Some leave the church because of discouragement. Whether it’s life issues such as divorce or an unexpected death, financial hardships or other unforeseen circumstances, some may have a hard time reconciling their faith with the situation they’re experiencing. A loss of hope and a diminishing belief system will cause many to change their direction.
Lastly, I believe some leave the church because they don’t see their value to the kingdom. After the initial commitment of salvation, it’s easy for the Christian life to be reduced to attending a weekly service and maybe joining a small group. From my observation, those who stay involved for the long haul often find their unique contribution to God’s kingdom purposes based on their skills, talents, passions and experiences. Rather than feeling like a spectator on the sidelines, they see themselves as intimately involved in what’s happening. They feel more value, which can be a tremendous motivator to stay involved.
Of course, just like sports teams, there are likely more reasons to disengage than I’ve outlined and everyone’s situation is unique, so their reasons for not being involved might not fit neatly into one of the aforementioned categories.
My desire is to hear people’s unique story and to help them see how they can experience the most fulfilling life possible by being connected to Jesus and His people.
If we can create an environment where people feel connected to others and see how they’ve been uniquely created to make an impact for Christ in their community, enduring this race known as the Christian life might just be a little bit easier.
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