A poll of 1,125 adults by AP-NORC found a good majority, 73%, said they plan to attend church services in coming weeks, The Christian Post reported in a July 1 story. Amid the poll’s findings, it was the figure of 27%, who said they have no plans of returning, that is drawing attention.
Reacting to the poll, Christian apologist and speaker Alex McFarland says the virus pandemic might have been a valid reason to avoid big crowds during 2020 but that is not the case in the late summer of 2021.
“Among the people of God, we need a little courage and boldness and proactivity,” he insists. “For anyone that is trying to use COVID as an argument to not be a part of a local fellowship of believers, scripturally, that just doesn't fly.”
For its story, the Post interviewed Scott McConnell of Lifeway Research who told the publication that the 73% figure is a jump from 66% approximately a year ago. The bigger concern, he suggested, was church congregations that dispersed and have not survived the pandemic.
McFarland tells One News Now that the Church is here today because Jesus hung on a cross, not for our convenience but for our souls.
“I pray that people won't look for an easy Christianity,” he says, “but a scriptural, fruitful Christianity. Just staring at a screen on Sunday mornings is not going to do that.”
