Why don’t people go to church anymore?

Flares nightclub

What do you believe?

According to researchers, the number of Christian churches is declining in the United Kingdom. Some church buildings are being redeveloped as government offices, tourist information centres and even businesses.

Over the last decade, I have interviewed hundreds of people on this subject, and many folks say they either stopped attending church or never attended in the first place because they don’t believe churches are relevant to their lives. Others say they have been disappointed or hurt by people in the church, and some even say they are angry or disappointed with God, so they choose to pursue happiness apart from Him. Some say they choose to believe there is no God.

Do you believe in God?

What shocks me most is how many people say they do believe there is a God, and they believe there really was a Jesus, but they don’t take the time to consider what the Bible says about Him.

According to the Bible, Jesus is fully God and fully human, and He came to Earth, born of a woman, about 2,000 years ago. He lived a sinless life, and when He was 30 years old He began His public preaching and teaching ministry in Israel. Jesus is the Messiah, Who was foretold in the Old Testament (first part of the Bible) to be the Saviour of all who would believe in Him.

The Bible also tells us that, though man was originally created sinless on what was then a perfect Earth (Genesis 1), we have all chosen to sin (disobey God), and according to God’s Law, the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). When Jesus allowed Himself to be killed on a cross, he was taking the punishment for us. He died in our place so that we might live (John 3:16-17).

God didn’t leave Jesus in the grave. He raised Jesus from the dead on the third day (John 20).

Are you a good person?

I often ask people what would happen to them if the words of Hebrews 9:27 turn out to be true and they have to meet God in judgment immediately after they die. Many say they will go to Heaven, because they think they are a good person. So I ask them if they’ve ever lied, stolen or used God’s name in vain. These are only three of the Ten Commandments, and most people have to admit they have broken at least one of these. According to the Bible, sinners will not be allowed into Heaven unless God grants us forgiveness.

What’s so great about Heaven?

Quite a few young people have asked this question. They say they don’t want to spend eternity hanging out with old people and angels anyway, so they would rather go to Hell and hang out with their favourite celebrities. But again, this is a gross misunderstanding of Heaven and Hell. Jesus talks a lot about Hell in the book of Matthew, and it will be a place of eternal torment. No partying. Heaven, on the other hand, is a place of eternal delights in the presence of God. And there’s more…

A New Earth?

The Bible also explains that this Earth, which has been cursed because of mankind’s sinfulness, will be redeemed. God will make it perfect again, and those who give their lives to Jesus will occupy it in eternity. Who wouldn’t want to see that?! (If you want some great reading on Heaven and the New Earth, check out this page on Randy Alcorn’s blog: http://www.epm.org/faq/question/heaven.)

How will you respond?

People often say they will think about death when they get closer to that point in their lives, but the truth is that we don’t know when that point may be. We must think about eternity now. Read the Bible for yourself (I recommend starting with the Book of John) and ask God to reveal His truth to you.

Then repent (turn) from your sins and ask God to forgive you.

Any questions?

If you have any questions, or if you would like to share your own beliefs, please contact me: OnceToDie@yahoo.com. Also, feel free to leave feedback on this blog post.