The Dones

In a recent blog I used those who regularly attend, or are part of a church, to discern the true number of Christians in Canada. The number I came up with was far lower than the 63.2% who identify as Christian sitting in at 3%.

What of those other 60%? Well I’ll allow their perseverance and the Judge to verify the genuineness of their faith but many of them may be what are known as “the Dones” (or even Secular Christians). The Dones are those who are done with the Church (or “organized Christianity”) but positively affirm belief in God, Jesus as the Saviour, angels, prayer, the support they feel they receive from their faith, the importance of being spiritual and a morally good person, loving their neighbour, etc.

Speaking with Dones reveals a number of reasons why they’re done with church. We need to listen to see where they are at (Prov 20:5). Often we should sympathize with their reasons, though we will want to encourage them in another direction. Sometimes we may need to speak the truth in grace into their faulty notions, and to do so as winsomely as possible.

Why did these people become “done”? The reasons vary as to the individual stories but a number of general observations could be noted: 1) they had a bad experience with “the church,” 2) the hypocrisy in “the church,” 3) they were hurt or felt they were not supported in some way, 4) post-modernism- the rejection of institutions, 5) individualism- I can be “spiritual” by myself with no need of public worship or corporate Christianity, 6) acedia (that is spiritual laziness)- I don’t feel like going (or I have other things I could be doing), and that leads to 7) confused priorities. We could probably think of some others. Many of these are real reasons for being disgruntled with the church.
Let’s address some of these.

1. What type of church were you done with?

Was it a healthy Bible believing, Gospel centred, Holy Spirit led, outward focused, love and truth filled type of Church? Were the ways of the world or the Kingdom most evident? If it was the former than the Done may have not been reacting against the Church at all, but a lesser shadow. “Tell me about the church you don’t like/believe in” I often say to people, “I probably don’t believe in it either.” Are they reacting against a true representation of the Church? If not, then don’t be disenchanted but ask for the Lord’s help to seek out a healthy Church.

1. They think the Church is perfect

Even healthy churches will be imperfect because Christians are imperfect (Eccl 7:20). The Church represents the redeemed people of God whom He is perfecting for His glory. “If I found the perfect church I wouldn’t join it because then it would no longer be perfect.” Therefore sin and hurt will still happen in the life of the Church, however, in a healthy church it will be repented of and forgiveness and restoration sought. Do you have a naive view of human nature/the Church that might need altering so you are not disenchanted?

1. Their Priorities Are Eschew

Some of the reasons someone may be done may not be due to another. Sometimes people are “done” because it is convenient, because of the lazy pride of our society. Sometimes being a Done is because they are done with God, but still want to feel good as “spiritual,” but really their priorities are somewhere else. If Christ were really the priority in someone’s life then His Church would be as well (Mt 6:33; Heb 10:25).

1. The Forget the Church Is Divinely Instituted

Many Dones want to have Jesus without having the Church. Yet to love Jesus is to love the Church; to love the Church is to love Jesus. The Church is Christ’s body. Jesus loves the Church (Eph 5:25). The Church is God’s representative body on earth. He has given it great authority to represent Him (Mt 16:19, 28:18). Let us not despised what Christ has authorized.

Finally after we’ve listened and trouble-shooted all of these potential hangups with the Done we need to discern with them whether they are a Christian or a “Christian.” If they are not a true Christian these potential reasons for being “done” are eclipsed by their need of the Gospel. When we know and seek Jesus everything else falls into place, as we become undone.