De-Churched Christians

According to George Barna in his book Revolution,

Revolution: George Barna: Books ISBN: 1414307586 ISBN-13: 9781414307589

the greatest trend among Christians in America is that an increasing number of dedicated and passionate Christians are leaving the church and finding their life other venues outside the church. Barna calls these people Revolutionaries.

These "Revolutionaries"—by definition, their faith is the highest priority in their lives—are seeking diverse and alternative forms of church, through affinity groups, homeschooling, house churches, the Internet and marketplace ministries.

We estimate that the percentage of Americans who express and experience their faith through the local church will drop from 70% in 2000 to about 30-35% in 2025. And the percentage of people experiencing their faith through an alternative faith-based community will increase from 5% in 2000 to 30-35% in 2025.

This revolution of faith is happening. Pastors should try to find a way for their church to cooperate with it. Whether that happens inside a building, at Starbucks or on the basketball court is irrelevant. Transformation is more about the commitment of your heart than where you hang out on Sunday morning.

Excerpt from the Christianity Today article, The American Church in Crisis, is/was located at:
http://www.christianitytoday.com/outreach/articles/americanchurchcrisis.html

And in the same article...

Ed Stetzer, missiologist and director of the Center for Missional Research at the North American Mission Board (namb.net) of the Southern Baptist Convention, has found similar evidence of spiritual behavior occurring outside church walls. He recently finished a study on alternative faith communities, and found that a growing number of people are finding Christian discipleship and community in places other than their local churches. The study found that 24.5% of Americans now say their primary form of spiritual nourishment is meeting with a small group of 20 or less people every week.

"About 6 million people meet weekly with a small group and never or rarely go to church," Stetzer says. "There is a significant movement happening."

The statistics about young people leaving church are alarming, but the real question is what happens to them after they leave church?

Conventional wisdom suggests that anyone walking with God is attending church somewhere. But is that really valid? We all know people who do not attend church yet are still love God.

In fact, the greatest growth in Christianity today is in China where "church" as we practice it in America is illegal and for all practical purposes impossible. Yet, it is in this environment that Christianity flourishes best. Is that merely a coincidence? or is there something to be learned here?

Could it be that the way we do traditional Church here in America actually impedes the Advance of the gospel?