Seven Reasons People Don’t Join the Church

In 31 years of pastoral ministry I’ve done a fair amount of public evangelism. I have also conducted individual Bible studies with people of all ages, from all walks of life, income brackets, educational levels, and diverse ethnic backgrounds. And I’ve gleaned lessons from the evangelistic work of colleagues in ministry, as well. From this experience, let’s take a brief look at three things:

1. The top seven reasons I have found that people don’t join the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ranked from least common to most common.

2. Some possible solutions to those challenges.

3. What does not, in my experience, keep people from joining the church.

7: Church culture is foreign to many seekers, leading to poor integration into church life. As society secularizes, the local church is increasingly foreign to much of the population. I have studied with people who made good progress in their cognitive understanding of our beliefs, but were unable to forge “cross-cultural” relationships in the church and ultimately did not join. The solution? Strive to make Sabbath mornings intelligible (in the language you use, bulletin announcements, signage, etc.) for pre-Adventists, particularly those with no church experience. Ask qualified church members to “adopt” guests, to invite them home for Sabbath lunch and other activities. Plan regular social events at the church where members and guests can build relationships.

6. Negative perceptions of Adventists. It’s a sad fact that even one grumpy Adventist or negative online article can spoil the church’s witness for years to come. I have had numerous people ask for Bible studies through an anonymous solicitation they received in the mail. But when I responded to their request and they discovered what church I represented, the conversation quickly came to an end because of a negative encounter with another Adventist. The solution to this roadblock is not always clear or easy. But at a minimum, church members who knowingly turn pre-Adventists away with harsh interactions should be strongly considered for church discipline (see Luke 17:1, 2). Apologize freely on behalf of the church to pre-Adventists who have been offended by members’ poor behavior. Regularly promote official online Adventist content, and don’t be afraid to gently correct errors about Adventists you see online. And of course, remember to live a Christlike example yourself.

5. Cherished sin. The Adventist message is solidly Christ-centered and can be extremely compelling to those searching for meaning in life. Such persuasiveness, however, often surfaces a brute fact: Jesus asks that cherished sins be left behind—and sometimes such sacrifice seems too much. I have seen seekers end Bible studies because they were convicted of the sinfulness of adultery, but did not want to give up their lovers. I have seen drinkers refuse baptism because their love for Christ was less than their love for alcohol. The solution? Pray! Ask for the Spirit’s conviction and power to move on the seeker’s heart. Be gracious, be patient, be biblical, and continually point them back to Christ.

4. Roadblock relationships. Too often I have seen relatives of pre-Adventists pressure them to abandon their studies. Romantic relationships can all too easily turn a seeker’s attention away from pursuing baptism. And I have seen numerous employers successfully threaten those I was studying with by saying such words as “You want Saturdays off? Not as an employee of this company!” How to solve this problem? Again, prayer can be an effective answer. These relationships are often out of our sight and our direct influence. If you can speak with objecting relatives, friends, etc., you can attempt to reason with them, or even invite them to join your Bible study. This can be successful at times. But don’t be surprised if the ride is a bumpy one.

Church members who knowingly turn pre-Adventists away with harsh interactions should be strongly considered for church discipline.

3. Emotional objections. Purely intellectual objections to Adventism are, in my experience, relatively rare. Adventism is solidly scriptural, cohesive, and consistent in its application of Bible principles, and often appeals to the intelligent seeker. On the other hand, strong emotion-based objections abound for many who are initially attracted to Adventism. The fact that there is no eternally burning hell can be an extraordinarily difficult revelation for those whose entire faith was predicated on escaping those flames (or on their perception of justice for those who have wronged them). I have seen the biblical teaching of soul sleep be rejected because of a desire to continue speaking to a dead relative in “the spirit world,” etc., etc. The solution here, if one is to be found, is in continually pointing back to Jesus: “I understand your concerns. But what do you sense Jesus is asking you to do? As you read His Word, where is Jesus pointing you to go?” Don’t make it about you or them. Make it as it really is: about Jesus.

2. Major life change. The scene has replayed many times. A new Bible study begins. But then a close relative or friend dies suddenly, delaying studies sometimes indefinitely. A new job is landed, wreaking havoc with the study schedule. A major illness occurs in the family, requiring much new care. The seeker gets married, and life’s focus moves away from Jesus and the Bible, etc. There’s no silver bullet for dealing with such issues. So do your best to minister to the seeker while (if possible) incorporating the major life change into the study regimen. Visit the ill relative or friend in question. Offer to help with the funeral services of the person who has died. Be as flexible as possible in accommodating the new work schedule. If a geographical move occurs, pass the study off to a pastor or a qualified church member in that new area as soon as possible.

1. Too busy. In my experience, far too many people end up not joining the church because their lives are simply too full. Sometimes I’ve been unable even to start a requested study because of their chaotic schedules. Other times, studies do get started, but the receiver’s life is so full that they don’t study in between meetings—and are distracted during them—and therefore often learn little. Daniel 12:4 says that at the end of time, people will “run to and fro,” and indeed, many a potential new member of the church has been derailed by a chaotic calendar! The solution? Being kind but direct regarding the need for a more study-friendly schedule can sometimes help. If applicable, providing childcare for the seeker’s children can also help. But ultimately, busyness can be a very tough nut to crack. Pray, and do your best to accommodate the chaos, knowing that sometimes you will simply have to wait for a more opportune time, if possible.

And What Didn’t Make the List?

It may surprise some to know that I have never experienced a potential member being lost over the style of music in a particular church. I have also never had anyone not join the church because its buildings had not been recently remodeled. I’ve never had anyone not join the church because of complaints about the sermons not dealing more with current events, or the parking lot not having more parking spaces nearer to the entrance, or the at-times cumbersome nature of the nominating committee process, or the color of the carpet or the paint on the walls.

Which is ironic, isn’t it? Sometimes the things we members spend so much time on turn out to have relatively little—or at times even nothing—to do with what the average spiritual seeker is looking for. Music, paint, buildings, etc., are important. But Jesus is best. Press on through the seven obstacles, and with Jesus uplifted, a harvest will come.