Did you see the article in USA Today about the unchurched? The basic findings are that the average person who doesn’t go to church wants to learn more about Jesus and is even open to talking about Him with Christian friends, but doesn’t think the church is doing a very good job representing Jesus (either in our words or actions). Here are a few quotes:
Most of the unchurched (86%) say they believe they can have a “good relationship with God without belonging to a church.” And 79% say “Christianity today is more about organized religion than loving God and loving people.”
“These outsiders are making a clear comment that churches are not getting through on the two greatest commandments,” to love God and love your neighbor, says Scott McConnell, associate director of LifeWay Research. “When they look at churches … they don’t see people living out the faith.”
But despite respondents’ critical views of organized religion, Stetzer is optimistic. He cites the finding that 78% would “be willing to listen” to someone tell “what he or she believed about Christianity.”
They already know believers — 89% of the unchurched have at least one close friend who is Christian, Stetzer noted.
And 71% agreed that “believing in Jesus makes a positive difference in a person’s life.”
“What surprised me is the openness of the hard-core unchurched to the message of God and Christianity — just not as expressed in church,” Stetzer says.
So who do you know that you can start a conversation with about Jesus?
Of course, the goal is not get unchurched into church…. that’s just more religion. The goal is show Jesus to others, love others, and invite people into friendship with Jesus, whether or not they ever “attend church.”
