Nearly two-thirds of all unchurched adults—people who have not attended a church activity in the last six months—identified themselves as “Christians,” according to a recent study by the Barna Group.
The survey revealed that 28 percent of the population—some 65 million adults—have not participated in any church activities or services in the past six months. As many churches try to attract this group to worship on Sunday, the study showed that the makeup of unchurched Americans may be surprising.
For 
example, 18 percent of unchurched Americans say they are born again, that they have “made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in their life today” and that they will go to heaven only because they have accepted Him as their Savior. Two-thirds (68 percent) say God is the all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe. However, slightly more than one-third (35 percent) agree that the Bible is totally accurate in all its principles, and only 15 percent say their religious faith is very important in their life.
Demographically, among the unchurched, women outnumber men, baby boomers and older generations outnumber younger generations, and conservatives outnumber liberals.
Why does such a large group of people who believe in God avoid church? The Barna Group claims that a previous study may shed some light on the question. The study showed that 37 percent of non-churchgoing Americans avoid churches because of negative past experiences in churches or with church people. [barna.org, 4/12/10]
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NKJV)
23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.
Many people have become disillusioned with the current state of the “church.” Often, the unchurched have an innocence that we life-long, card carrying members have lost. They tend to recognize that the church should be a movement. The early church gives us numerous examples of that fact. They also recognize that the church is not a monument. There is nothing wrong with being proud of the facility in which you worship, but many take it too far. However, they miss the mark on the importance of assembling ourselves together. Sure, they have a personal relationship with Jesus, but how is that relationship being cultivated? The fact is that we need each other. We should be encouraging one another, organizing ourselves in order to win souls for the kingdom and so much more. How can we accomplish any of these goals if we are not on one accord? And what example are we for the lost if after we have been given the privilege of drawing near to God, thanks to salvation through Jesus Christ, yet we fail to do so?
Failure to assemble ourselves also makes us easy targets. I can not help but think of National Geographic when a lion is on the prowl. Beautiful antelopes or gazelles suddenly sense danger and they communicate the need to rally together and flee. Meanwhile, the lion is always on the lookout for the slowest, weakest or better still, the loner. Our enemy works the same way. He would love to get us by ourselves with no one to encourage us or pray us through our situations.
Many will argue that the assembly spoken of in scripture was much different from our Westernized assembly and they are correct. However, once we choose to join a body we should be useful parts of that body. Whether you assemble in the basement of a house, a mega-church, tent or college dorm it is up to believers to encourage one another. Let us not be of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved!
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