In its new State of the Church 2020 study, the Barna Group has uncovered how Americans are maintaining their connections to churches while at the same time “renegotiating” what those connections look like in terms of today’s society.

The study divided participants into two groups–practicing Christians and churched adults. According to Barna, practicing Christians attend services at least monthly and claim their faith is very important. Churched adults have attended church at least once in the past six months.

One of the study’s major findings was that nearly two in five churchgoers regularly attend multiple churches, which seems to indicate that loyalty to a single church body may be becoming a thing of the past.

Illinois Family Institute Executive Director David E. Smith noted:

This report confirms that church attendance is becoming more fluid. Their poll of church attenders finds that loyalty to their congregation has declined for many. That is so very sad, because we are called to be the local Body of Christ, dedicated to “each other,” bearing one another’s burdens and preserving under trial and in the faith. Faithfulness to one another, it would seem, is closely related to agape love of your fellow church member.

Barna refers to this declining loyalty as “church hopping” and noted that it “is becoming a common feature of churchgoing.” The study found that church hoppers were just as likely to attend weekly church services as those who loyally attend a single church. However, they select services from among a small group of churches that they attend.

According to the Barna Group, 63% of churched adults and 72% of practicing Christians attend church services with a single congregation. A small minority, or nearly two in five church adults (38%), and just over a quarter of practicing Christians (27%) “at least occasionally attend” other churches.

The report also finds that church membership is less important to Gen X (born 1965-1983) and Millennial (born 1984-1998) Christians than it is to Boomers (born 1946-1964). Nearly 7 in 10 Boomers (68%) officially join a church compared to 51% of Gen Xers and 48% of Millennials. Younger generations were also more likely to mark “not-applicable” on questions regarding church-membership. No significant differences appeared in membership rates between denominations.

Smith shared,

The results seem to indicate that many American churchgoers may be viewing their church attendance based upon personal choice or pleasure, much like a consumer looking at “what’s in it for me?” when purchasing a product.

The study also found that churchgoers are divided on the value of church. “Those who frequent worship services do so largely because of personal enjoyment, but many churchgoers also readily admit that they believe people are tired of church as usual,” observed Barna President David Kinnaman.

Sixty-five percent of churched adults say they attend church because they enjoy it, as do 82% of practicing Christians. Seventeen percent of churchgoers reported they attend because they “have to” and 15% do because it’s a habit.

Nearly half of Christians (48%) and more than half of churched adults (57%) admitted “people they know” are tired of the usual type of church experience. The report was careful to note that the “data showed no significant difference across denomination, generation or faith segment.”

Churchgoers also reported that for the most part they “experience—and have come to expect—positive emotions and outcomes by going to church.” Churched adults say they leave services feeling inspired (37%), encouraged (37%), forgiven (34%), connected with God or experienced his presence (33%), and challenged to change something in their life (26%) “every time.” At the same time, 32% reported feeling disappointed at least half the time and another 40% said they felt guilty.

The study also revealed that Christians and non-Christians are questioning the church’s relevance to the community. Practicing Christians believe churches “have a strong community impact”—66% very positive, 28% somewhat positive. However, not everyone sees it that way. Just over a quarter of Americans (27%) think churches “have a very positive impact”—the same percentage (27%) who say it has “no effect at all.” A plurality of Americans (38%) think the church has just a “somewhat positive” impact. Non-Christians reported indifference (39% no impact) or found churches’ local contributions to be “very negative” (8%) or “somewhat negative” (10%).

Younger generations of Americans were more likely to hold a negative view of the church. Barna found the “same percentage of practicing Christian Millennials who agree the Church is irrelevant today is the same as non-Christians who hold this view (25% each definitely agree).”

Responses were collected online between December 5-18, 2019 among 1,003 U.S. adults and 603 practicing Christian adults.

To read the report, visit www.barna.com/research/current-perceptions.

TOMORROW! IFI is hosting our annual Worldview Conference on Saturday, March 7th at the Village Church of Barrington. This year’s conference is titled “Thinking Biblically About Our Corrosive Culture” and features Dr. Michael Brown and Dr. Rob Gagnon. For more information, please click HERE for a flyer or click the button below to register for the conference.

A survey conducted online between June 5-9, 2017 by the Barna group poll shows that many Americans still rely on prayer as a means to communicate with God. The study shows that prayer is the most common faith practice among adults with 79 percent of the population engaging in prayer at least once in the past three months.

Here are some of the interesting things the study found:

Eighty-two percent of praying adults most often pray silently and by themselves. 13 percent pray audibly by themselves. And 2% pray audibly with another person or group or collectively with a church.

When asked what the content of their prayers were, 62 percent listed gratitude and thanksgiving, 61% listed the needs of family and community, 49 percent listed personal guidance in crisis, 47 percent for health and wellness, 43 percent for confession and forgiveness or things they suddenly felt the urge to pray about, 41 percent for safety in daily tasks or travel, 37 percent for a sense of peace and blessings for meals, 34 percent for specific requests from others, 24 percent about concerns in our nation or government, 20 percent about concerns over global problems or injustices, 12 percent about their sleep, and 8 percent reciting Scripture, meditations, or liturgies.

Elders are 30 percent more likely to pray for health and wellness than 38 percent of millennials, who reported doing so. Lower income earners, 52 percent (under $50,000) also pray this type of prayer more often than higher income earners, 42 percent (over $100,000). Those living in rural areas as opposed to more urban locations are more likely to pray for health, perhaps because access to medical services and gyms and health centers are not as easily accessible.

Thirty-seven percent of prayers are for a sense of peace. Those with children under the age of eighteen are more likely to pray for a sense of peace, likely because raising children can feel rather chaotic at times. People who live in big cities are also more prone to pray this prayer (43 percent) over those who live in small, rural areas (29 percent).

Elders are more likely than their younger millennial counterparts to cover prayer requests from others. 27 percent of millennials said they actually follow through with praying for specific prayer requests from others, while 47 percent of elders said they cover requests from others.

Twenty-four percent of paying adults make it a point to pray about their concerns for the nation or government. When it comes to global problems or concerns, only 20 percent, or 1 in every 5 Americans pray specifically for these issues.

Millennials and parents with children under the age of 18 are most likely (both at 19 percent) to pray for sleep. Just 1 percent of elders are likely to pray for sleep, and 9 percent of adults with no children under the age of 18 pray for sleep.

Women are more likely than men to cover each category listed in the survey. Evangelicals are also most likely to be praying actively about each category. Evangelicals are especially prevalent to pray for the needs of their families and communities (89 percent), gratitude and thanksgiving (69 percent), and confession and forgiveness (77^ percent).

Though 89 percent of those surveyed direct their prayers to God, this does not mean that they are all praying to the same god – some do not even pray to a diety. No specific definition for God was given in the survey so the widespread meaning of the word usage could be very broad. “For instance,” the survey notes, “Only half of praying adults (50 percent) pray to Jesus, and less than one-quarter (23 percent) pray to the Holy Spirit.” 28 percent of those surveyed claimed to have no faith whatsoever.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

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A recent study by Barna reveals the truth about what the spiritual climate in America is currently like. The study was conducted over 7 years, ending in 2016, and focuses on the most post-Christian cities in the US. According to Barna, “To qualify as ‘post-Christian,’ individuals must meet nine or more of our 16 criteria… which identify a lack of Christian identity, belief and practice. These factors include whether individuals identify as atheist, have never made a commitment to Jesus, have not attended church in the last year or have not read the Bible in the last week.”

The results might surprise some, Barna says:

The most post-Christian city in America is Portland-Auburn, Maine (57%). In fact, New England and the Northeast—considered the foundation and home-base of religion in America—figure prominently: Eight of the top 10 most post-Christian cities are in this region. The next six cities on the list are Boston, MA-Manchester, NH (56%), Providence, RI-New Bedford, MA (53%), Burlington, VT-Plattsburgh, NY (53%), Hartford-New Haven, CT (52%), and New York, NY (51%). Next up are two big West Coast hubs: San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA (50%), and Seattle-Tacoma (50%).

The percentage of people dedicated to Christianity has changed significantly in the last 50 years, causing the religion to lose much of its influence in our everyday lives. Although the Barna survey revealed that the most post-christian cities are generally concentrated in the New England area, according to The Blaze, Barna conducted a study earlier this year which revealed “that San Francisco–Oakland–San Jose, California, is the most unchurched metro area in the country, with 60 percent of respondents saying they ‘have not attended a church service in the past six months.’” A Gallup survey from December found that 21 percent of Americans have no religious identity — up from the 15 percent of respondents who said the same in 2008.

As research seems to show, we may be approaching not only a post-Christian, but a post-religion era. A country once focused on God seems to be moving rapidly closer to a godless society. This leaves us begging the question, what will the children of these post-christian people believe? Will our country continue its journey towards forgetting religion all together, or will the next generation bring the rebirth of Sunday school, Bible studies, and church picnics as a regular part of life?

According to Christian Post, “Gallup also found that church and other religious attendance has been declining. While 73 percent of respondents said in 1937 that they were a member of a church, only 56 percent said the same in 2016. Additionally, 72 percent of of those surveyed in 2016 said that religion is losing its influence on American life.”

Ask any young adult how many of their friends and co-workers regularly attend church, and you’ll likely realize that this grim statistic is true. The question is, why? Why are people rejecting Christianity, and religion altogether? Why are certain parts of the United States more “post-Christian” than others? What can be done about this disheartening trend?

The answer lies in you and me. Only we have the ability to turn this tide. It is time to pray fervently again for our country, and for our loved ones. Change does not happen overnight, just as America did not become a nation that is hostile to Christianity overnight. Change is still possible, but it begins with you and I standing up and refusing to let our faith merely take a supporting role in our lives any longer. Our nation must return to its origins of “One nation, under God”, or live with the consequences of a nation without God.

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Marriage is a beautiful and sacred institution, created by God for procreation and as a picture of Christ and His Church.

Genesis 2:24 instructs, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

And in Ephesians 5:31 we read, “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”

The formula for a lasting, loving marriage is also found in Ephesians 5:

²² Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.

. . .

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

The Apostle Paul painted a splendid picture of marriage, that of the wife loving the husband enough to live for him, and the husband loving his wife enough to be willing to lay down his life for her. That’s not a 50-50 formula–that’s God’s design of a man and a woman committed to giving 100 percent to each other and their marriage.

But modern America seems to believe it knows better than the Creator of the heavens and earth, the Grand Designer of men, women, and marriage. In a recent Barna study, 65% of all adults either strongly or somewhat agree that it’s a good idea to cohabit prior to marriage.

When comparing “practicing Christians” v. non-religious/non-believers, 41% of Christians agreed cohabitation was a good idea versus 88% of the non-churched:

Unsurprisingly, the most religious groups in America are the least likely to think cohabitation is a good idea. Most Christian teaching on pre-marital relationships encourages abstinence and other boundaries that tend to exclude cohabitation, and the data reflects these beliefs. Practicing Christians (41%) are highly unlikely to believe cohabitation is a good idea, and the stark contrast with those who identify as having no faith (88%) further demonstrates the acute impact of religious belief on views regarding cohabitation.

Let that sink in. Forty-one percent of so-called practicing Christians believe cohabitation is a “good idea.” Whatever form of Christianity those respondents are practicing, it most certainly is not biblical Christianity.

The Bible is very clear on sexual relations. God intended such intimacies to be glorious and exclusively for a husband and wife. Hebrews 13:4 cautions, “Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.”

The world concocts ideas that turn God’s principles on their head at its own peril. God’s admonitions are not to stifle our joy but to increase it.

Consider this. First Things First (FTF), “an award-winning not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening families in Hamilton County, Tennessee” responds to the “myths about living together.”

MYTH: Living together is an easy way to “try out” the relationship before committing to marriage.

Truth: While the idea of “test driving” a car before you buy it is a good idea, it doesn’t apply to marriage. Living together is basically a “pretend marriage” and nothing like the real thing. Couples who live together often have attitudes like: “I can leave any time,” and “My money vs. your money” that married couples don’t typically have. Married couples often have a stronger bond to each other because of their vow of permanence. Married couples also tend to have less volatile relationships.

The worn-out “kicking the tires” analogy is often employed when describing cohabitation. But the problem is, people are not cars. Living together teaches those involved to bail when one no longer satisfies the desires or fulfills the needs of the other or when things get tough. The attitude from the outset is “we’ll try this out, see if we fit.”

But here’s a relevant truth: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” What that means is none of us “fit” perfectly because we’re imperfect creatures.

Cohabitation fosters an attitude of selfishness. It reinforces the natural desires of fallen humans to put their desires and need first. But marriage, as God intended, is about self-sacrificial giving.

Another myth addressed by FTF:

MYTH: Marriage is just a piece of paper.

Truth: Emotionally, physically and spiritually, marriage is so much more than a piece of paper. It is a commitment. Viewing marriage as only a legal arrangement strips it of its meaning and sets the relationship up for failure. If couples do not view marriage as a loving, committed relationship, divorce is almost inevitable.

The Barna findings showed that cohabitation was primarily seen as a way to “test the waters before taking the plunge.” But cohabitation as a test period is an abysmally poor training ground for marital bliss.

Indeed, studies bear out “shacking up” consequences:

…nearly a dozen studies from the 1970s into the early 2000s showed that men and women who lived together before marriage were far more likely to divorce than couples who moved directly from dating to marriage. In fact, on average, researchers found that couples who cohabited before marriage had a 33 percent higher chance of divorcing than couples who moved in together after the wedding ceremony. *

The plain truth is that what we practice we do. Men and women entering live-in relationships practice keeping their guard up, looking out for number one. Those couples, even if they end up married, will have entrenched attitudes and habits that erode the trust and unconditional love necessary to a happy, lasting marriage.

And what about children?

Psalm 127:3 tells us that “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.”

The divine plan was children within marriage–a man-woman union–committed to each other and loving only the Lord God more than spouse. That healthy, God-ordained relationship is the perfect setting for rearing offspring and imparting God’s transcendent values. The strong commitment of a mother and father to each other creates a secure home for their children.

In contrast, because cohabitation offers no real assurance of security, children  learn to fear: every argument, every disagreement could signal the end of their family. Thus, not only is living outside of wedlock a dreadful precursor to marriage, it is also an insecure environment for rearing kids.

Barna’s study portends a dismal future for America. Our time-tested societal foundation has been the nuclear family, but as God’s guiding principles are ignored, ruin and heartbreak increase.

People are not meant to be traded in. Unlike cars, people are intrinsically valuable, meant to be treasured in spite of defects and mileage.

*One recent research paper suggests that premarital cohabitation may not increase the likelihood of divorce.

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