According to a new survey released by The Barna Group, one third of the U.S. has not been to church in six months or more. This is especially notable among Asians who — with 63% not attending church — are double the national average. The Western (42%) and the Northeast (39%) regions were the least likely to go to church. The total number, including teens and children, is roughly 100 million. If this group were a nation, it would be the 11th largest in the world.
Surprisingly, among this group are an estimated 13-15 million “born-again” adults and children.
An outsider's view of church
The Barna Group reports that their survey coincides with a new book, Jim and Casper Go to Church: Frank Conversations About Faith, Churches, and Well-meaning Christians, by Jim Henderson and Matt Casper (Tyndale House Publishers). The book chronicles the experience of a former pastor and an avowed atheist as they visit a dozen churches, large and small across the U.S., including well known churches such as Willow Creek and Saddleback. This unlikely pair then compares notes on what it feels like to be an outsider attending such churches.
Some of their observations, summarized by report:
- The relative indifference of most churched Christians to unchurched people.
- The emphasis on personal rather than communal faith journey.
- The tendency of churches to perform rituals and exercise talents rather than invite and experience the presence of God
- The absence of a compelling call to action given those who attend
- The failure to listen to dissident voices and spiritual guidance to dig deeper in one’s faith
These 100 million are not necessarily averse to Christ, the Bible, and faith
Mull over those observations for a moment or two. It’s sobering and convicting.
My own experience and the experience of InsideWork® is that these 100 million are not necessarily averse to Christ, the Bible, and faith. But, they don’t get what they need from church, so they try to meet those needs in other ways.
If they're not at church, where are they? At work!
The good news for those of you in the InsideWork tribe is that though these folks are not in church, they are 100% in the marketplace. They are your colleagues and business partners and professional associates. In many cases, these people are you and me.
Many are looking to their companies to be places of meaning
Over the past 20 years, I have seen no shortage of people looking to find faith, hope, and a more purposeful life. Many have concluded that the answer will not be found in education, church, or government. Many are looking to their companies to be places of meaning. The current trend toward spirituality in the marketplace will only continue to grow. Though the workplace has been off-limits to faith-talk, it may become the only place you can speak freely about your faith.
I have a conviction that God is very concerned for these 100 million and that His reality, grace, truth, and love will be demonstrated through folks like you who are slugging it out in the business world. That’s why InsideWork exists and is taking its position in the marketplace of the 11th largest nation in the world that nobody knows about.
