p. 3 | Why Church Attendance Is on the Decline

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Dec 21, 1911

Why Church Attendance Is on the Decline

By K. C. RUSSELL

K. C. RUSSELL

THE June number of the Hampton Columbian Magazine contains an extended article on the subject of revivals and revivalists, by Dr. Thomas E. Green, in which he mentions many of the reasons why church attendance is on the decline, as follows:—

“The decline of popular belief in the fundamental statements of doctrinal Christianity.”

“The demolition of the Bible as an inspired book by the alleged assertions of modern scholarship.”

“The improbability, or at least the unprovability, of the future life, at the hands of the most advanced science.”

“The unfortunate, to use the mildest word possible, the unfortunate fact of the divisions and denominations into which our religious world is scattered.”

“The character of the preaching in many pulpits as not appealing to thoughtful minds.”

“The fact that owing to the poor material support accorded to it, the pulpit is not attracting strong men to the ministry, but rather the reverse.”

“The fact that services and the public worship are dry and unattractive, often crude and inartistic, and that attendance upon them is a burden rather than a pleasure.”

“That life has become so strenuous, and its constant duties so onerous, that one needs every possible spare hour for relaxation and repose.”

“The fact that the punitive side of theology has been entirely abandoned, and that men are no longer afraid not to be religious.”

“The fact, most often urged as explanatory, that the constant supply of

reading-matter—books, magazines, and papers—precludes the old-time willingness, not to say desire, to listen to sermons.”

“The fact that, to a large degree, organized labor has declared itself as entirely out of sympathy with the church—the evangelical Protestant church—because it conceives the church to be entirely opposed to its well-being and its betterment. Organized labor declares the church, in its teaching and in its operation, to be under the influence of the forces that are hostile to labor’s rights and advancement.”

While we would not say that all the foregoing reasons are responsible for the decline in church attendance, it must be admitted, however, that some of the reasons assigned unquestionably lie at the foundation of the increasing lack of interest in religious things. This situation is but the sure harvest that is being reaped after years of sowing disbelief and skepticism concerning the Word of God, and especially a disregard for God’s eternal law.

Takoma Park, D. C.