Why Physical Church Attendance Is A “New" Spiritual Discipline

The Covid-era has changed many things. 

One of these things is how people engage with the local church, particularly when it comes to in-person church attendance

Sam Rainer, in an article entitled, “How a Decrease in Attendance Frequency is Affecting Your Church” wrote that an “active member” used to be someone who would attend church 2-3 a week whereas that number has now changed to 2 times a month. 

This article was written in 2019.

Church attendance frequency has decreased even more during the Covid-era. 

Ed Stetzer hints at this in his article, 3 Trends Shaping the Post-Pandemic Church, by using the imagery of those in the front row (most engaged), middle row (engaged), and the back row (somewhat engaged). According to his thinking, while the front row engaged even more during the Covid-era, the back row ended up engaging even less, even leaving the church altogether. 

Why Some Are Gathering Less Frequently 

1. Some are sticking with digital church. 

Online church has done for some exactly what we knew it’d do: Give a legitimate reason to never go in person. I mean, why would someone spend all morning getting ready and lug their kids to church when they can watch online while enjoying breakfast after sleeping in?

2. While the virus is a concern for some, more have grown out of habit. 

Understandably, some do not want to gather out of caution because they’re immunocompromised or have a family member who is. But for many others, I believe we’ve simply grown out of the habit of going to church. There may have been a time when the thought of not going to church felt weird, but now, the thought of going feels weird.

3. Some are in a period of re-thinking life altogether.

Some have said that society is currently in a period of restructuring. For example, people’s view of work has been changing, in what’s been called “The Great Resignation.” People are asking deeper questions about the kind of life they want to live. It’s not hard to imagine that people are also re-thinking faith expression. 

What This Means For the Current Discipleship Landscape

We should no longer assume that people view the physical gathering as being essential, but help people to understand why it is so.

Churches have to associate physical church gathering as one of the spiritual disciplines alongside Bible reading, prayer, community life, generosity, etc.

In other words, discipleship in the present moment involves re-training God’s people to gather physically.

This should not be done in a way to guilt others, especially those who cannot gather for health reasons. I’m also a big fan of digital church and believe online church discipleship and online communities will become more normative over time.

I just believe churches can and should teach and make the ask with conviction, humility, and deep love for their people believing that gathering in person is a good thing for their souls.

The phrase “Don’t go to church, but be the church” is a convicting prophetic word for very active Christians who conflate going through the motions of church life for truly walking with Jesus. 

But for everyone else? It is terrible advice.

The truth is, gathering physically is very important for a follower of Jesus. 

For one, following Jesus is a communal, not individual experience. To be a “spiritual person” who is on a personal journey without community is a neat concept. Only problem? It’s not a Biblical concept. God designed us to experience Jesus in the context of others. 

Secondly, we cannot even obey certain commands otherwise. There are over 50 “one another” commands for how God’s people should relate with one another. A Christian cannot be patient with a fellow Christian they’re never around. A Christian can only serve a Christian they can see and interact with. 

Thirdly, it’s commanded by God (because He knows it’s good for us). Hebrews 10:24-25 says “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”

Conclusion

So is physically gathering at church a new spiritual discipline? No, it’s not new in the truest sense of the word. But it will feel “new” for many.

Viewing church attendance as a spiritual discipline may feel odd because there was a time in the American church when church attendance was a given. But much has changed in the last few months and things will continue to shift.

The good news? Jesus has not changed and he will continue to build his church (whether people attend regularly or not).

So let’s continue to make the ask and invite others to come to church with us this weekend. After all, it’s in “going to church” that we remember how “to be the church.”