Churches - Darned if you do/don't

[WaltL1]

So which is worse?
Changing with society or becoming obsolete? Churches caught in a Catch 22 situation?

“Yes, there’s financial pressures that will close a church, but oftentimes, it’s more that they didn’t figure out how to change when the community changed, or they didn’t have enough young people to continue the congregation for the next generation.”

Losing their religion: why US churches are on the decline

As the US adjusts to an increasingly non-religious population, thousands of churches are closing each year – probably accelerated by Covid

www.yahoo.com

 

[Israel]

“That's some catch, that Catch-22,' he observed.​

'It's the best there is,' Doc Daneeka agreed.​

Yossarian saw it clearly in all its spinning reasonableness.​

(A man might even learn...and from there come to embrace the truth that he is already made obsolete to the world...he is not the necessary One. And be free to dance with abandon upon it)

 

[brutally honest]

Yeah, but it’s the liberal churches who are really taking it on the chin.

FactChecker: Are All Christian Denominations in Decline?

Many Americans, both within and outside the church, believe all denominations are in decline. But is it true? Are most denominations truly seeing a reduction in members?

www.thegospelcoalition.org

If a church abandons the historic Christian faith, the church dies.

 

[ambush80]

Adapt or die.

 

[Ruger#3]

Adapt or die.

I would say its return to the church or die.
Folks are tired of the flavor of the week following social trends.

 

[ambush80]

I would say its return to the church or die.
Folks are tired of the flavor of the week following social trends.

Can you list some ways that the practice and belief of Christianity have altered over time?

 

[brutally honest]

Can you list some ways that the practice and belief of Christianity have altered over time?

Women ministers, gay ministers, deprecating scripture.

 

[ambush80]

Women ministers, gay ministers, deprecating scripture.

How about an evolving notion of He11 or evolution? More stories being seen as metaphor instead of literal?

 

[WaltL1]

I would say its return to the church or die.
Folks are tired of the flavor of the week following social trends.

That appears to be age dependent.
Personally, I think stick with traditional and let the chips fall (doors close) where they may.

 

[Ruger#3]

I would think each of us would have a different list as our journeys are quite different.

I will speak only for the church I'm with now.

Marriage of gays.
Womens role in the church.

 

[ambush80]

That appears to be age dependent.
Personally, I think stick with traditional and let the chips fall (doors close) where they may.

Whatever the church or religion is good for can be preserved and adapted.

 

[ambush80]

I would think each of us would have a different list as our journeys are quite different.

I will speak only for the church I'm with now.

Marriage of gays.
Women's role in the church.

Good or bad?

 

[brutally honest]

How about an evolving notion of He11 or evolution? More stories being seen as metaphor instead of literal?

I think that mostly fits under “deprecating scripture”.

 

[Ruger#3]

Good or bad?

My opinion bad, evolving to meet changing social pressures.

 

[WaltL1]

Whatever the church or religion is good for can be preserved and adapted.

I think that very much depends on what "adapted" ends up meaning.
In general, to me, preserve and adapt are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
At some point you are teaching something new not as originally intended.

 

[WaltL1]

Yeah, but it’s the liberal churches who are really taking it on the chin.

FactChecker: Are All Christian Denominations in Decline?

Many Americans, both within and outside the church, believe all denominations are in decline. But is it true? Are most denominations truly seeing a reduction in members?

www.thegospelcoalition.org

If a church abandons the historic Christian faith, the church dies.

Theres the Catch 22.
Younger folks are rejecting the historic and walking away.
Older folks are rejecting the more liberal views and walking away.
Maybe the future of "belief" is far more of an individudual thing than a gather at the church thing.

 

[Ruger#3]

Theres the Catch 22.
Younger folks are rejecting the historic and walking away.
Older folks are rejecting the more liberal views and walking away.
Maybe the future of "belief" is far more of an individudual thing than a gather at the church thing.

"Walking away" often means folks establishing churches that are really a return to foundational beliefs. These are growing.

 

[ambush80]

I think that very much depends on what "adapted" ends up meaning.
In general, to me, preserve and adapt are at opposite ends of the spectrum.
At some point you are teaching something new not as originally intended.

I'll try an analogy of what I mean. We use paint to protect and beautify wood. Adapt might be the way it's applied or new kinds of paint. The purpose of it remains and is preserved.

 

[brutally honest]

I'll try an analogy of what I mean. We use paint to protect and beautify wood. Adapt might be the way it's applied or new kinds of paint. The purpose of it remains and is preserved.

I think many churches are changing the faith: denying doctrines accepted for millennia and adding new things that were never accepted before.

 

[WaltL1]

"Walking away" often means folks establishing churches that are really a return to foundational beliefs. These are growing.

Still got the younger folks problem.
They arent doing the establishing. A generation or two from now and......