Results From an Extensive Survey by Barna Should Disturb Christians
Posted: Thursday, July 28, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
The Barna Group, a renowned surveyor and pollster of religious activities, has conducted an extensive survey and review of their former findings over the past 20 years. They are now publishing the results of their findings in five segments. The project is called the “State of the Church Series, 2011”.
Part one, which was released on last Tuesday, July 26, 2011, pertains to the general trends which have taken place over the past 20 years.
Weekly bible reading, not including reading a few verses in classes at church. Over the 20 years, the number who read the bible at home has declined by 5 percent, from 45% to the current 40%. This writer continues to admonish Christians with the fact that one cannot obey God if they don’t know what he says.
Volunteers for works of the church has declined from 27% down to 19%. This act of volunteering some of one’s time for church work during the week was embarrassingly low 20 years ago and now is even worse. The very disturbing part of this shows where most priorities are, when you compare the time watching television, attending sports events, outdoor recreation, etc.
Almost the same decline is found in adult attendance of Bible Study classes, ie Sunday School or other scheduled bible study periods, which has declined 8 percentage points to 15%! Read my comment concerning “weekly bible reading” above. It is just as pertinent concerning this one.
Adult attendance of church worship services also declined by 9 percent to it’s present level of 40%.
Perhaps the most discouraging aspect is that of those who are “unchurched” which Barna classifies those who have not attended a regular church service (excluding funerals, weddings, etc.). 20 years ago, only 24% of adults were classified as unchurched, compared to today’s 37%, from less than one fourth to over one third of adults are so classified.
Only one aspect of these behavioral patterns showed no change. That is the percentage of adults who attend churches of over 600 members.
Christians biblically mandated to do their best to spread God’s word and to help increase the boundaries of His kingdom. The above statistics should be disturbing to every Christian, in that we are falling short in our efforts. The world offers temptations which are great, even awesome, and they enslave many. Yet, the knowledge of everlasting life or eternal punishment should be even more appealing. All we can do is encourage everyone to “Heed the word of the Lord”.
And you, O generation, heed the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness to Israel, or a land of thick darkness? Why then do my people say, 'We are free, we will come no more to thee'? (Jeremiah 2:31 RSV)
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Joel,
Thank you for sharing this information. While my church membership remains steady, there are many churches in our area that are closing. I am amazed at this. Restaurants and malls close, but not churches! I guess we shouldn't be surprised especially when you see how many people today are against organized religion. It is also sad that less and less children are being baptized. One can only pray that these statistics change in a more positive direction. The Word needs to be spread.Thank you Nancy for the comment. Yes, sometimes I fear that God has left his messages in very inadequate hands, for my part. I've striven for years, to teach people but I receive more rebuffs than those who welcome the truth. I have convinced a few people to become a Christian, but very few compared to those of which I have tried.
Keep up your good work. And these issues that you have brought up are quite surprising to me. It bears thinking about. Good job.
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