Hidden Battles Within Our Churches
- mariannedavis0
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
Jesus came as God in the flesh to heal the brokenhearted, recover sight to the blind, and set captives free (Luke 4:18-19). Compassion prompted His healing and deliverance ministry as well as His teaching (Laniak, 2024). Like the Good Shepherd spiritual shepherds today are called to heal wounded souls.
While our church congregations may appear unified, it's important to recognize the silent struggles many within our communities are facing. It can be tempting for pastors and other shepherd-leaders to assume a uniform level of spiritual health among regular church attendees; however, several studies from the Center for Bible Engagement (CBE) reveal a more nuanced picture, highlighting significant individual struggles within congregations, regardless of their spiritual maturity level.
Nearly every congregant wrestles with temptation (CBE, 2009). For men, lust and pornography are significant challenges. Around three out of five church-attending men cite this as their most common adversary, and almost one out of four report engaging in pornography at least once every few months. Women face more diverse and individualized temptations, often contending with issues like gossiping, overeating, and overspending.
Beyond external temptations, many within our churches are fighting dark thoughts. Destructive thinking about themselves or others is a significant challenge for both men (20.4%) and women (15.0%). A substantial percentage reported having destructive or violent thoughts towards themselves or others at least once every few months.
This issue is particularly concerning among teenagers, where increased interaction with social media platforms like TikTok and YouTube shows a strong correlation with a rise in mental health issues, including loneliness, hopelessness, and suicidal ideation. A recent international study by CBE in 2023 further emphasizes the link between high social media usage and increased rates of destructive thoughts among adolescents.
Congregants are also striving to live as Christ-followers in an increasingly complex and challenging culture. Even in “Bible-minded” communities known for their biblical foundation, like Charlotte, North Carolina, pastors have identified cultural issues as a major spiritual battle, particularly the tension of navigating changing social norms that conflict with Christian beliefs. This pressure to conform to societal values can create significant internal conflict.
Across the board, church attendees are experiencing emotional and relational strain. The Charlotte Spiritual Assessment study in 2017 identified fear, worry, and being critical of others as common struggles. Similarly, CBE’s Scripture Engagement in New York City research in 2011, encompassing 70 churches, revealed that fear or anxiety, unkind thoughts about others, and discouragement were monthly struggles for the majority of congregants. It's a sobering reminder that even shepherd-leaders are not immune to these challenges. Pastors reported monthly struggles with being critical of others (54%), anger (39%), and worry (39%).
The guilt associated with succumbing to temptation and negative thought patterns can unfortunately lead individuals to withdraw from God and the Church. Many in our congregations are wrestling with feelings of spiritual stagnation. The New York City report indicated that nine out of ten congregants felt stalled in their spiritual growth at some point in the past year, with these feelings often persisting for months. Pastors in Charlotte estimated that a significant portion (46%) of their own congregants were currently experiencing stalled spiritual growth. CBE’s 2025 Spiritual Journey Accelerator Pilot research involving 11 U.S. churches further reveals that congregants desire growth in areas like listening to God, sharing the gospel, prayer, engaging with the Bible, and achieving life balance. They also seek support for issues such as family and relationships, anxiety and depression, sickness and healing, forgiving themselves and/or others, and doubt.
Understanding the root causes of spiritual struggles is essential for effective ministry. For instance, a lack of consistent Bible engagement significantly hinders the ability to overcome temptation. The New York City study uncovered that a substantial minority (41.7%) of congregants did not have a well-established Bible engagement habit, which is concerning. Our “Power of 4” research from 2012 demonstrates that engaging with the Bible four or more days a week is the level needed for life change. This principle extends to our youth, as our 2023 international study found that frequent Bible engagement—receiving, reflecting on, and responding to God’s Word—offers a degree of protection against destructive thoughts in teenagers. Interestingly, a notable percentage of pastors in Charlotte (30%) did not even include Bible reading among their top three most important spiritual practices for congregants. This difference in emphasis can inadvertently contribute to spiritual difficulties.
Recognizing the multifaceted struggles congregants face and their root causes is an important step toward providing meaningful support and guidance. By cultivating an awareness of these challenges, shepherd leaders can tailor their teaching and develop relevant ministries to create a church environment where individuals feel seen, understood, and cared for.
See related CBE research:
See related Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODBM) topics:
