David Z Nowell

Watched an old Tony Randall movie over the weekend. Paul Douglas, playing farmer Pop Larkin, responded to his wife’s caution about a neighbor, Oh, he’s all right of a fellow.  He just hasn’t has learned that ‘Do unto others’ part yet. Probably true of a lot of us—and of a lot of our churches. We do a good job of looking like church and followers on Sunday morning, but how do we make sure it spills over into our week? How does worship become a lifestyle of following Christ? That can be a problem. Can we truly seek God for …

Last week I introduced you to The Dones.  Good committed followers of Christ who have decided that the institutional church is largely irrelevant to what God is doing in the world and in their lives. So they walk away, not from engagement, but from their local church. They direct their lives, giving, and service elsewhere. I have been there, and I get it. I am not one who believes all ministry has to be done through a local community of faith. We are the Church, and the local manifestation of the community of followers does not have a particular hold …

About once a week or so, someone sends me an article about folks who are dropping out of church. I usually read them because this is a topic of real interest to me. I have a number of close friends who have, for the most part, walked away from church. Done with it. These friends are scattered across the U.S., know each other only as my friends, but the common traits are pretty remarkable. They have all become empty-nesters in the last few years; they are all successful; they all lead very busy lives. Any one of them would tell …