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Dear Friends,
THE SHEEP THAT WANDERED
Some years ago I came across a book that was the result of a survey done on declining church membership and attendance at Services. It was not the kind of book you took with you on holiday to cheer you up. It looked at the different reasons why people stop coming to church and what we could do to reverse the trend.
Why do people stop coming to church? It could be because they are bored like the little boy who saw the war memorial in a church and asked his dad what it was. He father said it was for members of the church who had died in the services. “Was that the morning service or the evening service?” asked the boy. It could be because of confusion. Sometimes it is hard to understand the Faith and the more you ask questions the more confusing it becomes. It is better to be ignorant and not ask questions, someone said. Sometimes it is because of guilt. We haven’t been for a while and we feel guilty and expect people to wonder why the roof doesn’t fall in when we next go to the church. For some people it is the feeling of being ignored. They have come to church but no one speaks to them and they feel left out. For some it is because they can’t give the commitment. Remember the young lad who rushed up to Jesus and asked how he could have eternal life? Jesus said ‘Follow me.’ The young lad couldn’t because it would have meant giving up other things. Other people have just lost faith. They no longer believe. And the list could go on.
What can we do? How can we help people who have wandered? There are things we can all do. There is nothing more exciting when a large group of people getting together to celebrate something, there is a feeling of togetherness and excitement. We could all make an effort just to be there to celebrate our love for God. Find it hard to understand the Faith? There are lots of opportunities through Bible discovery groups, the Way Course and Alpha to ask to explore what the faith means with others who sometimes find it hard. If we feel guilty we need to say sorry and then change what we are doing. If you see someone standing on their own think what it would be like it was you and go up to them and speak to them. Lacking commitment? What are you committing yourself to right now? Will it last? Lost you faith? Most people do at some time but it is a bit like losing your keys. You won’t find them unless you start looking. What I am trying to suggest is that the answer lies with us, no one else. No one makes us wander, we do it. If you know of someone who has wandered, think of what it would be like if it was you and go and look for them and encourage them to come back into the fold. During my teens I wandered for a while but someone said they missed me being at Church. That was enough. Have you missed someone?
Every Blessing, John P Renton
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