By David Faust
Church attendance is declining in America. The Hartford Institute for Religion Research estimates that in the 314,000 Protestant churches in the United States, fewer than one member out of four (23 percent) attends worship services every week. When a Pew Research Center survey asked why people stay away from church, the answers included these:
- “I practice my faith in other ways.”
- “I don’t like the sermons.”
- “I don’t have time to go.”
- “I don’t feel welcome there.”
- “I haven’t found a church I like.”
- “My health prevents me from attending.”
Adding to the list, Lifeway Research notes that our nation’s economic turmoil and social unrest cause people to stay away because they “disagree with the church’s stances on political/social issues” and “work responsibilities prevent them from attending.”
Here is a troubling thought. What if the Lord himself doesn’t like our services and would rather not attend? Through the prophet Amos, God left no doubt how he felt about the Israelites’ gatherings. The Lord declared, “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me” (Amos 5:21). Why was God so displeased?
They professed faith, but didn’t live it. There’s a big difference between being a “professor” and a “possessor” of faith. Jesus reserved some of his harshest words for the Pharisees who “do not practice what they preach” (Matthew 23:3). It does little good to talk about faith on Sunday if we don’t practice it the rest of the week. The Israelites talked blithely about the approaching “day of the Lord,” but for them it would be a day of judgment, not mercy (Amos 5:18-20).
They mistreated their neighbors. Selfish and unmerciful, the Israelites turned “justice into bitterness and cast righteousness to the ground” (Amos 5:7). They misused the court system, taking bribes and depriving the poor of justice (5:12). Showing up for weekend worship doesn’t give us a license to mistreat our neighbors during the week. Amos urged, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (5:24).
They gave offerings, but their hearts weren’t right. Complacent and obsessed with personal comfort, the Israelites lounged around on beds and couches and ate fancy food, but they showed little concern about the spiritual health of their nation (Amos 6:1, 4-7). The Lord said, “Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring me choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them” (5:22).
Their music may have pleased them, but it didn’t please God. Sick of their fake worship, the Lord said, “Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps” (Amos 5:23).
Amos’s prophecy is a wake-up call for the church. It’s good if big crowds show up at our services, but are we doing everything we can to make sure our assemblies please the Lord? The apostle Paul told the Corinthians their meetings did “more harm than good” (1 Corinthians 11:17). Instead, let’s put our faith into action, care for the needy, and speak up for justice. Let’s sing what we believe and believe what we sing. Let’s give our offerings with glad and grateful hearts.
“Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is” (Amos 5:14).
Personal Challenge: How do you think the hard-hitting prophecies of Amos relate to the American church? What can you do to ensure that your church’s worship assemblies please the Lord?
I think David Faust is spot-on. After thinking through all those areas he mentions these stand out hugely. First, not living a Christian life has come much as a result of weak preaching and teaching. Preachers doing timed talks with little call to live out the Scriptures. Second, not ministering to our neighbors. This has become so out of balance. Either a church becomes woke justice warriors, or they have never met the neighbors around them. Finally, music. I love a good mixture of music with songs appropriate for worship, and an atmosphere that is about Jesus and our Father, not a concert where they entertain while we clap and drink our coffee. Just because a church has people drawn to these things doesn’t mean God is there.
It can be challenging to find a contemporary Christian church where the preaching is directly from an open Bible, where Scripture is not only referenced, but the centerpiece of the sermon.
Our church still has this.
It is still very important to stand on the basic doctrines, the plan of salvation, and the authenticity of the Word of God.
The literal six days of creation, the great flood with Noah, the parting of the Red Sea with Moses, and the resurrection of Jesus, are important miracles that are essential beliefs. If God can do one of them, then he has power to do them all.
The lively worship music is very good, with the occasional mix of a traditional song.
Bible study groups are offered, but one of the best tools are mission opportunities, local, short-term, and long-term.
It has been an extraordinary and powerful experience for me and my family to have been involved in local and short-term missions, and I highly recommend them for teens.
Well said, David. I have often wondered if Jesus would walk out of some of our church services, for the noise alone. If Amos complained about “the noise of your songs,” think what he would say about our over- amplified instruments. I have often wished that Jesus would come down and cleanse some of our temples of their excesses.