Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1920-02-19
WHY SOME PEOPLE
HAVE LOST INTEREST
IN THE CHURCH
By Rev. Benjamin F. Saxon, Pastor
of the Sixty-first St Methodist
Church, New York

why some people nave loSt interest IN
the church. In. other words, have
visited half hundred of Protestant
homes in calling from door to door
wherein was found no one who was
particularly interested in the church
and fifty answers which believe tc
be sincere We're given as to why the
church had been dropped out of their
lives. These answers set forth sew
en- principal reasons, and will give
, them in order, according to the num-
Der, stating each as cause of their
indifference as lid
was surprised to find an almost
total absence of atheism, agnostic-
ism and unbelief. The Protestant
families not found in their churches
are. not unbelievers. Nor was there
among this number single socialist
with an anti-church doctrine.
j. The foremost reason given was
that, having come into the community
as strangers, they felt backward
about going to church where they
were not acquainted. For some
time they went back to the church
they formerly attended, but since the
distance prevented them from going
regularly they finally got out of the
habit altogether who is my neigh
bor?" is a question our church people
must ask again, even here in New
York, despite our spirit of absolute
unconcern about the people next door.
2. The next reason given was that
of having too much to do, with Sun
day employment in most cases. Alas,
that men in their worldly affairs heed
not the wisdom of the words, "Seek
we first the kingdom of God and his
Righteousness, and all these things
shall be added unto you" Would
any employer dismiss man who had
principle enough to stand out for an
opportunity to attend his church once
every Lords Day?
3. Social life. Their friends were
not interested, else belonged to
another church and they compromised
by staying away from both. With this
class the church ceased to be a social
center, and thus lost it's hold upon
them. Moral: The church must en-
phasize social life through clubs and
other organizations.
a. Personal Sights and offenses.
Some one in the church said some
thing or did something that hurt their
feelings, and ever since the way
thither has been filled with impossible
snowdrifts. The sun of a friendly
interest must shine upon this way
until the snow is gone, and then the
wintry chill must be expelled from the
atmosphere of the church.
5. Bereavement and misfortune
When it came they were taken off
their feet, disheartened and discour-
aged. Interest was lost in we'll nigh
everything. 1t was the juniper tree
experience, and its shadows either
drove them into deeper darkness or
led them to an artificial light in which
they have found little satisfaction
And they turned their back upon the
only source of comfort and real help
at such time.
6. A feeling that the church is not
really necessary and that man car
be Christian without going to
church Of course, this is very sell
fish reason. for the world evidently
has need of the churches. else there
would not be so many of them, and
it is no concern of theirs whether il
/ has them or not. But it is blind
selfishness, for in this, as well as ir
many other things, a mans greatest
need is his sense of need.
7. "The church has too many hyp-
ocrites." Very few gave this as THEN
reason for staying away. Mos
people know that bad things are not
counterfeited. There are hypocrites
in everything that is worth while
\ Then, too, this ought to be all the
more of an inducement for them to be
genuine.
In the above we have not gone bach
of the reasons stated for other prob
able causes. We have simply taber
personal testimony. Upon the basi.
of this testimony we would render ths
following verdict: It is time for thu
Protestant churches of our city to be
come interested in. the Protestan
families of their communities who d.
not attend church, not alone to leave
the ninety ard nine and 60 in searcl
Of the one, but for the one in thu
church to go out after the ninety ant
nine.
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