Walking Out of Church
Yesterday I came across a passage while re-reading some of Matthew Paul Turner’s book “The Christian Culture Survival Guide” that made me ask the question, “What keeps people from walking out of church?”
He told a story of walking out in the midst of a sermon because he was utterly bored. He said he had great hopes because the first part of the service had been really good. Then came the sermon and he just couldn’t take it. So, he left. Just got up and walked out. He was bored…though he admits trying to stay, trying to pay attention. It just didn’t work. He made the comment that if he was in a boring movie, he’d leave…if he was watching a boring television program, he’d turn off the TV. He asks, “Why should church be any different?”
So, again, I wonder…what keeps people from walking out of church?
And, what can we do to keep people from wanting to walk out of church.
The other question to ask is why did he go to church in the first place. If it was for entertainment, then I might be able to understand walking out if he wasn’t being entertained. If entertainment is why we go to church we’re bound to be disappointed in this day of ultimate entertainment opportunities. There has got to be more to it or we will find our entertainment elsewhere.
If we are there for reason’s other than entertainment then even a bad sermon offers opportunities for worship that will keep us engaged in the service. We could spend the time praying or reading the passage being discussed. Getting involved in your church, investing your time in the community of believers and the outreach of the gospel, these will help change ones expectations from entertainment to worship.
But that’s just my view!
Eric
Comment by Eric Dirlam — November 28, 2006 @ 11:40 pm
Eric,
Good point! A lot of churches these days are simply houses of entertainment rather than houses of worship. I believe a big part of the church and a key factor that keeps people coming back would be the relationships formed between those attending. When we get plugged into the church, it is much easier to work through boring sermons! I believe you may have pin-pointed Turner’s problem…he was looking to be wowed, rather than looking for the opportunity to worship.
Comment by jasonmorris — November 29, 2006 @ 3:19 pm