Out of Church Christians : Why are such ever growing world wide, not leaving off seeking, just the hypocrisy?
113513
For me personally, the job God has placed me requires Sunday work.  It is a mission field and I could do no other except what He requires of me.\n\nAs a general rule, most un-churched Christians do not like all the rules and regulations imposed on them by the church leaders.  So many churches do not teach the freedom we have in Christ.  We hear do this and do that.  Paul says we have the freedom to do anything.  When the Holy spirit dwells in you, you learn what freedom is expedient and what is not.  DO NOT cause your brother to stumble with your rules and regulations.  As a new Christians matures they come to the desire to please God more and more.  God will deal with them.  The Man made rules of the Church cannot do this.
930507
Church is exceedingly boring to people who don't share that Church's system of beliefs. Also, since churches tend to judge others and try to stuff their religion and beliefs down other people's throats, outsiders and "unbelievers" can feel judged and put off very quickly.
20187
Every January, the International Bulletin of Missionary Research publishes a “Statistical Table on Global Mission” — a detailed look at the world religious situation prepared by the mathematically indefatigable David Barrett. Absolute precision in these matters is impossible, but over the years, Barrett (an Anglican who teaches “missiometrics” at Regent University) has proven himself a judicious, reliable guide. Browsing his numbers reveals more than a few interesting things.\n\nChristian mission, for example, was essentially flat in the twentieth century. There were only 558 million Christians in the world in 1900 and there will be approximately 2 billion Christians by the middle of this year, a huge increase. But as a percentage of world population, Christianity has been treading water for a century: Christians were 34.5 percent of world population in 1900, and will be 33.1 percent in 2002.\n\nHalf of the world’s 2 billion Christians are Catholics. The next largest “megablock” of Christians is found in the denominationally-unaffiliated “Independent Churches,” which have some 400 million members — almost twice as many as the 217 million Orthodox believers in the world. Barrett counts 350 million denominationally-affiliated Protestants and another 80 million in the Anglican “megablock.” The relative positions of these “megablocks” within world Christianity will likely remain constant for the next quarter-century.\n\nEven as Christian population remained steady as a percentage of world population, other dimensions of Christian life changed dramatically in the twentieth century. Christians worshiped in 400,000 congregations in 1900; they can be found in 3.5 million parishes worldwide today. There were 300,000 books on Christianity published in 1900; 5.1 million such books will be published this year. The 3,500 Christian periodicals published in 1900 are a small fraction of the 35,000 Christian periodicals circulating today. Ten times as many Bibles will be distributed worldwide in 2002 as in 1900: 59 million versus 5.5 million. Christian organizations used some 1,000 computers in 1970; they use 332 million computers today. Charitable giving to Christian causes rose from $8 billion to $300 billion over the last century. Perhaps most strikingly, the number of Christian denominations skyrocketed, from some 1,900 a century ago to 35,500 today — one measure of the immensity of the ecumenical task in the twenty-first century.\n\nChristianity became much more an urban phenomenon in the twentieth century. In 1900, only 28 percent of the world’s Christians lived in cities. This year, 58 percent of the global Christian population will be urban dwellers.\n\nThe communications revolution also made a dramatic impact on Christian life: today, 2.5 billion people watch and listen to Christian broadcasts every month, a number Barrett expects will increase to 3.8 billion by 2025. Only 750 million were tuning-in thirty years ago, and of course no one was in 1900.\n\nThe total of what Barrett calls “distinct religions” has shot up from 1,000 in 1900 to 10,500 today, and will likely increase to 15,000 in a quarter-century. While this extravagant growth in new religions refutes the notion that the modern world is inevitably becoming secular, new religious movements are also a serious challenge to interreligious dialogue. The existing difficulties of Christian-Buddhist, Christian-Hindu, and Christian-Muslim dialogue will be magnified in dialogues with such rapidly growing “new religions” as the Vietnam-based Cao Dai (which blends Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism with themes from the Bible and the Qu’ran, while styling its leader the “Pope” and its headquarters the “Holy See”), and the Ahmadi Muslims, who claim that Jesus escaped the cross and died in India at age 120.\n\nIslam is the fastest growing major religion in the world today. From a population base of 200 million in 1900, Islam grew more th
534922
I think you are wrong. True there are some Christians who try every chance they get to cram down your throat their version of their religion. And is it also true that in other religions that same type of narrow middle zealots exist. So the problem really is one of the zealots not getting along and not the billions of us left in the world who do get along.
32129
You are correct the current growth rate of the world's population is unsustainable by any measure.  I wouln't be so quick to put the blame on religion, however.  It's hard to imagine living in a free country where there are some sort of authority telling you how many kids you can have.  It's a big problem.  \n\nThe part of the bible that says homosexuality is wrong also condones slavery and treating women as property.  I think it is sad that modern Christians cherry pick this homosexuality thing and hold it up as if it were something as important as what Jesus said, however they completely disregard the whole thing about a rich man having almost no chance to go to heaven, which scriptures said Jesus was extremely specific about.  \n\nModern christian belief is full of justifications and loopholes like the whole "love the sinner hate the sin" thing.  How many christians go to prison and tell the child molesters that they love them?  If you love the sinner, then how come it's ok to execute them?  Do you execute people you love?  In America Christians favor the death penalty more than any other group.\n\nThere are however, sects of christianity that are loving and caring and don't pick and choose what they like in the bible.  The salvationists (the salvation army) is one that comes to mind.  They are truly good people.
1139303
Good point. I suspect its because we concentrate on the humanistic level of relationships rather than leave things in the hands of God. Also we don't have busybody church brothers and sisters looking into our lives.
228142
Hello. Well, you know, too each his own. There are unfortunately people out there who are quite dishonest and they do things to try to cover their true selves. Often times people want people to believe that they are something that they really are not and sadly enough going to church on Sunday or whatever day they go may just be a way of covering their trueselves, it is quite sad and it makes others look back because people will say that so and so is Christian and they do this or said that and it gives the rest of them a bad rap. \n\nIt is unfortunate that there are hypocrites. They go to church they act high and might and the rest of the week they are out making peoples' lives miserable. \nFunny story really quick. ........  I used to take telephone calls for Sears. There was a man that called who was a Reverand and he made that known and he was so friendly and this and that until I told him how much the cost of his service call would be. Well he said" D*&^ YOU! I thought you could do better than that!! S.O.B!!\n\nLOL!! I got off the phone feeling quite disappointed, but yet I was deeply humored. \n\nAs far as Christianity being a crutch, no, for most people it is not. It gives everyone something to grasp onto, it gives them direction, it brings them happiness, they Believe and Love a Father in  Heaven and his son Jesus Christ. \nYeah for hypocrites it may be, but for most people it is the way of happiness. :)
244219
Yes, too many Christians today resemble those hypocrites. They have all these little traditions and clicks instead of spreading love and goodwill like Jesus did. That’s why I stay away from Church and those places. Those people scare me...They don't know the real GOD, they just use Gods word to judge others. Think about this...Hitler believed that the bible justified what he did. Really...Judgment is not to be done by us.
733174
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.
377016
I'm a Christian, but many times I think if I wasn't I'd be so turned off by how some other Christians behave/act/talk.  In the name of Christ, they do some really outrageous stuff or twist the scriptures to fit their own agenda. Or act SO radically ridiculous  that it is a total turnoff to those who maybe are seeking. It's only a small handful of people, mind you, but those few can really spoil it for those that are genuinely trying to walk day to day and show God's love in every circumstance.  I consider myself a radical Christian, but mellowed by age, and a general sense of not wanting to turn off and offend every person I meet!
385690
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.
1045706
There are hypocrites in every church.  Is the pastor or youth leader a true Christian?\n\n Because of this feeling unfavored or because of the hypocrites, I fell away from church for 10 years.  In the process, I forgot about God.  After praying because I remembered God, because I did something stupid, I had to go through a spiritual, mental & physical breakdown lasting nearly a year.  All my idols & wrong thinking got fried.\n\nYou need a church.  Jesus is who you need most, but you need to walk in forgivness.  Remember Jesus forgave & forgot your sins.  In prayer, you'll receive direction on the church or youth group that is right for you.  Remember, Jesus is what matters.
987502
I don't understand that. We as christians should be in the world, not separating ourselves from it. They're not gonna spread the Gospels by hiding.
1047727
I am a Christian and I totally know what you mean.  I got away from my believes for a while because of all of the "rules".  Yes there are certain rules you should follow, but Christians these days take some things overboard.  I beleive that church today has gotten away from the heart of the ministry and more into the rules.  It is blinding Christians and it is very sad!  How are you supposed to witness to somebody if you are to worried about what they arre wearing, their music, what they do for fun and all of that???  Christians today need to let that go and realize that they are missing the chance to witness and care for others who are hurting just because of their uptightness.
991828
I dunno, I think it's because it is man's nature to bring himself as far away from God as possible, therefor giving christians the short end of the stick.
112037
What gives you the right to make such a broad generalization of people that don't go to church?  I think maybe you should brush up on what your religion tells you about judging people, before you ask questions like this.
991439
Some poeple take evangelizing to the next level.  It is not just Christians.  Most religions, even some pagan ones, have sects that push their followers to convert others.