Most Americans think so but I'm not sure I agree

Newest Gallup poll – 82% of Americans say they identify with a Christian religion

But only 62% say they are members of a church or synagogue

But here's the deal

1/3 say they attend once a week – 12% almost every week = 44% frequent

So 82% say Christian, but 44% say frequent attendance

I think it is impossible to be a Christian and not be connected to a church or faith community in some way

Not an individual event – is a team sport

Church is the body of Christ – a unity in that

The bride of Christ – cannot like Jesus and hate his wife

Communal, collective experience - impossible to be a Christian and not be connected to a church or faith community in some way – house, mega, denomination, non, RC, storefront, whatever - impossible

Prevents error and wandering off into weird stuff – and recognizes that we are bound together in a deep personal, spiritual way

Do you go to church? Why?

Do you not go? Why not?

Do you go because

Family tradition

Guilt

Foundation to family life

Duty and obligation

Peer pressure

Sense of community

Pastor interesting or not

Why do you go?

Do you not go?

Disdain for “organized religion”? - Prefer disorganized?

Christianity by definition is organized religion

Feel it is hypocritical

Just requires too much effort or time

Do not give me trite cliché answers

SS pollyanna anwers like gotta be in the word, or love to praise, or full of hypocrites

New Year's resolutions time – churches always strong crowds and new worshippers on January 1 – why?



Misc.

Simpsons clips