Has the Church "Lost the Plot"?

The Christian church in the United States is facing tough times. According to the Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study, the percentage of Americans identifying as Christian dropped from 78% in 2007 to 71% in 2014, and down to 60% by 2022.

Meanwhile, other religions—though still small in number—have steadily grown. This shift raises a question: What’s happening to the Christian church, and why is it losing ground?

As a movie fan, I’ve noticed Hollywood’s reliance on remakes and sequels, often disappointing fans with uninspired cash grabs. Recently, at work, I mentioned my excitement for the new Jurassic World film, only to hear someone quip that the franchise has “lost the plot.” That phrase stuck with me—and it feels oddly fitting for the church too. Has the Christian church “lost its plot?”

In 2022, Brandon Flanery of Baptist News Global surveyed 1,200 former churchgoers about why they left. The top initial reason, cited by 21.71% (about 260 people), was the church’s treatment of the LGBTQ community. The second, from 16.10% (around 193 respondents), was the behavior of believers. When asked their final reason for leaving, 24.76% again pointed to LGBTQ treatment, 16.38% to believers’ conduct, and 11.95%—a notable jump from ninth place—blamed politics. These responses suggest the church isn’t losing people solely due to a rejection of faith, but because it’s “losing the plot”.

Sheldon Vanauken once said “The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, their wholeness. But the strongest argument against Christianity is also Christians—when they’re gloomy and joyless, when they’re self-righteous and smug in their shallow devotion, when they’re narrow-minded and oppressive. That’s when Christianity suffers a thousand deaths.” Flanery added, “The behavior of Christians is a huge obstacle for people both coming to the faith and staying in it. But rather than dying a thousand deaths, Christianity is dying millions.” Yet, Pew data shows 28% of U.S. adults are now “nones”—people unaffiliated with religion—though most still believe in God. Another Pew study found 21% of adults watch religious livestreams weekly. People aren’t abandoning God; they’re abandoning a church that’s “lost the plot”.

The Book of Acts offers a blueprint for regaining the plot. Here are three key steps:

Unity Over Wealth

Acts 4:32 says early believers were “of one heart and one soul,” sharing everything. Today’s prosperity preaching often prioritizes personal gain over community. Acts shows us that wealth belongs to the church collectively—to help the poor, the hungry, the struggling—not to hoard.

No Needy Among Us

Acts 4:34-35 describes a church where no one lacked because believers sold possessions to meet needs. Modern churches, though, often prioritize payroll (49.1% of budgets) and buildings (23%), with only 10% going to missions, per churchtrac.com and Christian Credit Union data. Worse, 1 in 10 Protestant churches has faced embezzlement, per Lifeway Research. We’ve turned from giving to grasping. Imagine if churches sold excess to care for their own—we’d be unstoppable.

Rebuild Community

Acts 2:46 shows early Christians sharing meals and lives daily with “gladness and singleness of heart.” Flanery’s survey found 50.96% of ex-churchgoers miss community most. The church excels at offering connection—yet too often neglects it. If we don’t nurture this, the church won’t survive. People aren’t leaving because they’ve stopped believing; they’re leaving because we’ve “lost the plot”.

One final thought: As the above study shows many people admit the treatment of the LGBTQ community as a reason for the churches decline. Some argue it must hold firm against sin, even if it alienates people. But 1 Corinthians 5 offers a counterpoint. Paul rebukes the Corinthian church not for judging the world’s immorality, but for ignoring sin within—like a man sleeping with his stepmother, a scandal even pagans condemned. Today, we see pastors and members accused of pedophilia, assault, and fraud, often with churches turning a blind eye. The Southern Baptist Convention’s 2019 report revealed decades of covered-up abuse. Paul says in verses 12-13 it’s not our job to judge the world’s sins, but to hold our own accountable.

The church isn’t here to condemn the LGBTQ community or anyone else outside its walls. It’s here to foster community, care for the needy, and heal the hurting. As Jesus said, “I came not for the healthy, but for the sick.” It’s time to regain the plot.