I spend a lot of time exploring the Internet and YouTube, often drawn to religious topics because of my interest in Biblical teachings. One theme I see frequently is the decline in church attendance. While some churches are thriving, studies by Pew Research Center show that many are shrinking.
I’m not a researcher, but I’ve noticed a few reasons for this decline. Some churches have become too political, which turns away believers who want faith, not politics. The pandemic also showed people they could maintain a genuine relationship with God without the burdens of attending services in large buildings that demand time and money. Many churches have grown into elaborate institutions, and that weight, discourages people. Another common reason is hypocrisy. Churches claim to be different from worldly institutions, but inside, the gap between what is preached and what is practiced is often wide. That disillusionment drives people away.
I saw this firsthand when visiting a well-known church’s website. The homepage invited people to celebrate Easter with worship services and an egg hunt. On the surface, that seems harmless — even welcoming.
But during the service, the pastor declared that the church would never adopt worldly ways, only Biblical ones. The contradiction was striking: an egg hunt, complete with candy-filled plastic eggs, is hardly Biblical. I don’t recall Jesus ever organizing such events. He did call children to Himself and warned against harming them, but He never staged an egg hunt.
The pastor’s words drew applause, but to me they rang hollow. If I were searching for a church home, that kind of inconsistency would send me elsewhere. Claiming to reject the world while embracing its traditions feels hypocritical. Pastor, you said your church would never take on worldly ways — but isn’t this precisely what you’re doing?