CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY JUNE 28, 2023
WITH SO MUCH EMPHASIS ON POLITICS AND POLITICIANS WHO CAN’T, OR WON’T FIX WHAT IS REALLY WRONG WITH AMERICA, HERE’S A STORY THAT MIGHT GET TO THE HEART OF THE PROBLEM.
CHURCH ATTENDANCE IN THE UNITED STATES HAS SHOWN A SMALL BUT NOTICEABLE DECLINE COMPARED TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
A GALLUP POLL FINDS THAT IN THE YEARS BEFORE COVID, 2016 THROUGH 2019 – AN AVERAGE 34 PERCENT OF AMERICAN ADULTS SAID THEY ATTENDED CHURCH OR OTHER FORMS OF PUBLIC WORSHIP.
FROM 2020 TO THE PRESENT, THE AVERAGE HAS BEEN 30 PERCENT. THE RECENT CHURCH ATTENDANCE LEVELS ARE ABOUT 10 PERCENTAGE POINTS LOWER THAN WHAT GALLUP MEASURED IN 2012 AND MOST PRIOR YEARS.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? THE WRITER OF HEBREWS ADMONISHES BELIEVERS NOT TO FORESAKE THE GATHERING TOGETHER OF OURSELVES. WE ARE MADE TO WORSHIP GOD AND CHURCH ATTENDANCE ALLOWS US TO HEAR GOD’S WORDS PREACHED AND SERVE AS A PUSH-BACK TO THE CULTURAL ROT SURROUNDING US.
YES, TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS MANY TO WATCH FROM HOME WHEN NECESSARY, BUT IT IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GATHERING TOGETHER. IF YOU HAVE BEEN ABSENT FROM CHURCH EXCEPT FOR HEALTH REASONS, CONSIDER GOING BACK. IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE. I’M CAL THOMAS.
