Call to conviction: People who've been offended, youths walking away from faith

What is the point of going to church?

For whatever reason — social, intellectual, faith building, force or a combination of these — religious leaders among many different faiths have noticed a trend. The reasons people attend a religion gathering or a church can be linked to two universally common reasons people leave — offense and youth.

"Very few times do people leave a church over something really dramatic, like heresy, apostasy or out-and-out sinful activities. It is usually something far less dramatic," said Pastor Mike Pless of the First Southern Baptist Church in Bountiful.

A survey done by LifeWay Christian Resources, cited in thechristianpost.com in 2006, found that 37 percent of those polled left a church because of "disenchantment with pastor/church," 17 percent said that church members "seemed hypocritical" and "were judgmental of others," and 12 percent said "the church was run by a clique that discouraged involvement."

People expect more out of their church. They expect the people there to act differently, kinder.

And why shouldn't they?

"If you are a Christian, the Bible says to be kind to each other," Pastor Pless said. "If you come to church, you should expect that the people would be kinder than they would be in most any other place. They would treat you better, and they would be more concerned with you and be less likely to offend or say something that was intentionally rude or harmful — it's a natural expectation as far as I'm concerned."

"When you are a believer in God, you are expected to live differently, and he even tells us to act differently."

However, Pastor Pless is also aware and mindful that when people come together, they each bring their own personalities, preferences, expectations, unique traits and habits, and those things don't immediately change when a person enters a church.

"Sometimes people can be hurtful and sometimes you had a right to be offended," said Father Eric Richtsteig of St. James the Just Catholic Parish in Ogden. "You have to let them know that you were hurt and try to start the healing process. You hope that people keep coming to church because it's a matter of faith and of God, not what other people say. Faith is a gift. I can't give someone faith. It comes from God, and they have to accept it."

Religious leaders are not exempt either. Many times people become offended with the messenger in addition to the message.