Church: Why Bother?

“Why should I bother dragging myself to church? And don’t tell me it’s because I’m obligated—says who?”

Ever felt that way? You’re in good company, because more people than ever are asking the same thing.

The truth is, church attendance has been declining across America for decades. Research from the Pew Foundation shows that the fastest-growing faith category today is “the nones”—people who claim no religious affiliation at all. They now make up about 30% of Americans. The trend is especially strong among younger adults, where nearly half now identify as religiously unaffiliated—a shift that’s beginning to reshape the church and culture. Since the pandemic there has been a slight rebound in attendance, but many still say church feels boring, irrelevant, or full of hypocrites.

Maybe so, but there’s a good reason you should go to church. In fact, I believe you want to go to church—and I think I know why.

A Deeper Hunger

Even if you don’t call yourself Christian, I bet you’re still hungry for something more. Are you really satisfied with the idea that this world is all there is—so carpe diem before the worms get you in the end? I don’t think so.

Deep down, you know there’s something beyond the material world—a kind of spiritual gravity pulling you toward meaning and truth. That longing isn’t wishful thinking. It’s the echo of a spiritual reality.

And that’s where church comes in. At its best, church isn’t about religion or performing a ritual. It’s about meeting with God.

If you’ve ever felt tired of the swirl of the internet, the outrage and noise of the daily news cycle—if you’ve ever wanted something real, something true, something more—then you’ve already felt the pull of worship. That’s why church is worth the effort.

Something’s Got to Change

 Maybe you’re thinking, “Okay, fine. I’ll give church another chance. But it better be good this time…or I’m out.”

Well, I hate to break it to you, but church probably hasn’t changed much since the last time you went. But if you want to get more out of it—if you really want it to be good this time—you’ve got to change your approach. Here’s my advice.

1. Find a church that’s alive. Look for a place where the people follow Jesus, believe the Bible, and care about you. It doesn’t have to be perfect, and it probably won’t be—it just has to be real.

2. Come prepared. On Sundays, I “fast from the news” because I want to focus on eternal things. I read the day’s Scripture passages, pray for the service, and ask God to help me listen. When I do, I’m far more likely to meet Him there.

3. Don’t fake it. When you stroll into church wearing your “Life is Good” tee shirt, it’s more difficult to find God—you’re distracted by your happy life. I’m not suggesting you switch to a “Life Stinks” tee. But when life does stink—you lose your job , a relationship breaks, or a diagnosis comes—suddenly worship matters. As C. Everett Koop once said, “There are no atheists at the bedside of a dying child.” Suffering has a way of making God real.

The Bottom Line

 So why bother with church? Because in a distracted, divided and dangerous world, it’s one of the few places you can encounter the living God. That’s what I’m hungry for. And I bet you are, too.

Photo by Niklas Hamann on Unsplash