to the church, its programs and attendance, but not faithful to Jesus. Living like the world does, but attending a church. The contrast in Rev is the pure church and the unfaithful church....Israel was always called an adultress when being unfaithful to the One true God.
I personally hope there is a transition back to the simple church where people come to seek God, live authentically and to be in a community of believers to serve the community. Where new believers are truly discipled into maturity and church discipline actually happens according to scripture. Nothing fancy is required. God is not impressed by our programs. And I agree...they have been done with good intention. But it does not mean they are effective.
I said to some good friends just recently, who are mature godly Christ followers, that if such a high percentage of kids are leaving the church after high school or around college years then these fancy (multi million dollar in some cases) children's ministry programs are obviously not being effective. The glitz is not keeping kids in the church. If they are going to youth group to play games, eat pizza and play foosball then they are not coming to be with Jesus and grow. So when the cool youth group is over, there is no reason to come. If our kids ministires are not effective at rooting kids into their faith they are not effective period. AND...as parents we cannot entrust the kids ministry program to train up our kids. How many parents let the church do that and never teach and train in the home or model it? Kids programs should reenforce what is taught at home mainly and for the kids whose parents don't come to church then it serves as the main training. Nothing inherently wrong with games at youth group...but when hanging out and having fun is what draws them, they will not be transformed by that. Christ and the Spirit transform us through the Word. That has to the be focus.
Sorry....this issue has really been on my heart for a while and it is multi faceted. and I think about the facets a lot. I just want to see""the church" be more pure and authentic where people see us and want to know more just by how we live. It is all about Jesus, the gospel and living our faith out in real life. They will know us by our love one for another....not by the biggest churches or most vocal in political issues.
Ok....I'll stop. Blessings to all! Jesus is faithful and true.
As you continue to experiment with different venues for being heard among the herd, Skye, I'd encourage you to do more of these. I think you'll connect with a lot of people this way.
Please keep your videos coming. You have a way of putting things in perspective.
As you say, it goes both ways. The idea that people are finding God outside the church may be only a matter of perception for those who have redefined what they want God to be. On the other hand, so many of us even as pastors I'm sure get caught up often times in "doing a good job" with the sermon and the service and need to be reminded to let God be the center. The video was helpful, thanks.
Interesting analogy - cruising ships and ocean liners. We need spiritual value, not all the things money can buy.
Wow this is eye opening
EXCELLENT explanation! Thank you Brother for shedding a new light on this perplexing phenomena.
I loved this, it was so interesting!
Thank you for summing up my exact experience and feelings!
Wow ! He knocked it out of the park !!!
Amen and Amen Sky! I can't help but think about how Jesus might be overturning the tables the modern-day mega-church! After All church should be about us in relationship with God resulting in how we then share him with the comunity around us by be the hands and feet of Jesus to a lost and dieing world.
Hey Skye! This was awesome. I've been sharing this with a lot of friends and family. I hope you continue to make more videos like this.
I left because the leaders talked about the "community of believers," but what they meant was people sitting in pews not looking at each other and not exercising their gifts for mutual edification. Instead, community meant listening to a sermon from the same man over and over again. The early church was like an extended family. It was very decentralized. All members participated and would eat a fellowship meal together. The modern church, by contrast, discourages fellowship and consists of a humdrum lecture.
Hello I have been listening to a couple of podcasts by frank VIOLA, one called CHRIST IS ALL PODCAST an another called the INSURGENCE the gospel of the kingdom of GOD. They both are filled with the RICHES of knowing JESUS CHRIST. In the last 4 or 5 years I have went from religious to knowing JESUS. I encourage u too check these podcasts out ,u might be able to glean much from them. Either way I agree with uy comments GOD BLESS YOU
I agree. I’m close to god and He has opened my eyes to the truth and shown me the deceit in the churches today. I leave my church for not preaching the word of God correctly.
How funny this was 7 years ago. That’s about how long I’ve been struggling to pin down this very concern (which is odd because that 7 years include my credentialing process in my denomination and almost my whole seminary journey).
I really loved this. Hit a little too close to home, though lol. I really hope you continue to make more- I always appreciate your thoughtful words on Christian culture! :)
Thanks Skye for talking about a subject no one knows how to deal with it or take responsibility for it. Keep talking and writing about the Christian church and culture. I agree that the church is the mega cruise ship.
There is also the MESSAGE given out at churches. I don't hear the cross, the blood or anything with any meat on the bones - just bones. That is why I quit looking for the God of the Bible at institutional churches, He had left before me.
Rory Wynhoff ; Amen!
I left the church after 29yrs. I was crazy to stay as long as I did. My faith is as strong plus your more open to be watchers. A lot is happening. I'm much more settled now. The church has become the world.
A short video that explains, even to myself, why I stopped church activities many years ago. I didn't stop loving, honoring, worshipping and fearing God - I was just done with the churching. Thank you!
Still going to quit church
I miss church, I'm not sick of it. I don't know if church attendance, at least consistent attendance, is the measuring stick. It matters to pastors trying to make a name for themselves but not to the members.
The reason for my first visit to a church following my salvation was to find others to whom this had happened and to share experiences, to grow in knowledge of Him, and to have corporate worship (not necessarily singing) of the God who had saved us. I continued going to church and later got involved in ministry for the same reason.
Over the years, I became increasingly disillusioned by unseemly divisions, petty arguments, hyper partisan political discussions and a “social club like atmosphere”. I saw less of the excitement of being born again and knowing God in Christ Jesus, and more excitement around being part of a “club”.
I’m disappointed with how I’ve personally navigated my walk of faith and my fellowship with the Saints of God.
I’ve been in church all of my life and there’s something I’ve been realizing recently about churches even the popular churches is the biggest issue which I love what Skye said right here with why people are tired of churches is they act just like the world and I can’t mention which churches do that because I don’t want to offend any of my Christian brothers and sisters but I’m starting to feel the same way. People in the church act like the world and they just become another place that has to seem important and we also are supposed to be finding God but instead we’re finding a place that spends a majority of the time complaining about same-sex marriage issues, science, etc which don’t get me wrong I believe the Bible is the truth but seriously why can’t God be the most important. I’m becoming the same way about the church which I’m about to have enough because I get tired of people representing Christianity like a cult or a University. Nevertheless my focus will always be on God no matter what but it’ll depend where I’ll go when that time comes.
Skye, doesn’t God dwell with in believers? So can’t He be found where His people are gathered together? So if a group of believers goes bowling, wouldn’t God be there also? Don’t we meet God and grow in our faith through time spent together? People looking to get in and out of church, never interacting with fellow Christians, aren’t they the ones missing the boat? A small church community focused on mission seems like a place to meet God. Thank you for this interesting discussion.
Woa to them who go into Egypt for help. We are the church of the living God. And it is time to recognize that Christ is you, and stop looking for him to fall from the sky like manna from heaven.
This is so awesome because it's true. I'm battling giving up on church. I've been at 7 churches in 5 years. People seem to be the focus and not God. Frustrated.
Brother I to am frustrated, I know now that the church is the believers in the LORD JESUS, so I'm even having a tough time answering the question, where do u go to church Jeff? Bc I am the church wherever I go. I've been revived to be revival lol. Anyways in my perplexed state I have been led to a few authors. Frank VIOLA who has a few podcast on u tube, HE has written many books an coauthored in several others FRANK has a podcast called CHRIST IS ALL AN another called the insurgence by frank VIOLA, I believe the LORD has an is leading me in this direction. I know I have been brought into a closer relationship with JESUS CHRIST in the last few years verses 20 years of mostly religious duty an knowing about JESUS CHRIST. I am unlearned to relearn how to know HIM. Anyway for someone who knows there is more an its IN KNOWING JESUS CHRIST. GOD BLESS U ,I encourage u too give those podcast a listen too
Pastor vincent spann from miami is the reason i walked away
Like another UA-camr stated, the Messiah preached the Gospel for only three years because there's only a limited number of ways that you can preach the Gospel of Salvation. Everything preached in the modern institutional church has been rehashed tens of thousands of times, not to mention all the nonbiblical false doctrines that are being taught. I officially left the institutional church once and for all in 2011. And the irony is, that since I left, I've become much closer to God than I ever did when I was a member. Needless to say, going back isn't even an option.
Good Stuff!
It's true! Often it seems there's not a lot of deep theological teaching/learning going on. People could attend for 20 years, still be so lost, having learned hardly anything, just attending as a social gathering, paying tithes, enjoying the band, snacks, beverages, etc., but not being spiritually fed, not growing their own close relationship with God.
Thank you for sharing this message. Another great book to read: Bad Religion, How We Became a Nation of Heretics by Ross Douthat.
When I was a boy we visited Riverside Church in NYC, bastion of the East Coast Mainline. My father knew some staff there. Do you know what they had in the bowels of Riverside Church? A bowling alley. :)
I'm tired of church because every topic is about MONEY or around MONEY!!! SO SICK. What happened to the cross, the resurrection? The true message of the gospel. I'll never stop believing but it's safe to say .. ya we got a problem! I'm in finance as an occupation, I don't need to hear that every week.
I’ll take the demise of cruise ship industry as a prophetic picture of hope for the church then!! ⚓️
Appreciate the video Skye. That is a great picture of what has happened. What does this mean according to Scripture. Is God calling His to come out of her, referring to the harlot Babylon? I'm speaking of the church system, or the cruise ship, not the people on board. Romans 2:17-24 is why I would believe this to be true. The world sees the church as hypocritical people. Why? They all see people who go to church but break the laws of God. They see people who claim to know Jesus and claim to know the Bible. So as the world sees these people, so they see the church. Because of this, the world, the ones who want Truth, will not look in Scripture to find it. I would like to know your thoughts on this. I want to see people believing that God is found in Scripture and in their own hearts. The church was never meant to be a place to find God, but a place for the Bride to encourage each other. The 2 are hand in hand, but God always teaches in our hearts, through the Scripture, by His Holy Spirit, no matter where we are.
Excellent video my friend. I would agree with you totally. The church has been much more influenced by the world and its ways, and has had very little influence on the world. This is very sad. I am like you. I live in the Bible belt, yet it is very hard to find a good solid traditional church. I tend to call the modern churches CEC. Christian Entertainment Center. Jesus said my house shall be a house of prayer, not entertainment. But we live in the entertainment age.
In an effort to be “relevant”, we have mixed the sacred with the profane and come up short of the power of simple communion with God. People can get entertainment anywhere… They have often never experienced what is sacred and that can have a very powerful influence on peoples lives.
Hey Sky, who told you that you had to enter a church building to find God? What saith the scripture?
"the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet" Acts 7:48
That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not
far from every one of us: Acts 17:27
How much of this falls under the category of "Moralistic Therapeutic Deism"? I have really been searching for the answer to the question, "where are the lines or boundaries of reasonable faith?" I am all about singing a new song and using pieces of a culture to reach a culture, but how far can we go or should we? Do "MegaChurches" push past the limits? Are we experiencing a great falling away? Are Mega Churches the apostate church that will birth the falling away? I would love to do an interview with you. Adam Young
Interestingly, a ton of traditional church architecture (not so much Baptist and modern Evangelical) stems from ship architecture. My current church has some of those elements. So that analogy has literally been built into churches for centuries.
If you leave the organized church, the pastor will say, “he was anti authority and had commitment issues. He’s a Lone Ranger and is now out among the wolves...”
Lol. 👍🏼
Jonathan Grandt Exactly what happened to us. We were also called “immature” Christians, when, in fact, the pastor was just a glutton for attention and didn’t want anyone to call him out. We’re now established in a very small little country church where the Pastor actually studies the Bible!! What a novel idea.
I got told i'm outside covering..................................
absolutely right
Let us not worry what they say, let us examine ourselves and know that we are in Christ and Christ in us
do you have an email brother
hmmm what about also helping them turn to community with one-another, and truly live out the one-another passages? I feel churches shouldn't JUST be focused on helping us connect with God, but truly connect with one another ("
they will know you are disciples by your love for one another..."
I don't like the familly emphasis. Famillies tend to be controlling and introverted. I am looking for a community church where I can gather together socially. I need to share with others not listen to some one up front telling me what to think. I meet with God 24/7 wherever I am. Why wait for Sunday.
Ian Burnside
Amen brother Ian. You said it perfectly
I'm 60 y o and never liked going to church. As a kid I would do anything to keep from going. I saw the bs even then. It's pure nonsensical.
The problem is you believe today's churches are the real church. Most christians have never experienced real church. Where "ALL" get to take part. All get to share their stories, all get to sing their songs, all get to share their prophesy. In this all are being guided by the Holy Spirit and being influenced personally by Christ in their lives. It's not a shock to hear that the people that are hunger for God leave and those that aren't stay. Today's institutional churches seem to work for spectators but are not very fulfilling for those who wish to participate with Jesus all, all and all the time. In todays single clergy churches people are starving for attention and interaction with Jesus. The problem is most preachers hate attention sharing. If you left your institutional church please read Frank Viola book reimagining church.
God bless!
Very good, this is who the LORD has led me too. I have read quite a few of Frank's books, the master classes are amazing, I am praying that the LORD will bring me into a body of believers who desire to know JESUS AND desire to live in the centrality of HIS BEATING HEART,which I believe is his true purpose. I think that is another reason people are coming out of the organized system. Anyway I'm from OHIO,GOD BLESS U AN YOUR FAMILY
Yes some very good insights, what about those who gave up every thing to be totally committed to church, only to find it became a private club of leaders who totally ignored any one capable of ministry , seeing them as a threat to their own position, playing the authority card just like the world does, no sense of the body of christ were we all have a part in him, and cannot function without each other, just a select few dominating and controlling the show, well we can see through it and were fed up of wasting our lives on them, add to that all the false teaching, and falling away from the true word.......etc....etc....
Oh yeah, Add Romans 10:14 as well.
I liked this. But I think there was a flaw in thinking. The fact that more people are flocking to megachurches would indicate that the 'destination' mindset is actually working. We are reaching a tipping point where the Megachurches that are thriving will continue to do well. And the churches that haven't made it to a thriving destination size might suffer the fate of many smaller unsustainable churches.
Hi Scott, that's a good point, but megachurches "working" and "continuing to do well" are relative. To continue with the video's metaphor, the cruise ship mentality keeps us going in circles, and it is more concerned about our entertainment than spiritual growth. I have been to a cruise ship church and was heavily involved in it. Most of these cruise ship churches are not preaching the full gospel because that would ruin the fun. The cross, the blood of Christ, doctrine, etc. are not flashy enough to keep the cruisers' attention. These churches are many times very careful to coddle those in attendance in order to keep the programs and the money flowing. So, the question is not really, "Is this working (increasing attendance)?" but, it should be "Is this following Scripture and Christ's example and teaching?"
The point that Skye is trying to make in this video is not that the megachurch destination ploy isn't working, but that it's working for the wrong reason. Going to church isn't about meeting with God in a community of like minded believers as much as it is a social club with tons of amenities.
I also think the facts are in clear opposition with statistical facts. The rapid megachurch expansion isn't sustainable. The number of megachurches have increased drastically, but the total number of churches are plummeting, and church attendance overall is slowly but steadily declining. For these reasons I believe there is a megachurch bubble.
NO NO .....When we put all our faith and trust in Christ then we come to know what the true church is. The building is not where the true God dwells, He dwells in the heart of the true believers. The building is where the devil and his followers dwell. The building is where the flesh is not the spirit. Stay away from the building or you will be told that you are not known. Jesus Christ will say be gone for I don’t know you. The word of Christ......
“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.”
I like my church. It’s plain Jane Catholic Church. No bells and whistles
The spirit of Christ Jesus told me that He does not dwell in buildings, He wants to dwell in my heart. Do you not know that your body is the temple? My Father the creator of all things seen and unseen is at no time to be compared with the world....
“And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
Matthew 21:13 KJV
“For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.”
Psalms 69:9 KJV
Jesus Christ is the church and only Him
Big difference between Christianity and Churchianity.
You are almost there... It's fine for churches to be like a cruise ship until they stop being the church. When churches began supporting the sins of their members instead of showing them how to repent, turn from their sin & have a personal relationship with Christ, they also began inviting Christians with traditional Biblical beliefs to leave! It is almost impossible to choose a "cruise line" these days. Their labels mean nothing, so cannot be trusted to teach truth to those I love. I can find ways to fellowship & study the Bible with like-minded believers in my community outside the physical church. I can be disliked for my faith anywhere these days & I don't need to deal with that IN the church!
THE FALLING AWAY; II THESS. 2.3!
The falling away is not leaving the church but falling out of Christ into the antichrist spirit movement from the inter man the heart. U can remain in the church and yet is a falling away... dont be fooled.. ur leader ur God is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the good shepherd look to him. The one who comes in another way is a thief and a robber.... know who u love today Him Christ the Lord or the church
When you realize that we ARE the church, you start to wonder why you scramble to get to a building every Sunday morning where everyone puts on a persona and pretends. Where’s the friendship, accountability, discipleship and people using their spiritual gifts? It’s not in the American church.
In the time of COVID cruise ships and churches are BOTH in trouble! 😄😄 Personally I'm not going to do either! I can meet God at home...& Cruising I did in the 2000's
Church sucks. I have to get up early on my day off, dress nice, smile and act like I got my life together, sing stupid songs, feel guilted into giving them my hard earned money, and sit through a boring motivational talk and get nothing out of it. They always try to come up with ways to be relevant and do a "new thing" (cue Nehemiah 1 sermon!). But it's the "Christian thing to do" and my wife, family, and friends will think I'm an unbeliever if I stop going.
Whatever is wrong with a church to meet and socialize with people.
Six and a half minutes of Skye hating on bowling 😂
The church is so apostatized that the Holy Spirit has left the church
If you love God you will leave the building and become the church outside the church once you recieve the baptism of the holy spirit you DON'T need man to teach you & let the spirit teach & lead you....All ages are leaving its called the great falling away its going to happen
And Pastors hate this because they are not just sat there every week giving their money
do you realy want to know..
I agree with the video but also think that it’s hard for members to watch their hard earned money subsidize extravagant lifestyles of head pastors. There are so many issues with the Church today. Sadly, This video is just the tip of the iceberg.
The church isn’t the church; it’s that simple. Try Orthodoxy. As someone who searched actively for 17 years for something that was as beautiful as Jesus, but who was unable, I testify that ONE attendance of Divine Liturgy was enough to sate my starving soul.
Next Sunday go to a true Pentecostal Church and you’ll find Jesus and the best music.
Problem solved
I make it simple...my church of 60 years left me.
American Christianity has little to do with Biblical Faith Community
a laser show at church, that is awful and sad!
When you go to a place that is so divided, compromising, hypocritical, favoritisms, and conflict, you just want out. When people talk but dont walk the talk you take a walk right out the door. No more. Jesus is outside the church nowadays. The church is for believers to be encouraged and grow. Not to entertain the world. :(
There turning churches into market places
So close but yet so far...I stopped going to church because it has a huge problem with depression which no one seems to address. The Church's "business model" is to use the constant reminder of sin nature to fuel the individual's need to attend and give through money or skills or time, and there is always some sort of sin that needs to be addressed, everything from an addiction to just negative emotions. Meanwhile, the Church tells people that everything good in life comes from God, not from good choices that individuals make. Hence, varying levels of depression that I have seen in countless believers, including myself.
Also, the Church has become a literal sanctuary from the troubles of the world where believers simply escape their worldly problems instead of learning and maturing. The Church is also stuck in the past, trying constantly to either slow down any kind of change that reflects the rest of the world or trying to return to the "wonder years" outright.
There is also a problem with the number of churches that are available. Not too long ago--and especially in New Testament times--if you went to church, there were very few churches to choose from, so people who attended church had to learn how to adapt to viewpoints other than their own and mature through that social dynamic. Now, if you don't like what someone in a church community does or says, then you can simply go to another church down the street, which means that people now congregate only with like-minded individuals, which means that churches have become sociopolitical echo chambers. Throw social media into that mix, and you get a swirling vortex of negative perceptions about anything outside of an individual's sanctuary.
So, we go back to being the way the church was pre-1960? I thought you started the video by saying people stopped going to that type of church? Near the end, you mention a study that states people went to church "to be close to God". I think that hints at the root cause. As a believer, you are the temple of God! And the church is not a building and therefore you will not find God in a building! He lives in the heart of the believer. That is where you find him. What is the church then, if its not a building? The church is fellow believers. Do you want to experience the power of God? Repent, turn to Jesus. Read the Bible and do what it says. You will experience first hand what the power of God can do in your life. And yes, the Bible does tell you to get together with fellow believers (the church) and doing that in a building makes a lot of sense just don't get the two confused.
You miss the point. True Believers leave the church because they are looking for Ya, but HE is not in the pagan roman circus nor the protestant carnival. The saints of old spoke ancient Hebrew and obeyed YaSha (Jesus) and the FATHERS' COMMANDS. Not saul/paul/baal. We have inherited lies, and that's exactly what rome intended. Loose the last 26 roman books and everything starts to make sense. YaSha YaRaYa!!!
I left the church because of availability of information in this internet age. It was triggered by revisiting the big questions and so i did a study for 4 years comparing facts of mainstream science and history vs the bible, and also including the roots of judaism and history of the bible itself (how the bible was written). After 4 years of my study (and continuing), i was comfortable enough to have become an Agnostic/Atheist. On hindsight if i look at story of Adam and Eve, talking snake, talking donkey, Noah"s flood and Babel tower, i could not believe i was made to believe those stories from childhood that claimed to be history but they are more equivalent to fables and fairy tales. I am now more fascinated by methodologies of science which is more within grasp to validate objective reality.
As i learn more of the basics of evolution and also as i read more on mainstream history, christianity is just an ancient way of knowing things, it is more of a superstition.
there are religions all over the world. whether it's islam, christinity, catholicism, judaism, etc etc. you know the reason i stopped going to church was after I read the bible and was amazed too see that I was the only one who actually read it.
You're hardly the only person in the world to have read the Bible.
You are right but they actually think they read The Bible
I left. I believe in Jesus but the evangelical nut house is no good.
Church would grow if the leaders gave the church back to the people.
..."Simulated whatever those things were...simulated families" 🤣🤣🤣😂😂
..leaders hypocracy manipulation control vanity..
The problem here it is that this guy, as many other pastors and church leaders can't accept the idea that diversity is the most important factor in God's plan. I'm pretty sure He is laughing at all this conspiracy kind of arguments against megachurches, cool new churches or whatever. God will use all kind of churches to get all kind of people. It doesn't matter if the church is big or small, if it gets people in, it will make God's work. All these pastors and over jealous kind of pharisees members whinning about mega and cool churches should dedicter their efforts to preach the gospel in the way they feel God called them to do it. Preach and save more people. Forget about what other are doing.
They don't don anything in there, but preach rapture and trinity lies.
I feel like there are a lot of stupid people n church lacking knowledge