Why Do People Go to Church?
A previous post, I've stopped going to Church for a while, has me thinking. Why do people go to church? What causes a person to get out of bed on a perfectly sleepy Sunday morning? Why do they/we forgo relaxation, the newspaper, catching up on your favorite blogs or whatever it is you could be doing and go to church? Why do I go to church? I think this a rather straightforward question but I want to make sure that I'm not just writing down the Sunday School answers, so, here it goes. The reasons why people go to church:
- To worship God (Gawd! To be proper).
- To establish a social connection within the local community (believers or otherwise, aka. fellowship).
- To make one's self feel better, serve penance, sacrifice, etc..
- To accrue benefits (e.g., social status, money, accolade, etc.)
- To earn a living.
- To see friends.
- To network.
- To sing.
- To demonstrate your goodness.
- To appease others.
- To relieve fear.
- To stimulate fear.
- To continue tradition.
- To look for a mate.
I seriously doubt this list is complete. I need input. What have I left off? How can these reasons be categorized or lumped together?
posted by Scott at 10:29 AM
15 Comments:
Scott- I have been on my journey for almost two years. You can read my story on YBMT.org Bruce was nice enough to put in his stories area on the right side. When you go to Steve Jones' website, prepare to be challenged. You don't have to agree with everything, but you have to admire Steve' knowledge and thoughtfulness. He seeks nothing but to inform. He's a great guy. You are welcome at my blog anytime. Peace
Don R.
Don, thanks for the encouragement. I have the limits of the Bible (?) paper in the reading queue. I'm sure it'll make it's way over here in one capacity or another.
BTW, any comment on the reasons why people go to church?
Because they never ask themselves why they do it?
I think you have nailed the majority of reasons people go. I, however, go for some of those reasons but mainly because my family is running this one church I attend and they are quite radical.
So, do you try to keep them in line? Are you the church heavy? When you say radical, what do you really mean? Are they handling snakes, healing en masse?
Do you agree with their radical view of the church? If not, why do you continue to go, family loyalty?
I'd like more detail if you are willing to share.
After 4 years of basically absenteeism from the church, I have now gone to church mostly every Sunday for 3 years. (But not today, ha! A little too much fun over the weekend means I need some resting.)
I have to say these days I go to church for a few reasons:
1.) I love it. We have a church, for the first time in my life, where I look forward to a challenge nearly every time I go.
2.) I truly feel the presence of God there in a way I never seem to anywhere else, except when I spend time on silent retreats.
3.)There's an entertainment factor, too. It's entertaining, but that alone is not enough to keep me going back every Sunday.
4.) I feel connected to a body that is doing something greater in the name of Christ for the poor. Our church has a superb social justice ministry, and I love how they offer so many ways to contribute, even for graduate school burn outs like me.
5.) I believe God wants me to go. Community has taken a whole new place in my life over the past 3 years. Being connected to fellow believers, I think, is the whole point of church.
6.) No one person controls our church. Teams of people are involved, and I could be one of those people if I felt the need/calling to do so.
7.) I like the way our church incoporates art and develops artists.
8.) There is no Sunday School. I never did like Sunday School.
9.) There's no Sunday night service. Take a nap, be with your family!
10.)I never once have to think about what I wear to church. Seriously, worrying about what fancy clothes to wear kept me away before. Especially when I was depressed..and gaining weight. The fact I can wear my favorite jeans and a tshirt. Or a dress. Or whatever, makes me want to actually go!
I've been out of church for 1 1/2 years, but the most legitimate reason I can think of is to be with people I care about. There's just something about the whole "together" thing.
Hi Scott...here's my response.
First off by radical I mean that it doesn't consider the majority of conservative church theology as anything to be upheld. We are honestly searching for answers for real problems, not just the usual 'salvation only' ideal.
The real reason I even attend church (left for 6 years prior) is because if I want to see a change I have to be willing to face up to any and all problems within it (as we can all admit there are tonnes). I may not like the problems but I can't do much by ignoring them and just walking away.
I also see the church as a great organization to help the communities they live in (at this point they almost all ignore the real issues in their neighborhoods). The church, if run in a productive way, could be a place of various programs (ex: helping single-mothers). I guess I see a glimmer of hope for the church to do something with their money besides building a parking lot or a better building.
Church is the one of the institutions that has lost credibility with the people. I want to help restore that faith in Christ, one that includes our every part of life and not just a simple view of salvation or spirituality. I read Christ, and if I read correctly, I see the call to help the 'poor' (or be 'poor in spirit') and there is a lot of problems fitting 'poor' these days (ex: depression, poverty, lack of housing or employment, etc). I don't see why the church can't start getting involved in people's lives to help make their world a better, freeing place.
Societyvs,
Thanks for you're input. It sound like a neat place. I think you mentioned a key issue serveral times. You feel like the church is really struggling to find honest answers not just beleive in Jesus and all will be well (now give me your money). I believe that is a very, very important issue, the struggle of true beleivers.
Thanks,
Scott
Great list.
I loved the last one, "look for a mate". Had someone told me that 20 years ago I would've found Jesus a lot sooner! (and I wouldn't have wasted thousands of dollars on bimbos) Instead I eventually married an attractive Latina, and she made me go to church with her. Our church did stimulate me to learn more, so churches do serve a purpose, even if we go for the wrong reasons and they sometimes give the wrong message.
Wrong reasons, wrong message, but God uses them for good. Sounds biblical.
I find that the majority of people who go to church for themselves have missed the point of church completely. Church is not about how much we can be entertained, or feel better about ourselves, or even help the community. Church is really about giving Glory to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Because He is worthy of it.
The reason to go to church is to hear God's Word preached! For the truth of His Word to enter our hearts and minds, changing our thoughts and actions so that we can give glory and honor to Him.
There are specific things God's Word says, about how to please God, and if we think we can approach God anyway we want we are wrong.
Hebrews 11:6 "Without faith it is Impossible to please God, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him."
Church is a body of believers who have gathered together to hear God's Word preached, and so encourage one another to do what He has commanded us.
His commands include helping the poor, loving our neighbors. But how are we to change our selfish thinking to be conformed more to the image of Christ? Only by hearing His Word, His Truth over the lies of this world.
So next time you go church, what is being taught from the Bible is the most important part, listen up!
I am doing a study on WHY POEPLE GO TO CHURCH.. for my psychology class, and i was wondering if i could print your survey that you did.... as a reference and extra study. I WILL make sure you have credit if you wish... i dont plan on using your stuff in my presentation but more as a foundation to my research.
thank you.
Lindsey A. Schmitz
Hie
i was wondering if i could also use this page for my coursework on why epople go tto church
thanks
please contact me at nkomo@hotmail.com
people go to church to be tricked into believing in something thats not real
Why go to church? There are almost as many reasons as there are people who go.
For me, it is to grow in my understanding of how to apply God's word in my life.
For me, it is to learn more and examine my beliefs and sometimes to change them.
For me it is to be refined and break off the rough edges.
For me it is to serve in a classroom with 5 and 6 year olds.
For me it is to partner with my church to teach my children about Christ and to model that relationship with Jesus for them.
For me it is to be encouraged and challenged.
For me it is to worship and to renew my focus on God.
For me it is a chance to escape the routine and experience the life we have in Christ.
We all have our reasons. Some are selfish. Some are noble. I think this is a good honest discussion of the variety of reasons that people go to church.
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