I was reading about a new alarming trend among people in America recently. Following a survey of some 54,000 adults in which people responded with their religious affiliation, some 20 percent wrote “none.”

We are not talking about people who attend church once a month or even those who attend at Easter or Christmas.  Rather, we are talking about people who are “religiously unaffiliated.”

Another survey broke people’s responses down into six different categories. A mere 15 percent described themselves as committed traditionalists, while another 30 percent claimed some kind of adherence to a particular church.  Another 15 percent were open to the idea of church but 40 percent clearly distanced from religion at all.

Religion is changing in America.

Back in the 1930s and 1940s a mere 5 percent of the American population had “no affiliation” with a church.  By the 1990s that number had risen to only 8 percent  The “nones” jumped to 15 percent by 2008 and the latest stats show that number to be at 20 percent and climbing rapidly.

We all know that the church in America has been declining for years. Scandals have rocked the Christian faith for decades. As people have lost hope in any kind of established institution, they have also lost faith in the church.

Added to this alarming state of affairs, families have found that Sunday is not only for worship but for other activities as well. “Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy” is a forgotten or ignored commandment from God.

The church now competes with hunting, fishing, camping, the beach, the mountains, shopping, and sleep.

If I could surmise an answer to the problem, I would say that our problem is that we have forgotten what worship is all about.

Worship is not about early breakfast, catching up on the latest news and notes about each other, or even discussing the latest sports news. While these are fine in their own right, they are not our primary reason for gathering each week to worship in our many houses of God.

Worship begins with an attitude. I have to decide that having a fresh encounter with Jesus Christ on Sunday morning is not just an option for me, it is a necessity. I need to have time for God.

Scripture is very plain when it comes to worship. If we want God to bless us, then we must take time to worship him. If we expect the miraculous from God, then we need to learn the practice of praise and celebration of His son Jesus Christ. If we want the Holy Spirit to guide us with wisdom and understanding, then we must find time to spend with Him.

If you haven’t been to worship in a while, why not jump start your relationship with Jesus Christ by attending the church of your choice today.  Don’t show up with the attitude, “here I am God, now bless me so I can get this over with.”

It will be a much more productive experience if you go with the attitude, “Lord, I know it’s been a while, but my life is just falling apart and I really need you. You are the only one who can guide me through this. I’m sorry that I have not been faithful in worship. I’m ready for a fresh encounter with Jesus today.”

When you have the right attitude about worship, you will discover that life is “simply beautiful.”