Ryan Burge: The Biggest Reason Why People Are Leaving Church

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Dr. Ryan Burge joins “The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast” to share what the data actually shows about why people are leaving church (and not returning) and what church leaders can do to encourage them to come back.
What did you think of Amazon Prime Video’s “Shiny Happy People”? Alex Harris joined us last week to explain why he appeared in the docuseries, what he sees as its shortcomings, and how church leaders can benefit from watching it. Check out our conversation with him here:
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“20 Myths about Religion and Politics in America” by Dr. Ryan Burge: www.amazon.com...
“The Great Dechurching: Who’s Leaving, Why Are They Going, and What Will It Take to Bring Them Back?” by Michael Graham and Jim Davis with Dr. Ryan Burge: www.amazon.com...
“The Nones: Where They Came From, Who They Are, and Where They Are Going” by Dr. Ryan Burge: www.amazon.com...
“Religion Has Become a Luxury Good” by Dr. Ryan Burge: www.graphsabou...
Check out Ryan's website: ryanburge.net/
Follow Ryan on X/Twitter: / ryanburge

[@marylamb6063]

Working-class people aren't going to church because they are more interested in surviving than in listening to a boring sermon that does nothing to pay their bills. These "leaders" think the poor can get "social conections" from other church members but that's wishful thinking. A church "service" consists of everyone looking at the stage, hearing a boring sermon, singing a few songs, and going home. There is no fellowship, just the preacher talking. There is no room for "social connections." The working class get a lot more social connections near them than from a corporate, static institutional church.

[@LampLighter]

This is exactly what is going on! The institutional church is a corporation! That is why home church gatherings are on the rapid rise. No overhead!

[@williamkaska]

yup, thats it, thats traditional church. go, sit, listen, leave. theres just no reason to go.

[@andyduke6119]

So, Ryan comments that: 1. the nones aren't getting services they traditionally would've because they're not in church, so they're getting it elsewhere. 2. He commented that he's a big proponent of getting people into churches initially for the wrong reasons, indicating these food drives and social aid events are ultimately about getting people in pews. It's as if why these same people don't trust institutions (including the church) went over his head. The actual motive isn't about our God- given responsibility to care for the poor; it's about getting people in church.

[@Magnulus76]

Bingo. Those people smell insincerity, and if you view helping them as evangelism, they are going to feel manipulated and they will resent you.

[@samuelbrown3405]

Hey guys, maybe you should, you know, ASK? Ask people why they left Christianity. Of course, you don't wanna do that, because the implications of that might be that Christianity has to undergo some fundamental changes to remain useful in society.

[@CalebScott1991]

You think they'd just pray and get their answers from their god? lol

[@sophigenitor]

I read "The Great Dechurching" and it suffers from a big flaw that also becomes apparent in this talk: it focuses too narrowly on a single behavioral change. Sure, moving may be the direct cause for people quitting church, but this ignores the changes to belief and belonging which precede this. It's like a marketing analysis for McDonald's concluding that people visit their restaurant when they feel hungry. While that's true it fails to tell the whole story.

[@TonyT-fg4cm]

Ryan Burge was not impoverished at all. No one was leaving food on their doorstep. Crazy to me he even said that. I went to school with him from 6th grade

[@skylinefever]

I think about how many people can't truly "get it." They are only there because hellfire and brimstone sermons got them as kids. It never actually removed any doubts about belief. Also, have you ever looked into how aspies and autists tend not to get it?

[@stevebrown8368]

Done pretending to give your Pauline Iron Age morality legitimacy

[@jm329]

I want to sit by myself at a barbecue. I in fact would not want to go to a barbecue at all.

[@larryevans3535]

Same here.

[@hihatjas9477]

Well said.

[@carlos1796]

Main reason? Hypocrisy.

[@Stangy04]

Hypocrisy about what?

[@samuelbrown3405]

​@Stangy04 and here we have another perfect example of why people are leaving. Ignorance

[@jm329]

@@Stangy04A difference between what Jesus commands and what they do.

[@Stangy04]

@@jm329 what did Jesus command?

[@Stangy04]

@@samuelbrown3405 insult without substance great job