Why do Protestants switch Churches so often

[CMatt25]

You make it sound as if Catholics never change churches- there are 3 ex-Catholics in my family which is really something when you realize that Catholics are taught from infancy that the Catholic Church is the only true Church.

They catholiscism the same reason I could not be a Catholic.

Catholics are very good at guilt.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

Not rare from what I’ve seen, Triune. I personally know several Missouri Synod Lutherans who go to non-denominational, Nazarene, Methodist, and other community churches despite the teachings on Holy Communion, Scripture, salvation, liturgy, etc. My theory is that Lutherans, Anglicans, and other Protestants by and large are no brighter, enlightened, or well-catechized than the common Catholic. Each group has its ‘experts’ who are on fire for Christ and passionately devour any and all reading and theology within their church. Then there are the part-timers and the lazy bones who didn’t listen during catechism at all and haven’t a clue. There are Lutherans who don’t know about the real presence just like there are (sadly) Catholics who don’t have a clue about it either. I see plenty of church-hopping from Lutherans, confessional Lutherans. Crazy…I know Anglicans who go back and forth to the Methodist and Presbyterian, etc. It’s just weirdsville…

In my experience, church hopping happens mainly among churches which are anti-creedal and anti-confessional. It is very rare for a Lutheran who holds to the tenets of the Lutheran confessions to become, say, a Baptist. Or for a Calvinist to become, say, a Methodist. The historic Protestant churches which very heavy on catechesis and making sure that their disciples understand the beliefs the church confessed. The aforementioned traditions will generally only lose those members who were nominal.
In contrast, non-denominational churches have a high turnaround rate because many of their members do not have formal theological understanding. So, they will go from one church to another based on their needs; daycare, children’s church, music programs, etc. It’s very rarely doctrinal.

 

[gurneyhalleck1]

I hear this all the time and yet look at the level of guilt some Protestant sects put on their followers and how hard it is for these folks to leave even if they want to? Also, do you realize the level of pressure, guilt, and almost ostracism one can get in some parts when one leaves Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witnesses! Or Seventh Day Adventists! Yet we never hear of “Mormon guilt” or the others. I’m not sure what makes me feel guiltier, the Catholic guilt or the Martin Luther notion that I’m a pile of dung covered in a wedding dress. Not exactly an esteem-builder. And Calvin’s total human depravity isn’t exactly a rosy picture!

Catholics are very good at guilt.

 

[CMatt25]

The differences in most denominations aren’t that significant…and “blur” with time.

For many of us who visit or attend other faith traditions do so knowing that the “non-essentials” fade away even more when we worship with those who are “in Christ” and share a similar faith Journey.

And as it should be across the Christian spectrum.

 

[CMatt25]

I hear this all the time and yet look at the level of guilt some Protestant sects put on their followers and how hard it is for these folks to leave even if they want to? Also, do you realize the level of pressure, guilt, and almost ostracism one can get in some parts when one leaves Mormonism or Jehovah’s Witnesses! Or Seventh Day Adventists! Yet we never hear of “Mormon guilt” or the others. I’m not sure what makes me feel guiltier, the Catholic guilt or the Martin Luther notion that I’m a pile of dung covered in a wedding dress. Not exactly an esteem-builder. And Calvin’s total human depravity isn’t exactly a rosy picture!

Yes I do and I didn’t say Catholics were the only ones. I was responding to a poster who was surprised a few Catholic family members switched

 

[Lutheranteach]

Also keep in mind that an ELCA Lutheran is in full communion with the United Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and a couple of others. He may change denomination based on travel, convenience, comfort, etc. and not really on any great difference of belief.

 

[Zooey]

In my own experience, “church hopping” occurs among those who share common beliefs…It’s not too big of a deal for a Free Methodist to go to a Nazarene church…or a Brethren in Christ to go to a Mennonite church. Some of the Baptist congregations are “Independent” but they all share a common Baptist history. Some Assembly of God people would go to the Pentacostal Holiness or Church of God Cleveland Tenn. A FreeWill Baptist would feel at home in a Christian and Missionary Alliance church. Some United Methodists would feel comfortable in a United Church of Christ.

The differences in most denominations aren’t that significant…and “blur” with time.

I have been a member of the Society of Friends for more than 35 years…but I have attended other faith traditions when I have not been able to attend Friend’s Meeting…I am welcomed and I’m content to worship with them…when I can get to Meeting I’ll do so…I’ve been separated from a Friend’s Meeting for a couple years at a time…a Prepatory Meeting worshiped only twice a month…the other First Days I attended a small Methodist church and became good friends with the pastor.

For many of us who visit or attend other faith traditions do so knowing that the “non-essentials” fade away even more when we worship with those who are “in Christ” and share a similar faith Journey.

The various churches my ancestors belonged to would make you dizzy in the telling…but just as Publisher says, differences fade away "when we worship with those who are “in Christ” and share a similar faith journey.
Now that I think about it, that may be why I find CAF such a :grouphug:good place to be!!:extrahappy:

 

[Justin_Mee]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

This is exactly the spring board that led me to seek the Church. I am thankful that my former protestant organization started the “rock band” on Sundays; otherwise, I would probably still be there with my stagnant soul. All of a sudden they decided they had to become “current” and I decided that I had to become “former.” Once I started to read more about the CC, alarm bells went off and I am now RCIA class of 2010 also.

 

[Jon_Hus]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

Interesting dnu. Would you be kind enough to site the sources you used to formulate your response?

Thank you in advance,
Jon

 

[sablouwho]

Interesting dnu. Would you be kind enough to site the sources you used to formulate your response?

Thank you in advance,
Jon

I cannot speak for “dnu”, but I have read a lot of Rick Warren’s The Purpose Driven Church (which he wrote before he authoried The Purpose Driven Life). In that book he definitely does talk about marketing and branding a church to make it relevant.

That is not to say that all Protestant churches do that, of course. But experience tells me that some of them definitely do. (I’ve attended both kinds.) I’ve certainly experienced the rock music, the lights, the funny skits, and so on, in the church that I started attending after I first became a Christian 4 years ago. (Eventually I realized that I prefer a more liturgical tradition, and thus I’m on my way to becoming a Catholic.)

Of course, some Catholic parishes I’ve been to have a more “contemporary” mass on Sunday evenings, to attract people who prefer that type of music…

 

[Della]

Interesting dnu. Would you be kind enough to site the sources you used to formulate your response?

Thank you in advance,
Jon

This really isn’t the thread for that question. How about opening a new thread to ask why people decided to be reconciled/convert to the Catholic faith?

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

Why do Christians switch churches so often?

I’ve seen Christians on this forum who were once Catholic, once Baptist, once Episcopalian, once Methodist, once Orthodox, etc. It boggles the mind. They switch from one to another, seemingly all the time. Amazing!

Just as there are those who “swim the Tiber”, plenty have swum it in the opposite direction. Some go from Catholic to Anglican, some from Anglican to Catholic. Some swim one way then swim back. Some swim the Thames. Other take a dip in the Ganges. Still others cross the desert to Mecca (running out of water metaphors here).

 

[Della]

Why do Christians switch churches so often?

I’ve seen Christians on this forum who were once Catholic, once Baptist, once Episcopalian, once Methodist, once Orthodox, etc. It boggles the mind. They switch from one to another, seemingly all the time. Amazing!

Just as there are those who “swim the Tiber”, plenty have swum it in the opposite direction. Some go from Catholic to Anglican, some from Anglican to Catholic. Some swim one way then swim back. Some swim the Thames. Other take a dip in the Ganges. Still others cross the desert to Mecca (running out of water metaphors here).

True, but in general Protestants hop denominations more often than do Catholics. The OP was just wondering why. I saw this a lot when I was a Protestant. We thought little of it. Those in my circle had certain basic tenets we would not violate, otherwise, any denominations that believed reasonably within our limits were just fine and interchangeable. It was just a matter of preference, not really of theology.

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

I have known few Protestants to go from one denomination to another. I went from Methodist to Anglican, but that is a greater switch than just within Protestantism. Going from Methodist to Anglican might be termed “swimming the Cherwell”.

Generally, I think you are right, but I recall in my youth my parents seeing great differences between Methodism and Presbyterianism. They didn’t like Calvinist predestination one bit. I think the theological differences received far more attention when all churches were huskier, more part of the mainstream of society. Right now, as Denver RC Archbishop Chaput has keenly observed, Christianity (all of it) is under attack, is marginalized, and Christians are far more willing to find commonalities in belief than they were in say the 1960s.

True, but in general Protestants hop denominations more often than do Catholics. The OP was just wondering why. I saw this a lot when I was a Protestant. We thought little of it. Those in my circle had certain basic tenets we would not violate, otherwise, any denominations that believed reasonably within our limits were just fine and interchangeable. It was just a matter of preference, not really of theology.

 

[CMatt25]

Also keep in mind that an ELCA Lutheran is in full communion with the United Methodist, Presbyterian, United Church of Christ and a couple of others. He may change denomination based on travel, convenience, comfort, etc. and not really on any great difference of belief.

And the Disciples of Christ are in communion with the United Church of Christ. How wonderful it must be to Christ to see!

 

[Usbek_de_Perse]

And the Disciples of Christ are in communion with the United Church of Christ. How wonderful it must be to Christ to see!

The ELCA (Evelyn Lundberg Counseling Agency) is also in full communion with the Episcopal Church.

The Evelyn Lundberg Counseling Agency comes from Prairie Home Companion, btw.

 

[Della]

I have known few Protestants to go from one denomination to another. I went from Methodist to Anglican, but that is a greater switch than just within Protestantism.

Generally, I think you are right, but I recall in my youth my parents seeing great differences between Methodism and Presbyterianism. They didn’t like Calvinist predestination one bit. I think the theological differences received far more attention when all churches were huskier, more part of the mainstream of society. Right now, as Denver RC Archbishop Chaput has keenly observed, Christianity (all of it) is under attack, is marginalized, and Christians are far more willing to find commonalities in belief than they were in say the 1960s.

Yes, I agree. There are times when we need to stand together lest we lose our freedom to express our faith in the public square. And trinitarians hold much more in common than some are willing to admit. Still, there’s a restlessness in our society these days we didn’t see a generation ago. People want religion to satisfy them–not align themselves to theological ideals they see as divisive. It’s the result of the “me” thing that started in the '60’s.

 

[CMatt25]

just as Publisher says, differences fade away "when we worship with those who are “in Christ” and share a similar faith journey.

:tiphat:

 

[Lutheranteach]

When one only attends a Church because it is fun or because they “get” something from it, they tend to stop attending if it tends to stop being fun or stop “giving” something to them.

That is why the non-denominational churches of today have rock music on sunday morning, flashing lights, ultra-loud stereo systems, cool stickers for their car windows, t-shirts, etc. etc.

Most, if not all Protestant faith communities today are selling a brand, and like McDonalds, they need to keep re-inventing themselves if their brand is going to prosper.

Looks like some protestants don’t take that approach, but at the same time I don’t worry nearly as much how the message is delivered as I do whether or not the message is being delivered
[youtube.com/watch?v=6qo0V57(name removed by moderator)A&feature=related](

(name removed by moderator)A&feature=related)

 

[TriuneUnity]

The ELCA (Evelyn Lundberg Counseling Agency) is also in full communion with the Episcopal Church.

The Evelyn Lundberg Counseling Agency comes from Prairie Home Companion, btw.

I can think of a different meaning to the acrostic, but I’ll be nice