Going to church important to many for lots of reasons

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/12/2023 (670 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The story of Christianity in Canada the last 20 years has been one of decline — attendance and affiliation are both decreasing for many congregations.

But not everyone has stopped going to church. I recently asked people on social media who still go to church to tell me why.

For most, it’s about community. Almost everyone listed that as being important. But other things came up, too, such as worship, music, growing in faith and service. Some also mentioned things such as connecting with the divine, the holy or with transcendence, or being in God’s presence.

In their comments, they elaborated on the reasons they gave for going to church.

“I feel that if change is to occur, I need to be there to help the church change, not abandon it,” said Chris. (I am using first names only.)

Attending church “helps me grow in my faith,” said Karla. “It’s the best part of my week!”

For Cheryl, “there is also something special about group worship.”

Worship is also important to Kathy. “I go because I need that worship experience, with other believers in Jesus,” she said. “There is that sense of being drawn into the presence of God and out of my little world with all its woes and difficulties, hurts and hardships.”

Joy loves going to church because it’s “a chance to pray together and a chance to celebrate but also to walk through grief together. For me there is something very special about gathering and hearing the voices around you singing together.”

Lorne goes because Jesus was known to frequent the “church” of his day — the synagogue. As someone who is a follower of Jesus, he said “if that was good for our leader, that was his practice, it has to be good for us.”

For James, the goal of churchgoing is worshipping “our creator and saviour.”

Sharon goes to church because “often something there speaks to me and brings refreshment, encouragement or new insights … I believe God is present and at work when His children gather together. It’s also nice to interact in person with people I wouldn’t see otherwise.”

For Janet, it’s because church “is the gathering of God’s people. It’s a pretty awesome place to be. I feel safe to be me, weak or broken or tired as I may be. I am accepted and loved and there is a place for me. It is a pretty vivid reminder of God’s love and care for each one of us, and how we need one another.”

MaryLou has many reasons for going to church, including the church library, the music, because it gives her a chance to serve, it gives her hope, it provides an opportunity for peace and quiet, and she gets to meet interesting people.

“The church has sometimes been a place for me to question, rethink and reshape my world view,” she said, adding it’s a place “where I feel connected to something greater than myself, to the spirit of God, the creative force.”

Byron goes because of the “thoughtful worship and some awesome engagement in service in the neighborhood. The combination is life-giving.”

Mary keeps going because “I need the transcendent. I go to church because there is such a thing as eternity. I go to church to hear about things that aren’t in the news. I need to hear things assuring me I am not crazy. I need to see and touch other people who believe in God. I need the community.”

“Our family loves worship time,” said Art. “In community it is special.”

For Dora, “it’s the plumb line of a week. Often a reminder, sometimes a reset.”

Ed appreciates a chance to “sing with my fellow choir members.” He also likes how his pastor “presents views that are helpful in my daily work and in the development of my faith.”

Harvey goes to church for “good Bible teaching, fellowship, prayer and worship.”

Janice goes because she wants to be with “others who want to follow Jesus and live by his example. For me, I need the community and prayer with others to do that.”

For Lois, going to church promotes “feelings of belonging. I belong here. I belong to this particular group of people. They love me for who I am and will be there for me when stuff happens in life.” At the same time, she goes for “a feeling of closeness to God… I feel like God is near and I ‘commune’ with God in that hour.”

Norman attends church because it is a way to “seek the divine, beauty, and the holy.” It satisfies his “longing for Inspiration, hope, love and a profound, divine perspective in today’s world.”

Those are some reasons why people go to church. Why do you go to a place of worship?

faith@freepress.mb.ca

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