discipled living

A 2004 study commissioned by the Kentucky Baptist Convention stated that there were 1 Million “unchurched” people in Kentucky.  Those unchurched are composed of two groups: the “Dechurched and the “Never Churched”.  The most startling fact about these numbers is that 81% of the 1 million are the “Dechurched”.  The dechurched are believers, whose commitment to Christ has not been severed, but whose commitment and participation in “church” in its current expression has changed. 

Five (5) years have passed since the book, Revolution, by George Barna first documented the growing phenomenon.  Websites have sprung up, books have been published and house churches have formed across the nation all focused on the “dechurched”.  The major denominations have engineered church plant strategies to “re-church” the dechurched.  The question is can the church truly address the concerns which have given rise to the “dechurched” phenomenon simply by redressing the church in the “Community Church” model? 

The proliferation of “de-churched” disciples is clear evidence of a problem.  “De-churched” people remain committed to the cause of Christ; yet they are disgusted by the perception of the corruption of the contemporary Church model.  Are these people who despise preaching or the Bible?  No, they are people who despise despotism in church leadership. Dechurched people desire an authentic and genuine fellowship with believers who reflect the Love of Christ taught in the Scriptures. 

There must be meaningful dialog between the "Dechurched and the "Churched" about the larger issues in order for there to be any hope of reconciliation.  One question must first be answered.  What is the intent of the "Churched" in trying to re-claim or re-absorb the "Dechurched" if there are other models of Christian fellowship developing to meet their needs?  The challenge with engaging in dialog is that the "Dechurched" have no identifiable spokesperson or leaders.  One of the greatest errors is to approach the "Dechurched" as a mission field in need of the Gospel message.

The de-churched have been and will be decried as the apostate.  The ones who have fallen away from the church as described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3

“Let no one in any way deceive you, for it [Jesus' return] will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,”

I have heard disciples speak of others who have left a particular church as “backsliders”, “unfaithful” or in other less than honorable terms.  Very seldom do I hear people ask the penetrating question, “What part did we or I play in the creating a climate where previously committed members become disillusioned disciples. 

We must reject the notion that the dechurched believer has in some way broken fellowship with Christ, or renounced their faith in the God of The Bible.  I have asked a question during leadership & church-wide workshops in the churches in Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee that has yet to be answered in a compelling way. 

Why should a person seeking a church fellowship travel 15 miles one way to come to your church when they pass 100 others on the way?

I believe that once we can compellingly respond to this question, we will be able to recover from the weakened state of the Church and begin to build communities of faith and not corporate religious engines that crank out "energized" worship as its product.