This was a relatively early post on this blog – dating all the way back to Nov 2015 – but continues to be one of the most frequently downloaded. If anything, the topic is even more pertinent a decade later.
Churched, Un-Churched and De- Churched
If you’re up with the discussions on the future of the church you’ll know that commentators distinguish between people who are un-churched (as in never had any significant contact with a church) and those who are de-churched (as in once were involved, but no more thank you very much).
While the church has always worried about those who are unchurched (they’re the reason for the missionary movement), the de-churched have had a mixed press.
Theologically it’s a bit of a worry. Is it once saved always saved, or is our salvation a little less certain? And if it’s once saved, does it mean that the de-churched were never really converted? Such questions ignite theology classes. However most observers are convinced that the church has entered a post-theological era. I know that sounds astonishing, but it means simply that our questions now tend to be pragmatic; they are more about us than God.
Sometimes we simply feel insulted by the de churched, and so we judge them. How dare they come to our churches, get involved and then declare themselves disinterested or unimpressed. Clearly if they were more committed, more godly or simply more pleasant, they would have stayed. And so we dismiss them (why should anyone hear the gospel twice until everyone has heard it once).
Trouble is the Bible doesn’t see them in that light. After all, in today’s terms both the lost sheep and the prodigal son were, for a season, de churched people.
If we are wiser, we’ll listen to them… and there are many voices to listen to. Those who left because they thought church unfriendly, or a clique, or not very spiritual, or that there had to be a more exciting way to spend a Sunday, or that it was out of touch, or that it was triumphalistic (no place for strugglers); and then there are those who are burnt out after trying too hard for too long (too long a sacrifice turns a heart to stone…); as well as those… so many different voices…
Voices that don’t say what we want to hear are hard to listen to, but sometimes they have much to say. How about this as a prayer? “Lord give us a heart for the un-churched, and the de-churched, and help us to be responsive to the uncomfortable things they teach us…”
Nice chatting…
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