Does Going to Church Still Matter?
by Clay Stauffer
Adapted
Pew Research has been tracking trends in America for many decades. Some of the most recent data is very eye-opening, if not alarming. In 2024, roughly 30% of Americans say they attend church regularly, loosely defined as once a month. Less than 50% of Americans now claim membership to any given church. These trends are much lower than just a few decades ago. Why have we seen such a rapid decline in this country? What seems to be going on?
Simply going to church does not make you a strong Christian any more than walking into a gym will put you in shape. Moreover, spiritual and emotional growth does not happen automatically. It takes work and dedication. Research shows that couples actively involved in a church tend to have healthier marriages. Families involved in church tend to place faith and spirituality at the center of their lives. Faith is not a ticket to a problem-free life. We all know that. But faith and a strong community will give you the foundational hope and strength you need to face and navigate the many challenges life brings your way.
Peter Scazzero makes the case that simultaneously being spiritually mature and emotionally immature is impossible. He clearly states that the world constantly sends messages that challenge spiritual growth. These messages include: Happiness is found in accumulating things; security is found in money and status; pleasure, convenience, and comfort are most important; you’re only responsible for yourself. We get bombarded with these secular messages day after day, commercial after commercial. However, becoming spiritually mature will not happen until we learn to develop a sense of emotional health and prioritize ongoing growth. The two go hand in hand. Emotional stability involves recognizing and managing our feelings, having genuine compassion for others, maintaining meaningful relationships, avoiding destructive behavior patterns, loving others without changing them, knowing our limits and weaknesses, resolving conflict maturely, and learning to grieve in healthy ways.
Our culture seems to ask three predictable questions over and over again. What do you do? What do you own? What do others think of you? These are not the questions that should drive us. Scazzero says these questions must be replace with a different set of questions: How can I be quick to listen and slow to speak? How can I be angry and not sin? How can I monitor my heart and motives? How can I speak the truth in love? How can I become a peacemaker? How can I mourn and embrace change in a healthy way? How can I strive to tell the truth? How can I get rid of all bitterness, rage, and envy? The human condition is anything but simple and easy. We will remain frustrated until we recognize that healthy spirituality is always grounded in emotional maturity, discipline, and commitment, and many are not up for the task. For many people, religion is viewed as an obligation and not as an ongoing opportunity for personal growth, transformation, and connection to God.
Churches matter because they regularly facilitate this kind of spiritual growth. Neglecting to do the hard work will directly affect every other aspect of our lives.
