Why people dont come to church after being saved

First off, we must understand that this is Spamderson so we need to take what he says with a grain of salt. But I've asked this question of them - actually specifically about making disciples rather than a list of people who have prayed a prayer with them. Of course I was shut down and banned from their board.

But let's look at the excuses he makes up:

1. They don't speak English. Then start a Spanish church or whatever language they speak. Or find a good church in the area that is already functioning well that speaks the language that they speak and encourage them to go there.

2. They are older children or teenagers. Very often, parents will be happy to bring their children to church even if they are not church attenders. There is also the possibility of starting a bus ministry.

3. They live too far away or have no gas money or vehicle. Get them plugged into a local church or arrange transportation for them. We often arrange to pick up people who can't drive to be able to get them to church.

4. They are too shy to visit. Then go to them, disciple them and as they grow, they will seek out fellowship.

5. They already go to church somewhere else. If it's a good Bible teaching church, awesome!! Sometimes someone else plants the seed, another waters and another sees the harvest.

6. They are recruited to another church by friends or family member. Awesome!! That's wonderful!! They are going to church and hopefully it's a good Bible teaching church.

7. They are too lazy to go to church. Well then I'd question whether there is a real heart change here. I'd also question whether my label "lazy" is the right one and I'd see if there were other issues going on.

8. They are physically disabled. Then again, arrange for transportation or go to them and have church where they are. We have small groups meet in group homes, nursing homes and facilities that care for the disabled. We also have a special Sunday school class for the disabled that has been a great blessing and we've seen many come to the Lord and even their "handlers" - the people the state has to assist them when they go out.

9. Their spouse does not want them to come. This is again where we can then individually disciple someone. I've not met many spouses who forbid their spouse from coming but when they do, we make sure that they have fellowship and resources to be able to grow in the Word of God.

10. They are offended by something in our church invitation. Well, we ARE speaking of Faithful Word and even I as a believer find them very offensive. If the offense is in the Gospel, then I'd wonder if there was a true conversion here but if the offense is something that we are doing outside of the Gospel, I'd look to see if what I'm doing is offensive.

So really, there are answers to each of these "excuses" that he has listed here. We have had people saved and end up going to other churches and since we have a wonderful network of Evangelical churches on Long Island, the pastors are in touch with each other and know that if Mary and Joe go to Grace Church, they are under fantastic teaching and we need not worry about them. They are plugged into the local church and that's what matters.

 

I agree. They are very much "say this prayer and you're saved" kind of people and so I'm sure people would be happy to just get them out of there in any way they can.

 

The reason newly converted people don't come is that we (most churches) no longer practice the Great Commission.

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The Great Commission is a three-fold command (Ecclesiastes 4:12 And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.)

1. Teach them (the Gospel)
2. Baptize them (into the membership of a bible teaching local church)
3. Teach them (continuing action) to observe all things commanded of them.

I once talked to a fellow pastor who was complaining his soul winning team won as many as 25 people to Christ every week but seldom did more than 1 or 2 ever come to church.

I asked him what type of followup program he had. He said, "None! If they are really God's children they will find their way to God's house."

A couple months later his wife had a new baby. I stopped in to congratulate him but he was in a hurry. I asked him where he was going in such a hurry. He said, "To the hospital to bring my wife and new baby boy home!"

I said, "Well, if he is really your son he will find his own way home!" He just stood there and stared at me with his mouth open.

Baby Christians, like baby people, need a lot of extra care. Including inviting them to church, picking them up and driving them to church. Including them in the fellowship of the church. Taking them out to lunch after church. And doing the same thing over and over and over again until coming to church on Sunday morning becomes a new, spiritual, habit. We have forgotten the key to church growth: assimilation. Making the new convert part of our church.

But we have adopted the "Billy Graham method of evangelism." We preach the gospel to them, then, when they get saved we send them right back to their old life, old church, and old friends without bothering to complete the last two commands of the Great Commission.

By the way, keeping 1/3 (winning them) of the Great Commission is 33%. That is an "F" in every school I ever attended.

Keeping 2/3 (wetting them) of the Great Commission is 66%. Still an "F" in every school I ever attended.

We need 3/3 (worshiping with them) of the Great Commission to get that 100%. And that's how you get an "A."

The most interesting part of Sanderson's bio on their church's web page is his statement, "Thousands have been saved, many have been baptized."

Thousands saved and "many" baptized? How many Steve? I know your average Sunday morning attendance is under 100. So, if "thousands" have been saved, where are they? Did you forget the last two parts of the Great Commission?

I guess you get an "F" in Great Commission Keeping!