Word Count: 350 – Est Reading Time: <2 Minutes
What’s Up:
Pastors and people disagree on what “regular church attendance” means … and it’s hurting the mission.
So What:
When 53% of Americans say weekly attendance makes someone a regular churchgoer, but only 16% of pastors agree, we’ve got a discipleship problem.
The Point Is:
Pastors Lowered the Bar
Only 16% of pastors say weekly attendance equals “regular.” Why? Likely, they’re reacting to declining attendance patterns, calling what’s common “normal.”
Survival Mode Thinking
Reframing “regular” attendance to mean “twice a month” or less helps pastors feel better about empty pews. But it feeds a culture of low commitment.
Laity Disagree Loudly
Over half of churched and unchurched Americans say weekly attendance defines a regular. And nearly 60% of churchgoers say once a week is the bare minimum.
Disciples Show Up
Believers can sit at home. Disciples don’t. Following Jesus isn’t a solo sport. If you belong to a church, integrity means showing up. Weekly. Period. (Wondering about that “integrity” thing? Reread yesterday’s Daily Catalyst!)
And … ?
The cultural lag is real. Most Americans, churched or not, still associate faithfulness with being in church on Sundays. That expectation hasn’t faded. What has faded is pastoral confidence. Rather than challenge the trend, many leaders have redefined the standard. But watering down commitment metrics to protect feelings or to save face is doing long-term harm. Low expectations yield low engagement. And when pastors accept “twice a month if we’re lucky” as discipleship, we’ve officially abandoned the scoreboard.
What you expect, you normalize. If you tell your people that attending once a month qualifies them as regular, don’t be shocked when that’s all you get. On the other hand, call your people to more, and many will rise to it. That’s leadership. That’s discipleship. The church I attend has four expectations for members, and weekly attendance tops the list. Why? Because it’s impossible to do life together when no one shows up.
Action!
What we have is a discipleship problem. Let’s get back to the basics. Get the Disciple Making Blueprint and get back to The Way again.
