Went to Church for the First Time in a Long Time

[Sho'Nuff]

So my wife and I went to church for the first time in a long time the other weekend. We are not particularly religious people, though we each consider ourselves to be Christian. Main reason for going is because our kids (now 5 and 2) had never set foot in a church, and we both feel that it is important for them to have some religious foundation and a belief in something bigger than humanity.

Anyway it had been almost 10 years since I went to a "regular" church service (i.e., one that was not tied to a major christian holiday). Suffice it to say I was blown away by the demographics at the service. My wife and I are pushing 40 and we were easily the youngest people in the pews by a good 20 years. No children present. Heck, apart from us no people under 60 were present. No Sunday school either. Was pretty clear that the church we went to was dying, quite literally.

Are all churches like this? Or are there some that have a good ratio of younger and older folks (and which are not cultish)? I have quite good memories of church when I was growing up, but that was a long time ago and it seems that times have . . . changed significantly.

 

[DesiPower]

You church sucks, I am no Christian, but have two churches nearby which I have to pass if I am going out on a Sunday morning and I see people of all ages, family with children and everything.

 

[JackBurton]

Sounds to me like the youth of today are getting smarter.

 

[kranky]

Our church has plenty of families with young kids. We had to hire another person to oversee programs for kids under 10. Look around and try other churches to find one that's a better fit for your family. Maybe check websites of "Christian churches" to see what they offer.

 

[smackababy]

Well, the only person I know who regularly attends church is my grandmother, and she is old as fuck. I think religion is falling out of style in a lot of places in the US. People are either indifferent about the experience or not religious these days.

 

[purbeast0]

what time did you go to church? the really early services usually have nothing but old people.

 

[mizzou]

The "rock n roll" conversational churches are becoming more popular among youth. They find it appealing to listen to a christian rock band and discuss merits of faith over beer then cookies and coffee.

Problem with them? They are mainly conservative evangelical theology, wrapped in a liberal package. Enjoy your daughter growing up, believing she is supposed to stay in the kitchen and pop babies out of her vagina until she croaks. Your man beats you? Sorry, these churches REALLY don't believe in divorce...perhaps you can do something different to keep him from beating you.

I'm a bit more comfortable with traditional churches with a liberal theology. I like having a sermon that makes sense and hits home. I like to be reminded why we go to church, and I like having an environment which organizes and puts an effort into giving something back to society.

I like that feeling, I picture myself as a person in medieval times, waiting to hear about the next crusade or how I can buy another indulgence. I like to see the history of religion.



OP, I also will make sure my children are forced to go to church until they can make their own decision to continue or not. At the very least, make them baptized. I was never baptized, so I often feel like a reject when I attend ceremonies. I'm like some lurking troll in the back who can't eat jesus' body or drink his blood because of my filthy soul.

 

[smackababy]

OP, I also will make sure my children are forced to go to church until they can make their own decision to continue or not. At the very least, make them baptized. I was never baptized, so I often feel like a reject when I attend ceremonies. I'm like some lurking troll in the back who can't eat jesus' body or drink his blood because of my filthy soul.

I actually think this mentality is forcing people out of church, not that I have a problem with that. Children don't want to attend church. It offers them nothing but a stuffy place they are forced to dress up for and sit still and quiet for a long time in. They don't give two shits about Jesus or grasp the understanding of what is going on. Rather than build up a resentment for being forced and having them rebel, why not take them when they are old enough to begin to appreciate it and make a choice if they feel it will improve their life by attending?

 

[Retro Rob]

The "rock n roll" conversational churches are becoming more popular among youth. They find it appealing to listen to a christian rock band and discuss merits of faith over beer then cookies and coffee.

Gimmicks dude, gimmcks. That's basically required to keep people interested.

In my opinion, Churches (which is techically the wrong word to describe the actually house of worship itself) are supposed to be places of learning.

The rock concert and isle-dancing is hypocritical and a little of a turn off.

 

[John Connor]

Well, the only person I know who regularly attends church is my grandmother, and she is old as fuck. I think religion is falling out of style in a lot of places in the US. People are either indifferent about the experience or not religious these days.

You are seriously underestimating the mass of people that are A) LDS, B) Mormon, C) Christan, D) Muslim, D) Jehovah Witness or E) Watch Joel Osteen

9 million likes! https://www.facebook.com/JoelOsteen

 

[John Connor]

Last time I stepped in church was when I was about 12. My real church experience was when I was between the ages 5 and 8. I went to bible school. I live two houses down from a Lutheran church of which I am Lutheran and that was the polling place and now in Colorado the midterms are mail in ballots. But when I went to the church to vote I would step inside and say a prayer after I voted. That's as close to church I have been recently. I was going to go for Easter.

I really don't thik you need to go to church. Just know this verse.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whom ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

 

[mizzou]

I actually think this mentality is forcing people out of church, not that I have a problem with that. Children don't want to attend church. It offers them nothing but a stuffy place they are forced to dress up for and sit still and quiet for a long time in. They don't give two shits about Jesus or grasp the understanding of what is going on. Rather than build up a resentment for being forced and having them rebel, why not take them when they are old enough to begin to appreciate it and make a choice if they feel it will improve their life by attending?

There is a significant portion of the church process that is geared towards the inclusion of small children. I do think though that there is some merit to your idea, because it's difficult for youth to appreciate the big picture.

There is definitely an argument that retention is difficult when you essentially force someone do something they don't want to do, and have no understanding why.

 

[brandonb]

As at least another person said, church service demographics have a lot to do with the time of day the service is at. In my Catholic Church I used to go to, there was 4 services over the course of a Sunday. 8am, 10am, 1pm, and 5pm. The 5pm one had the band in it, and most kids went to that one and had a ton of 10-18 year olds. 8am was full of old people. 10am/1pm was a mix between the two.

 

[John Connor]

The "rock n roll" conversational churches are becoming more popular among youth.

The only religious music I came close to was that of Amy Grant.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Are all churches like this? Or are there some that have a good ratio of younger and older folks (and which are not cultish)? I have quite good memories of church when I was growing up, but that was a long time ago and it seems that times have . . . changed significantly.

I believe it varies from church to church and maybe denomination to denomination....

I know in our church you would swear there were no children.....
The new Pastor was appointed and within a few weeks there were children all over the place....

 

[Insomniator]

Young people don't go... each generation is less and less religious. Hopefully in 50 years church will be completely gone.

 

[JulesMaximus]

There is a sprawling mega church not too far from us. Lots of younger families go there and my son has been going with friends of his for about a year or so now.

Religion is alive and well around here.

I haven't been to a church in decades (other than to drop my son off/pick him up).

 

[Slew Foot]

Around here only the mexicans and philipinos go to church.

 

[smackababy]

Around here only the mexicans and philipinos go to church.

Roman Catholic I assume?

 

[alzan]

You are seriously underestimating the mass of people that are A) LDS, B) Mormon, C) Christan, D) Muslim, D) Jehovah Witness or E) Watch Joel Osteen

9 million likes! https://www.facebook.com/JoelOsteen

^This

Gimmicks dude, gimmcks. That's basically required to keep people interested.

In my opinion, Churches (which is techically the wrong word to describe the actually house of worship itself) are supposed to be places of learning.

The rock concert and isle-dancing is hypocritical and a little of a turn off.

There is something to be said for pragmatism. We had "rock 'n' roll" churches and "hippie" ministers in the '60's and '70's when I was growing up; a lot of kids in the church continued coming to church because of the willingness of priests and laity to reach out in different ways.

Teaching and learning work best in environments that are conducive to the process; if that means reaching out in "non-traditional" ways to the laity, so be it.

 

[pete6032]

I went to Church on Sunday, there are about 250 people where I go, most are under 40. We usually end up filled to capacity with only standing room.

 

[soulcougher73]

I'm sorry.

 

[PingviN]

Good thing to start indoctrinating your kids at a young age :thumbsup:

 

[Sho'Nuff]

You church sucks, I am no Christian, but have two churches nearby which I have to pass if I am going out on a Sunday morning and I see people of all ages, family with children and everything.

What denomination? The church we went to is a UCC (United Church of Christ).

 

[Sho'Nuff]

what time did you go to church? the really early services usually have nothing but old people.

The Church we went to only has one service. 10:30AM.