A recent gallop poll revealed that church attendance in America has for the first time fallen below 50%. From the church standpoint, it is not a good sign. While gallop did not give details as to the reason for the decline, from observing the evidence around us, it speaks to what the apostle Paul said would happen.
In 1 Timothy 4:1-3 Paul wrote ” Now the spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrine of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidden to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God had created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth”.
(According to this passage it is the spirit that prophecy, that this time would come. Departing from the faith speaks to a decline in church attendance. We are also observing an opposition to meat consumption as was revealed by the spirit.
This is not the only scripture that speaks to decline in church attendance. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemous, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truth breakers, false, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; Having a form of Godliness but, denying the power thereof: from such turn away”.
(From these two passages of scripture it should not come as a surprise that there’s a decline in church attendance. We as ministers are under obligation to continue to preach the gospel for it to be a witness to all nations).
Hebrew 10-25: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together; as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Psalm 84-1-4: How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts: My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: My heart and my flesh crieth out for the Living God: V10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a dookeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. This says it all, I love to be in Church.