In over 30 years of church attendance, I've never once heard it mentioned during a sermon, and have attended about 20 different Prostestant churches in different states. (Only a guest speaker said it was the number #1 problem)
138960
It sounds like your guest speaker was expressing his own opinion; or maybe he was referring to the growth of the pornography industry over the past couple of decades. It's a multi-billion-dollar-per-year industry and that means A LOT of people are buying the stuff. And it stands to reason that if a lot of people are buying it, then at least some of them must be churchgoers.  But think about it: These simple facts, recited in a sermon, might get your senior pastor into a lot of trouble with his congregation; could even cost him his job.  \n\nNow are you really surprised that he's never mentioned it?
169177
Currently there are about 8 million parishoners in about 150 countries all over the world.\nThis figure is growing fast at the present time.\nAs to why this is the case, I would imagine it has something to do with personal choice. You would have to ask them individually.\n\nYou might however, consider sticking to your original ideas about religion.\nLet them be, and I'm sure they will continue to let you be.
641303
It may be that his church is filled with husband/wife couples and he feels the lack. Or people have asked him where his wife is. My husband and I are in nearly the same situation. I think religion issues have done almost as much damage to marriages as having affairs. Try to discuss this when he's not angry?
366680
I'm not totally sure why people don't join Christianity. But- I think it might have something to do with it contradicting itself constantly. Another reason might be because people like Evangelicals preach messages of Christ's love-only to turn around and use the Bible to perpetuate xenophobic ideals.
62031
It isn't jsut christian churches, it's ALL of them and the impact hasn't been good at all.  None handled them in a manner that was appropriate and swept them under the carpet.  Tht gave a bad impression to those following the teachings, making it seem hypocritical.  Combined with alot of other things that have gone on this is part of the reason for declining memberships and those turning away from religion.  You can't preach one thing then turn around and do the opposite and expect people to follow.
455718
The vicar returned to the rectory complaining bitterly that someone had stolen his bicycle while he'd been out on his parish calls.\n"I've got an idea," replied the verger."This Sunday in church make the Ten Commandments the theme of the sermon and when you get to "Thou shall not steal" watch their faces carefully for any tell-tale signs."\nSo that Sunday the vicar began his sermon but halfway through suddenly dried up and finished early.\n"What happened?" asked the verger later.\n"Well,I was going to do as you suggested but when I got to "Thou shall not commit adultery," I suddenly remembered where I'd left my bicycle."
216921
While it is important to have fellowship with other Christans, it is a command even, remember that you don't have to be in church to worship. God should be part of your daily walk in life, not just Sunday. Also I'm kind of reminded of something else... even Paul the Apostle supported himself as a tentmaker...
602456
maybe this will help it is a sermon about that same subject\nhttp://mcdonald.southern.edu/sermons/00/0520.htm\nGOD BLESS
594749
This is EXACTLY what organized religion is about today.  Money, money, money.  How many of these dudes with 4000 square foot houses would be preaching if there was no money involved and it was just about the bible and god?  Does "the word" someone get passed BETTER because he's pulling in $125K a year?  No, it doesn't.  \n\nAnd people continue to fall for it, giving, giving, giving and giving some more "in the name of" whomever.  Give me a break.  I was forced to sit and listen to a BS sermon about "giving 10% of your earnings to the church, if you don't then these "bad things" are going to happen.  C'MON!  BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO EVERYONE.  They would have happened anyway!  Then the people leave and inevitably something bad will happen to them...they might get in a wreck, lose something important or worse, then think, "If I had given the church that money, this wouldn't have happened."  What a farce.  And people buy into it, hook, line and sinker.
562062
I have met many pastors who complain about this very thing. What the younger adults are attracted to is a more liberal, contemporary service. My church has two services. The first service is a traditional service and has hymns and is for the older generation and the second service has contempary music in the worship. The pastor gives the same sermon though. While this solved the solution of which kind of service one prefers, it has caused a huge gap in the generations and we really don't know each other at all. Our pastor has said that it sometimes feels as if there are two churches there. \n\nMaybe I'm a cynic but there isn't anything that's going to start attracting the younger generation. My church is a fundamantal, evangelic church but I'm a lot more liberal so I'm not always comfortable there. My husband prefers a fundamental church. My reasons for not  being so attracted to church as a whole is that I feel it's a very shallow experience at times. All we do is sing songs then listen to a sermon. It's very intellectual and not mystical at all. We don't have any rituals like say the Catholics so it gets quite boring at times. I also think that the way the Christian church as a whole treats women and gays is just horrendous at times. I've also attended a church in the past that believed any other denomination weren't really Christians. Fundamantal politicians sure aren't helping make the church look attractive either.
576187
I believe it is because so many questions come from USA where most people are religious, go to church and are puzzled by what information they receive there.  Clearly their concerns are not answered by their priest etc.  In Australia only 1% of the population attends church regularly so there is not the concern about religious matters, and therefore not the steady flow of questions of this type
662121
Of course it's rediculous. The pastors of the different churches have to make some excuse as to why there are over 600,000 different christian denominations though. Those pastors of the churches wanted to be able to "guide" what their following believed in. Only by proclaming the bible is perfect, and themsevles, the pastors the most educated (supposedly), were the best ones who could interpret the scriptures to what they "really meant". This is why so many christian believes change all the time throught history. Also why those believes are the most popular of the day. If the pastors weren't the sole interpreter of the scriptures they wouldn't be payed so much. \n\nIronlicly you'll never find the word "bible" in the scriptures either. The word mean a collection of books. \nMost christians will scite Rev 22:19 to you. They fail to realize that the "book" the scriptures is talking about is the book of revelation, not the bible. John (who wrote revelations) hadn't even written the Gospel of John yet when he wrote revelations. According to christian doctrine then the book of John would not be allowed. Of course christians also don't realize that the bible was not put together for several hundred years after the apostles died. \nThere is a like scripture in Deuteronomy 4:2 "ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the lord your God which I command you".\n\nIf christians interpreted this the same way as they did revelations all books, revelations, everything would end after Moses. Of course they don't interrept it that way, that would be rediculous.
314746
a big thank you thank you, this is what i have been trying to get through to ppl. Its an mental illness that affects people from all walks of life. Not just a catholic priest. Only reason they pick on the catholics about this is because the church doesn't allow the priest to get married. so there  is where they come up with this bs. My point is if  that is the case. then whats  the excuse of all the others that do this  and are married?
238521
I think it's possible that there are people in the second category. I'm not sure I've actually met any of them, however. Every single self-identifying "Evangelist" I've come across has been far more interested in other peoples' sins than anything about love or forgiveness. Maybe it's just that the first group makes so much more noise, you never get to hear anyone else.
87335
It isn't the size of the building or the congregation that counts. It is the presence of God to the people gathered in his name. Whether it be 5,000 people gathered in the Hills of Galilee, or a hundred gathered on a winter day in Nebraska, it is all about God, and that people gather in His name.
308311
i believe that there are annual church conferences with representatives from churches all over who vote and decide on various things one of those being whether a pastor stays or goes. For example at my grandfathers church he had the same pastor for 10 or 11 years and then in the last 4 years they have had 3 different people.
116197
I am not sure what you mean. Some Christians are making quite a big stir and fighting back in opposition to homosexual marriage. Or do you mean that too many Christians are being too quiet and not being outspoken enough against homosexual marriage?