Dr. Joel Thiessen talks about people who claim to be Christian... but only show up in church for religious holidays and rites of  passage.

Between 40 and 50% of those who identify as Christian attend religious services mainly for religious holidays and rites of passage. They show up every Christmas. They show up every Easter. They baptize their children. They want to get married in a church, but they don't attend any other time of the year.

Dr. Thiessen identifies three reasons they do show up occasionally in church:

Tradition — Tradition is a powerful anchor that guides our behavior.

Family — Much like sitting around the dinner table, attending a religious service brings back the family memories.

Sacred Space — feeling closer to God in a church.

Joel is the Director of the Flourishing Congregations Institute at Ambrose University in Calgary.

Follow Dr. Joel Thiessen on Twitter, his website, or The Flourishing Congregations Institute.   And read his intriguing book: "The Meaning of Sunday"

The QT4CM podcast is a peer knowledge sharing initiative for personal and professional development of Christian ministry workers.   Quick Tips for Christian Ministry is produced with the support of The Great Commission Foundation… to benefit those who serve in the Name of Christ.