Over at the God’s Politics Blog, Becky Garrison interviewed Julia Duin about her new book “Quitting Church: Why the Faithful Are Fleeing and What to Do about It”.
“I really think people need to find a church that meets their needs. If a particular church isn’t meeting your needs, then feel free to leave.” -Julia Duin
I don’t know what to think about Duin’s general attitude towards “church”. Lord knows my church wandering over the years leaves me very little room to talk, but I’ve always been extremely uncomfortable with the idea of “church shopping”. To what degree (if any) should church be viewed as a consumer good or service? Who’s to say we even know what our needs are anyways? Are there some needs that are a given amongst any and every believer?
If those given needs aren’t being met, then I think Duin makes a valid point when she suggests that perhaps churches need to look at themselves when people start to leave. “People want to change the world and not simply start another ministry program.”
“People will crave church when the Holy Spirit is so evident in the body.” This sentence might be the most profound idea of Duin’s. But as a follow-up I have to wonder how a church can foster the work of the Spirit if everyone is itching to leave and find the next best thing. And if “quitting church” is a nationwide trend, then what is the alternative and how does it further the Kingdom of God? I admit that I have not read this book so I apologize if any of these questions are unfair.
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Nate Gass is currently studying to be a librarian at Dominican University. He blogs and shares music he's recorded at The Love Universe. Nate also plays guitar, mandolin, and banjo for Zach Pietrini & The Broken Bones.
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