All sorts of reasons. . .

In one sense everyone is right.  We are in decline because we are not marrying, not having babies, not getting any younger, and not reaching out as we might or we should.  All of these are true.  But think what a different church we would be if everyone counted on our membership rolls were in worship on Sunday morning!  The reality is that we are a third of the church we claim to be because two-thirds of our folks are not in worship on Sunday morning.  That is the hidden dynamic behind our decline every bit as much as the other factors.

It is true for us confessional Lutherans but it is no less true for the not so confessional kind and for Protestants in general and Rome in particular.  The reality is that our numbers on paper do not look nearly as bad as our numbers on Sunday morning.  That is the deep dark secret that has grown even more significant.  What church might we be if this were not the case?  What would our church look like if nearly all the folks we count on membership rolls were there on Sunday morning?  This has to haunt the local congregation and it ought to haunt those up the food chain in our governance structures.  We are failing in part because we cannot count on our people to be where the Lord is giving out His gifts every week.

If you are reading this, I know I am preaching to the choir.  I apologize for that.  But I would ask you whether or not there is the stated expectation in your congregation that God's people belong in God's House around His Word and Table every week?  Even though this is an expectation, I fear it is an unstated one or one that is out there in theory with every excuse and justification accepted why most cannot come.  If the parable of the wedding guests tells us anything it is blunt in its rejection of those excuses and justifications for why the Lord's invitation is so often and so routinely rejected.

Though few seem willing to say it, let us be blunt.  It is a sin to miss worship for any reason than a serious illness or required work duty.  Even when out of town, there is nearly always a congregation of your own communion close enough for you to attend.  Let us be honest.  We do not say this and even when we do we say it with a wink and a nod.   How sad it is that we have gotten to the point where this is no longer seen as a real problem.  Compared the numbers counted as members with the average number of folks in worship on Sunday morning and you will see it is no joke.  Part of our decline is the simple fact that over the years we learned that presence was optional and then it became almost exceptional.  As time goes on and the new normal for regular church attendance becomes once monthly, we will find that the vitality of our congregations and our church body will suffer even more.  Do not delay.  It is time to begin talking about this and addressing it head on.  Worship is the key factor to all our vitality and no congregation can expect any future without a profound emphasis upon the weekly gathering of God's people around His Word and Table.