A new study, conducted by Lifeway Research (SBC) looked at how and why people change churches in America. My own informal and anecdotal observations tell me that lots and lots of people are "switching churches" more and more often so this survey deeply interested me.

I left the pastorate in 1992 and have been in three churches in fifteen years without leaving my community. (We all have reasons and I am certainly not condemning church switching here at all. "Let the writer without the sin cast the first stone," or something like that.) My interest is not in condemning persons, for reasons vary and are sometimes complicated, but in observing the trend.

Most of those who switched said their old church failed to engage their faith (58%). But 42% said their old church failed to offer them more appealing doctrines and the preacher or church members expression of faith did not seem "authentic." Scot McConnell, associate director of LifeWay, believes the rise of "consumerism and narcissism" is evident in the survey and seen throughout people’s reasons. I have to agree, at least based upon what I see firsthand.

More than half of those who switched churches also changed denominations, providing further evidence that denominationalism, as we’ve historically known it, is dead or dying. Of those who switched churches 76% called themselves devout Christians. (In 2006 LifeWay did another study of why people leave church altogether and that revealed some even more interesting data, much of it related to the unreality of what we really do in church.) I actually think most switchers are "devout," at least compared to other church goers. This is what may be both impressive and disturbing about this trend. It is impressive in  that switchers are often people who have strong convictions or they are seeking something more than a bland church. It is disturbing in that it disrupts lives, families and social networks in ways that harm children (long term), giving them the kinds of church values that are important to cultivating long term faithfulness to a faith community. (How many young people grow up today with a "home church" in their experience?) It seems to me that once you begin to switch it becomes easier and easier to switch again and again and again. And this does not bode well for people who work for reformation. If people will not stick with their church when things are not all they had hoped then how can churches be truly changed? It also puts undue pressure upon the pastor and leaders to "perform" or else. This is an immense problem from what I’ve seen in the American scene. It drives churches and leaders to take steps that will not restore spiritual health to the church but rather it forces them to provide the goods and services shoppers desire.

The LifeWay research further shows that most people switch to larger churches. This is not surprising to me at all. But only 5% of all worship attenders go to a megachurch and megachurches are only 1% of all churches in the U.S. And Catholics are even harder to measure since they retain the label Catholic long after they have quit or even switched churches. Brad Waggoner, LifeWay’s vice president of research and development, adds: "There’s no simple answer why people are so restless." This much we do know. In the past people supported their churches out of respect, obligation or family ties. This has clearly changed!

Again, this is a good news and bad news situation if you analyze it with any degree of thoughtfulness. Waggoner sees other factors at work here such as increased skepticism and cynicism in the wake of clergy sexual abuse and financial scandals. And, in what I think is  an under-estimated factor, he adds that "divisiveness over doctrine and practice" also contributes in some way. My own impression is that this factor is not as easy to measure but it is hugely important, especially to younger people.

The SBC itself is still feeling the impact of the conservative denominational shift in the 1980s. What should have restored growth and vitality, one would think, appears to have actually brought growing evidence of how the influence of power turns more and more people off. (I tend to share this perspective I must admit. I cheered for the conservatives but now find their more recent political positions, and actions taken because of those positions, troubling to the extreme.)

Waggoner concludes that the individual pastor cannot stop this restless tide of switchers but they can make a difference. I agree with his conclusion. He says, "We have a biblical responsibility to care for every person in our flock." In essence, he is saying that we need pastors to pastor again, not simply be CEOs and mega-church wannabees. I see a small cloud forming, a very small one right now, that portends a recovery of serious pastoral care and ministry. I hope it grows in light of this switching phenomenon. Though switching is sometimes necessary, and even right, the long term trend is not one that I think strengthens church life in America. It is, if we are truly honest, very often a form of schism and division, both of which can be serious sins.

One suggestion for those who must switch, as I have admitted that I have done myself. Try to switch for very good reasons, reasons rooted in theological shifts that are carefully thought out or because the church you are presently a part of has moved significantly away from its stated purpose and mission. But if you do switch, make sure you leave with tears and with love. If a point must be made make it the right way and then quietly leave. Do not sow seeds of discord and do not attack motives. You may be wrong and God is the only just and right judge of the matter.

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Comments

  1. jls April 24, 2007 at 5:01 pm

    John, thanks for this interesting post. I can’t help but think that church switching is related to the increased role of personal choice in every aspect of modern life. We now have at our fingertips access to billions of web pages. Our supermarkets are stocked with all kinds of exotic foods. We can watch whatever movie or television program we want, whenever we want. Cell phone in hand, we can talk to whomever, whenever. As argued in *The Paradox of Choice* by Barry Schwartz (2004), all these choices mean less happiness. People are now trying to optimize the fine details of their lives and are left with a restless feeling that they should be experiencing something better.
    All these choices must fundamentally change the way that we view God’s leading. Have we lost the sense that God is truly sovereign? Jesus told his disciples, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you…” (Jn 15:16) And Paul wrote, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). These verses indicate that God really does go ahead of me, organizing my activities and placing me in real-life situations where I am meant to do something for his glory. If, for whatever reason, I find myself in a church among a group of believers, I must have been brought there by God for a good purpose. But many of us now seem to spend a good part of life dreaming and looking for a more ideal situation, rather than just digging in and doing the work that God has so obviously placed before us here and now.

  2. Gene Redlin April 24, 2007 at 5:11 pm

    I am convinced that there is a pattern that is Ordained of God in “Church”. Most of the modern Church is out of line with this pattern. This creates a dissatisfaction. That causes Church Switching.
    The only real reason for anyone to switch churches is for more light. We are delivered from darkness to light, so if more light comes, move with the fire by night.
    I have written on what I believe is the Biblical madate for “Church” services today. Nearly NONE of the Churches we will attend will look like the pattern set down by the apostle Paul.
    I do attend a couple church services occasionally that nearly always follow the pattern. This can be done but it takes much confidence and trust in the Holy Ghost.
    Take a look at what I believe are the 12 Mandates for God’s plan for New Testament Worship.
    http://northerngleaner.blogspot.com/2007/04/12-ways-god-wants-to-be-worshipped.html

  3. Kevin J April 24, 2007 at 6:49 pm

    I can speak from my own experience. When I first became a Christian there were so many options infront of me, different cities, different churches etc. One day, at 23, I was driving my car down a highway, thinking about a change. I then realized that things wouldn’t be different in another city. I then realized that my christian lifestyle should not change no matter what church I was at, for it should be patterned after Jesus in the Bible. Then I wrote a 100 page life testimony and made an honest assesment on how God was leading in my life. I eventually found my calling in life. I decided not to judge leaders, to take personal stewardship. I also realized that God is in control of my life. If he didn’t want me somewhere, he would move me. My life was not determined by my own limited perception of things or my own feeling. It was in the sovereign hands of God. My church membership was determined not on convenience or “what’s in it for me” or disatisfaction with my previous leader or locale, but on the will of God. To be faithful to my calling requires determination and faith and seld denial at times. But there is satisfaction knowing that I am where my God wants me to be.

  4. Kevin J April 24, 2007 at 6:50 pm

    I can speak from my own experience. When I first became a Christian there were so many options infront of me, different cities, different churches etc. One day, at 23, I was driving my car down a highway, thinking about a change. I then realized that things wouldn’t be different in another city. I then realized that my christian lifestyle should not change no matter what church I was at, for it should be patterned after Jesus in the Bible. Then I wrote a 100 page life testimony and made an honest assesment on how God was leading in my life. I eventually found my calling in life. I decided not to judge leaders, to take personal stewardship. I also realized that God is in control of my life. If he didn’t want me somewhere, he would move me. My life was not determined by my own limited perception of things or my own feeling. It was in the sovereign hands of God. My church membership was determined not on convenience or “what’s in it for me” or disatisfaction with my previous leader or locale, but on the will of God. To be faithful to my calling requires determination and faith and seld denial at times. But there is satisfaction knowing that I am where my God wants me to be.

  5. Cheryl Vita April 24, 2007 at 11:03 pm

    John,
    My roots are very similiar to yours. I even shared the book table at your little Baptist Church and learned so much from those great books. I also remember some of the books I read near that time that were not very kind to the Romans Catholics. They pointed to the differences but never mentioned what we shared in Christ. I was very negative toward all Catholics for a long time, even though I was married to a former one. Yet, God chose a Catholic to invite me to BSF where I have been actively involved for for about 13 years, growing and changing and trying to see others through the eyes of Christ. Growing and studying led us to visit and recently join a PCA church in Boerne just outside of San Antonio. I enjoy reading your letter every week. I was disappointed in reading the one about John MacArthur because John has written some very good material over the years and I found him helpful when I frist began to seek more reading material that would hold my attention.
    I imagine that Dennis Hustedt has told you that he is back in the states. You once invited us to be part of a church plant in Joliet and here I am almost 20 years later doing just that.
    Keep on writting John, it is an encouragement.

  6. Rick Schnetz April 25, 2007 at 11:37 am

    I carry a little piece of paper, with two quotes on it, in my
    wallet:
    “If we do not give thanks daily for the Christian fellowship
    in which we have been placed, even where there is no
    great experience, no discoverable riches, but much weakness,
    small faith, and difficulty; if on the contrary, we only keep
    complaining to God that everything is so paltry and petty,
    so far from what we expected, then we hinder God
    from letting our fellowship grow according to the measure
    and riches which are there for us all in Jesus Christ.”
    —Dietrich Bonhoeffer
    “By His divine power, He has given us all the things that we need
    for life and for true devotion, bringing us to know God Himself,
    who has called us by His own glory and goodness.” {2 Peter 1:3}

  7. ex ubf member April 29, 2007 at 11:31 pm

    When the problem of Church switching is considered, I think it is equally imporant to consider the problem of what some religious organizations do to keep their members from leaving their organizations and to continue to make them devoted to their organizational doctrines. Some organizations are willing to violate laws and human rights to “train” their members to become committed to their religious system. They even twist Scripture and bend theology a little bit to make their ministry “fruitful”.
    These leaders would do anything to produce “fruits” for the glory of God by teaching their members espceially the following points from the Scripture:
    1 Deny yourself.
    2 Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.
    3 Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart.
    4 Do you love me more than these? Feed my sheep.
    5 How can you obey God who is invisible if you can’t obey a man whom you can see?
    Any serious followers of Jesus would consider all of the above principles very seiously. But if these serious followers of Jesus ever fall into the traps of these evil religious leaders, these leaders turn them into blind devotees of their religious system so that they would never leave their organization but do anything to preserve the power structure and their personal legacy to be canonized as spiritual legacy established by these leaders. I think what these leaders and their blind devotees do is a more serious problem than church switching.

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