10 Cultural Realities That Affect Sunday Morning Church Attendance

1. Rapidly changing technology - We have shifted from perhaps one major innovation per generation to major technological innovations every few years. People are in a perpetual state of adaptation to something new. We have developed an expectation of novelty, and get bored easily,with the “same old, same old.” Churches tend to be much more static in worship practices than people are accustomed to, anddo not value variety and novelty as an attractive feature. Perhaps we should.

2. Communication has diversified and shortened our attention spans - Most of us were raised on four predominant modes of communication (“snail mail”, telephone, radio and TV) - all based on attention spans ranging from a few minutes to an hour or more. Today, we have added email, texting, websites, and various forms of social media to the mix - all of which require a much shorter attention span. Yet in worship, most churches use one or two communication forms and still require a 15-20 minute attention span for its message to be received. And we wonder why people say worship is boring and stay away.

3. Growing virtual reality - People are spending more time in virtual space, staring at screens, and less time focused on the physical world around them. Many churches worship in a way that demands full attention in physical space. Even ones that do offer screens as part of the experience often frown on individual use of devices durin a service. This question exposes a significant generational gap that we need to take seriously if we want to make worship vital for younger generations. Or should it be a rare time away the virtual world?

4. Increasing mobility - People move frequently and fewer spent most of their lives in one area. 
Many are in a state of permanent transience, adjusting to a new hometown every year or two. Moves are the
2. Distance from family - loss of unconditional support
3. Spiritual homelessness - "Who are my people?", "Where do I belong?"

C. Economic uncertainty

1. Loss of company loyalty/ long-term security - see "B"
2. Difficulties for recent grads, younger generations in general - see "G"
3. General economic anxiety in politics, media, culture
4. Tendency to not go to church if can't contribute financially

D. Busyness/Loss of Sabbath - "Sunday is the new Saturday"

1. More who work on Sundays
2. Competition with sports and recreation
3. Only day for sleep/relaxation/chores

E. Consumerism and debt

1. Elevated expectations for standard of living
2. False security in possessions, purchasing
3. All driven by the idolatry of commercial consumerism - Hours of advertising vs
hours in church. What do we really live for?

F.  Pluralism, lack of moral center

1. Church is no longer the "go to" moral authority - one voice among many
2. Rejection of institutions - replaced by commercial consumerism, "cult of the self."
3. Consumerism offers no moral authority. Vacuum that is filled by "whatever is
right in our own eyes" - a splintering effect. No longer sees value in
spiritual community.

G. Failure/distrust of institutions

1. Church, other institutions viewed with suspicion or outright contempt
2. What we experience as stability and welcoming sanctuary is often seen as repressive, exclusive fortress
3. Vacuum of larger narratives to unite - splintering, isolating

H. Changing family structures/ gender roles

1. Two parents working outside the home
2. Cumulative effects of higher divorce, single parenting
3. Loosening of gender roles - including spiritual leadership of family

I.  Earlier exposure for children to adult life

1. Physical changes earlier
2. Exposure to violence, sex in the media - especially Internet issues
3. Harsher social realities at younger ages
4. Faith brought into question by more, at earlier ages

J. National climate of anxiety and partisan conflict - carries over into church