Only 39% of people who dropped out of church perceived their church as “caring,” finds Rainer Research. Meanwhile, 51% called their church “judgmental.” Among other unfavorable views from those who quit their church, 41% said their church was “insincere.” Only 20% felt their church was “inspirational”; 30% said their church was “authentic”; and 36% said their church was “welcoming.”
The survey was conducted among 18- to 22-year-olds. Polls have shown increasing hostility and negativity toward Christianity, mainly from younger non-Christians – a majority of whom have a bad impression of Christianity, according to The Barna Group. But more reports are indicating that young adults not just outside of the Christian faith, but those in the pews are turned off by believers. Sam Rainer III says, “When we are known more for what we are against than what we are for, what other outcome can we expect?” Young born-again Christians were as likely as non-Christians (22% vs. 23%) to say Christianity in today’s society no longer looks like Jesus, according to David Kinnaman of The Barna Group. Despite the bad impressions expressed by those who dropped out of church, Rainer found that the churches of young people who did not drop out were viewed very favorably. A majority of the young people who did not quit described their church as “caring,” “welcoming,” “authentic” and “inspirational.” Only 19% of those who stayed said their church was “insincere” and only 24% felt it was “judgmental.”
(Christian Post 1/23/08)
Whats is the remedy? We need to be modeling a relentless love for God, a no-strings attached love for people, and demonstrate a love for life that only God can give! Love Wins.
