Are churches dying?

[Gideon300]

The area where I live.. there are some large churches. But mostly it's very small churches. Less than 30 people showing up on a Sunday. And most of the people showing up are 60+ years old. There are very few young people attending these churches.

What is going to happen to these churches as their members pass away? There's nobody there to replace them that I can see.

Same is happening in Australia. It seems to me that the larger churches draw people in, especially the younger generation. It saddens me because so much revolves around "worship". One place I've been to is so loud that my ears were ringing after the singing. God is the "Ancient of Days" but He is not deaf. Too many places are more entertainment centres than spiritual families. Having 10,000 spiritual infants is not growth. It's just numbers and God is not impressed with that. God looks for maturity, for unity, for sound teaching and above all for love. I visited an internationally renowned church in Asia a few years ago. It was packed. You had to have a ticket to get into the first meeting where the Pastor preached in person. I found it sterile and not very friendly. Talking about love and unity is far easier than living it.

 

[Gideon300]

problem is they are cults and young people arent buying that. Pastors force them to believe but no one new is buying that either

By definition, every denomination is a cult. I don't know how you came to your conclusion from what the OP said. No one can force anyone to believe anything. I'd rather go to a nearby Baptist church with 30 people than an even closer hyper Pentecostal church with several hundred members.

 

[Mission21]

By definition, every denomination is a cult. I don't know how you came to your conclusion from what the OP said. No one can force anyone to believe anything. I'd rather go to a nearby Baptist church with 30 people than an even closer hyper Pentecostal church with several hundred members.

You said,
"By definition, every denomination is a cult."
- interesting point/perspective.
----
Original definition of Cult
It comes from " the Latin Cultus, a noun with meanings
ranging from 'tilling, cultivation' to 'training or education'
to 'adoration'..."

 

[Platosgal]

Sitting in a building is not church
So that thing may go away
God will, and is creating a new thing that is more honest and less
Churchy - we need to pray for his will

 

[shittim]

YES! Relationship, personal, vital, one on one relationship. NOT "religion", we have "played church" since Constantine created an organization mirroring the Roman form of government, so very far from what was His plan.
The "ecclesia" is the body of believers, not an organization or building.
Come quickly Lord Jesus, blessings to all who are His Own

 

[mustaphadrink]

The New Testament Church (NTC) was small and big. it was small because it met in homes but it was big because there was only one church in each town as in the church at Corinth; the church at Philippi; the church at Ephesus etc. They met daily and weekly. no doubt daily in homes and weekly in the synagogue orginally on a Saturday.

The home meetings focused around teaching, prayer, fellowship and eating. They never had a thing called the communion or eucahrist.

It is anyone's guess what the weekly meeting was about. Being jews primarily I guess it had something to do with the temple worship.

 

[shittim]

Holy Spirit was present as well, thus the Power Jesus spoke of, what is mistaken for the "church" then devolved into religion to where Jesus taught in these days " they will have an outward form of godliness denying the power".

 

[MatthewWestfieldUK]

The area where I live.. there are some large churches. But mostly it's very small churches. Less than 30 people showing up on a Sunday. And most of the people showing up are 60+ years old. There are very few young people attending these churches.

What is going to happen to these churches as their members pass away? There's nobody there to replace them that I can see.

I would agree. Most in London are being sold. Converted to flats.

 

[mustaphadrink]

I would agree. Most in London are being sold. Converted to flats.

What you might say the church is flatlining.

 

[HumbleOne]

The area where I live.. there are some large churches. But mostly it's very small churches. Less than 30 people showing up on a Sunday. And most of the people showing up are 60+ years old. There are very few young people attending these churches.

What is going to happen to these churches as their members pass away? There's nobody there to replace them that I can see.

There could be a couple of reasons. One, God could be in the process of removing a lamp stand. Two, the church simply isn't growing and the out reach is non-existent. Third, depends on the theology they're teaching. Four, the bible Sermons are not deep enough and making little impact. (Sometimes, I call these churches the two verse church) yes, you can. some wonderful sermons with two verse. Five, not Christ centered. Six, change in Christian culture.

There's a whole lot more that could be added.

 

[shittim]

All of the above and more, not teaching as the first century church taught on experiencing God and walking in the power of Holy Spirit as is required.