Scot McKnight shares his thoughts on when churches close their doors:
Recently I was speaking with a man, when he informed me that a church I knew once as a vibrant place, and then as a solid place, had now closed its doors. I knew a former pastor, and I knew of the variety of ministries that community of faith had. But it had now closed its doors, closed up shop, sold the place, and its various members had gone off to other churches. It is a sad thing to see a church close its doors.
Driving down streets one occasionally spots a church with its doors closed — as I did the other day. What made this one harder for me was that it was so visible — stuck as it was on a busy street on a corner where those who were stopped in front of it could see its depressing state. I wonder if its former members refused to look when they drove by. Were they glad to see it go or shamed to see it fold up?
Charles Dickens once spent a year or so visiting churches in London, and his essay, “City of London Churches,” tells the tales of those visits — the smells, the lack of congregants, the oddities of the ministers, the sleeping of those in the pews, and the sounds one hears while attending a Sunday morning worship.
He finishes off that essay with this brilliant line about those churches: “They remain like the tombs of the old citizens who lie beneath them and around them, Monuments of another age.”
Perhaps that is what depresses me about churches closing doors. At one time, each of those churches was more or less a vibrant place, with active attendance, pastors whose livelihood gave the place direction, local neighbors who knew its schedule, parishioners who could count on counsel, wisdom, worship, and instruction in the gospel. Parents will drive their kids by the place now and say, “That was my church when I was a kid; I was baptized there.” What will their children think?
Churches with closed doors often send my mind into its imaginative forces: what was it like? How many parishioners found it the center of life? How many kids found faith there? How many were married or buried there? How many neighbors found it to be a place that got them through life? What about all those choir robes, and Sunday School materials (and flannel boards!), and pews and the organ and piano and the pulpit? What will become of them?
There are, of course, reasons why churches close their doors. Sometimes the neighborhood changes, sometimes the locals move, sometimes the locals no longer care. Always it is sad to see a church become a Monument of another age. At least for me.
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Post Your Comments:Todd, You’re not alone in your feelings on this. It saddens my heart too, to see a church close it’s doors.
One day I was driving around the country side with my wife and kids and we came across a old church building my dad remembered as a kid. The roof was falling in, pews removed, floor was totally gone, the entire front had been removed, there was hay baler, a hay rake, a mower and ground hog holes all over where the floor use to be.
I could not believe they would treat a building that once held services for God like it was nothing more than a dump heap.
As my heart was breaking I could almost see the dinners on the ground, people laughing, kids running around, but most of all I could almost sense and feel the pain of those who where repenting.
One thing that really stood out about this church was, it was one of the oldest ones around at one time. This was one of the churches that did not have a baptistry inside the church. They baptized either in the Kentucky River or a creek.
Now we have another church that is getting close to closing it’s doors and this one here makes me cry with pain, because it is the church that I spent thirteen years of my life at. My family helped build this church which was built back in Mid 1800’s. It all started with them holding Sun.School under a old maple tree. The first two older buildings burned down. The second building was built by my greatgrandfather. The third building is still standing but all it is about to be is tombstone marking what use to be.
I guess what they say is true! “ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END”
What happened to keeping it light on Friday? (Just kidding).
I agree that it’s sad to see any ministry end, but I always try to keep things into perspective. God is in control and I don’t know that he views what we would consider failure (for use of a better term) the same way.
You’re correct in wondering about the many lives that were touched over the years. That’s why I think it’s succesful in an eternal sense. The work that was done over the years is eternal.
God will still continue to reach the world until every nation has heard. In the mean time churches will open and close but God’s plan will still go forward.
Praise him for the ministry that’s being done, short or long.
Have a great weekend.
Churches die for various reasons. Community demographics are a big player in urban/suburban areas--it’s very difficult to accept the reality of people not like us are needing to become part of our fellowship/club. We lose the vision of why we are here. Sometimes, though sad, a church needs to die. Sell the property to another group (ethnic) that can reach that community.
Here’s a thought--maybe dying is natural. If we’re a body, then bodies eventually die. Maybe they need to. Someday, the church at Antioch, despite it’s missionary zeal, died. So did the megachurch in Jerusalem. But when it dies it is reborn somewhere else, cause the Holy Spirit is going to continue. Maybe it’s dying as a whole here in the USA, but in other places in the (third) world it is prospering like we’ve never seen it in this country. It’s ok if we are no longer the world capitol of Christ. It doesn’t mean God is dead. Jesus’Church won’t die. Saddleback & Willow Creek eventually will, as will my church. The key is to reinvest those resources in the kingdom, as that’s what the Holy Spirit seems to be doing in the world today.
The process I have heard: Incline, Recline, Decline.
Good Evening,
I have just been made aware of this marvelous website. You are all to be commended for taking on such varied & important topics.
I have reviewed a few of your most recent posts. While there are numerous people writing almost every day, I must say I am a bit perplexed to see that on this one particular topic, “WHY CHURCHES CLOSE THEIR DOORS”, there seems to be a dearth of input. Why is that? Loss of words? Guilt? Or just simply, “Nobody really has any idea why?”
For over half a century I have been observing the causes, both pro & con, as to why some churches “succeed”, and others “fail”.
In my many years of preaching, I have asked more than ten thousand individuals (outside of the church-world) what it was that caused them to stop attending churches. The answers are not only revealing, but very simple.
Perhaps “Todd” would care to re-issue this topic, and again invite people to contribute their thoughts.
After all, “Christianity IS the church” (i.e. the “church” is, by definition: “a Body of Believers”.) And if you (we) fail to communicate with one another on this very, most basic, foundation of Christianity, then all the other topics you may discuss are simply subjects for Postmortem debates. It’s as if “church-closings” are quite acceptable; therefore not even important enough to dissect the causes of their demise.
I fear for the modern generation. Church-attendees, who are aborted from a “Body” of Christ, are quickly forgotten. I suppose that is because the modern world (church, or secular) chooses to ignore (and therefore not even speak about) anything that might bring a sense of embarrassment or guilt (real or imagined)to the conscious thinking of the rest of the body.
Let’s do go back and address WHY so many churches are closing. Perhaps we can learn from their mistakes. Or, by refusing to do so, we may end up making the same mistakes in our own churches. (Otherwise, if our own churches close, I’m afraid we will have plenty of rationalizations, justifications, and explainations to offer one another.) But will the Lord (of Each Body of Believers) only view it as an ill-equipped excuse?
Personally, I can not think of a single reason for Any church, Any where, under Any circumstances (here in the USA), to Ever Close its doors. “Failure should Never be an option.”
Rejoicing in His Soon Return!
Amos
P.S. It’s my pleasure to meet all of you!
Amos I must strongly diagree with your statement that no curch in the US should ever close its doors and the “Failure is not an option” chant is not a fitting chant to apply to this topic. Why you might ask would I find it to be such? Because there are many a blasphemous church in this once great nation, many churches leading their body of believers down into the pit of Hell and for God desire that “none should perish” to be fulfilled it would require that those churches close their doors. Maybe only temporarily until taken over by a God-centered church that preaches the word at the only two times required in the Bible - in season and out of season (2 Tim 4).
Unfortunately Timothy 1 and 2 speak of a falling away from the truth and a straying to ear-tickling teachers and a turning to fables, but a church that is obedient and willing to adhere to and wait on the Lord, I would venture to say shall never die on the vine.
In Christ,
Bill in K.C.
Bill in K.C:
My Friend, I am in full agreement with your statements. Perhaps I should have stated more clearly that my (Biblical) definition of a “Church”: IS a “Body of BELIEVERS”.
As such, it was/is only those “real” churches with which I am concerned. Yes, you are entirely correct in describing the surge of Apostasy that is sweeping our once-blessed nation.
However, far too many of our Christian brothers & sisters in Communist countries have already learned, that whenever they speak of “church”, they Only refer to the Body Of Christ. Never would they, (nor should we) consider a place that calls itself a church, to be one in truth, if it has no Christian Leadership or Christian members.
Perhaps an analogy you may have heard of previously, is the topic of “food”. We want nothing to do with ingesting Garbage; the stomach was created for healthful food. So too, the Mind & Heart are designed for God’s Spirit of Truth.
And even as we know (often, almost immediately) when something tastes bad or rotten, we refuse to swallow it & remove it from our dinner plate. So too, when we, as Christians, are “fed” false doctrines, Yeast-ful(?) words & actions by a church leader, (if they do NOT Line-up with Scripture), we should rightly remove that source of apostasy & ungodliness from the pulpit!
Sadly, it has been my observation, during these last 30 years or so, that it’s precisely these smallest churches among us that have been infected with “outside leadership” that’s caused the churches to fail.
And that, Bill, is one of the main reasons why there are so many tens of thousands of Christians who refuse to enter into any churches again. The solution, is not to “close” the doors of REAL churches, but to view them as one of the Greatest Mission Fields here here in America!
The true, white-haired, old saints (that seem to be the last surviving members of most of the small churches that are closing each month) are desperately praying for their church, for revival, and for younger folks to re-fill the pews.
It all goes back to the 23rd Psalm.
The sheep are scattering & need a Christian Shepherd who will put THEM before his own comfort & welfare.
It sad to say, but one of the key reasons why churches are closing, is Not because of the Sheep, but rather, the “Politically” and/or “Religiously Correct” leadership.
One other thing to note, Bill. Way back when I was a youngster, the small “one-room schoolhouse” taught the 3 R’s: “Reading, Riting, & Rithmatic”. These were the basics.
Each church in America ought to return to its Basics, also: Prayer, Preaching, Charity & Evangelism! Oh yes, and let us remember the last, recorded Words of Warning of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, “Repent”! (But, alas, those seven churches ceased to exist.)
Trouble is, I don’t think many of today’s churches actually know what they should (as a Body) “Repent” about. Any ideas?
Bless you,
Amos
In USA many churches have retreated from the battle for souls and have moved to new white communities where the $$$ are under the guise of missions.I am sure that some of the retreaters are clueless on reaching the people of color that are all around them so they leave.Others do not want to worship in a mixed congreation so they leave.Some churches hold on but just die out.Its hard to believe that it is the will of God to move because the community turns another color.The USA has many churchs that are like forts from the battle.Go ye with the gospel.
Jim,
I couldn’t agree with you more.. Do you all remember reading about the times when Jesus groaned in his spirit. There where plenty of times. Just like I groaned because all you have seen on this blog this week is people agruging and wanting to the last word in because they beilieve they are right all the time.
I believe if he was living on this earth in the USA today in flesh a blood that he’d groaned in his spirit once again because we have been so narrowed minded and ignorant allowing serigation in our churches.
I understand this one thing… EVERYONE OF US ARE NOTHING MORE THAN OLD FASHION SINNERS SAVED BY GRACE AND WE ARE ALL A WORK IN PROGRESS. But how in the world are we ever going to get past the racial barrier.
I have been to churches were they practice this and others who don’t. I have been to All African American Churches and you know what. They want to worship with white people.
The churches in the south are nortorus for doing this and I have a real problem with it and I have seen churches die because of this. Thank God when we all get to heaven there will not be a racial barrier there.. Praise God.. I will just be with those old fashion sinners saved by grace singing and praising God for all of enterinty.. At least that church will be fair and balanced and it will not die…
Jim Ayers:
It’s sad, (and though “unprovable") it certainly “appears” to be “obvious"-ly true. Yet when I have discussed this with several pastors, each is quick to reply, “But WE support missionaries in Africa!”
Again, I could list a Dozen Things for which churches should (must) REPENT. But who (of the Church Pastors) would listen?
Why? Because for a Pastor to Call the church to Repentance; or to cry out for Heaven-sent Revival, (as opposed to a “Planned” Pep-Rally type of meeting); or exchange the mid-week “mini-sermon/Bible study” into an Actual, Truly “ALL-Night-of Prayer -(for a broken marriage, a Backslidden Child/Spouse/SELF, or for hidden heartaches to be healed): To do any of the above would suggest that “there must be Something Lacking in “my” ministry! And that would be totally inconsistant with the churches Annual Reports typically stating: “My, How the Lord Has Blessed Us This Past Year!”
So, Jim, the “Will of God” continues to be subject to Bylaws, Power Plays, and Manipulating of the Pew-people by the Few-people who gather (& control), where the $$$ can best be spent for the next year. Looking always, for the best possible “rate-or-return” (Not in Souls) but in Building Funds, Insurance, Overhead, Mortgages, Salaries, Consultant Fees, Wood, Hay & Stubble.
Bless you. (You’re in my prayers.)
Amos
Don’t get too attached to church buildings. Some day they are all gonna burn. Even the “Crystal Cathedrals,” no matter how beautiful and wonderful they may look. Consider that before your next capital campaign.
That’s a downer if your eyes are on this world, but not if your eyes can see into the spiritual world.
...Bernie
2 Peter 3:10-13
10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Amos,
I agree with you about repentance and crying out to God not only on behalf of our sins but the sins of others. Every revival in history started out with prayer and repentance. Revival signifies that something needs reviving.
Revelations 3:16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
[And that, Bill, is one of the main reasons why there are so many tens of thousands of Christians who refuse to enter into any churches again. The solution, is not to “close” the doors of REAL churches, but to view them as one of the Greatest Mission Fields here here in America!]
AMEN! Who better to correct, reprove or admonish than an erroring church leader!
Sounds strange but… who better to save (as in from error) than the pastor or church leader!
Problem: They will not accept the correct, reproof or admonishment… what does Scripture say???
[Each church in America ought to return to its Basics, also: Prayer, Preaching, Charity & Evangelism! Oh yes, and let us remember the last, recorded Words of Warning of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, “Repent”! (But, alas, those seven churches ceased to exist.) Trouble is, I don’t think many of today’s churches actually know what they should (as a Body) “Repent” about. Any ideas?]
I agree Amos the “Fundamental” basics of Believers: Prayer, Bible Reading and Study, Defending the Faith (always ready) and preaching/teaching the Word (ie. evangalism).
Ideas on repentance:
Sorry Lord for not adequately training and equipping our children or being equipped!
Sorry Lord for not being properly equipped in Scripture to provide an answer to the humanist, secularist, relativist, hedonist, epicurianist who through atonomy declares there is no God.
Sorry Lord for not understanding the Faith and how to defend it.
Sorry Lord for allowing my Christian Worldview, which is founded on Your Unchanging and Ever Reliable Charachter and Attributes in Your very Nature, to be infected with the vain philosophies of men and not being equipped to recognize the infection in my church/staff/self.
Everything… and I mean everything on this earth… has a life cycle that includes death.
Who fears death--even the death of a church? Not me! Because the church of Jesus Christ--has this nasty habit of raising from the dead!
Perhaps the only thing worse than a church that has died and closed its doors is a church that died years ago but never had the grace to lie down and die gracefully. These churches are taking up time, energy, and resources that could be used in actually reaching and discipling people--rather than just running the next service.
Can you think of ONE church that truly ministers effectively to more that one generation. Perhap each generation needs a “reformation” of sorts so they can BE the church for their time.
So I’m for letting dead churches die gracefully… because I know that from the ashes God can raise new ones.
Just a thought…
BA
Bill,
You are so right. We always seem to mourn when a church “dies” but sometimes it’s actually a GOOD thing.
But, maybe they don’t have to. Consider this scenario. Pleasantville Community Church has two services, one designed to reach the “baby boomers”, and the other to reach 20-somethings, et cetera… As the 20-something service grows, and those people become 30 and 40-something, and the baby boomers are all dying out (a good thing! only way to get to heaven from here,,,) the pastor of the now 30- and 40-somethings becomes Senior Pastor, and the cycle keeps going.
That would be IDEAL! But in reality what might happen is a church split… oh the horror… and the next thing you know people are feeling animosity towards those they used to worship with.
So… in reality, that scenario might turn out to be pretty rare. But I’m with you… Let ‘em die gracefully!
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