‘The Problem Is Leadership’ — Andy Stanley on the Decline of Religious Values in United States

The Wall Street Journal poll also found a continued decline in community involvement among those surveyed. Even before the pandemic, an “epidemic of loneliness” had begun to spread. Quarantines only increased cases of isolation and loneliness. Perino asked Stanley how the church might respond to the problem and be a solution.

“Every single person you walk into church with is struggling with the same things you’re struggling with,” stated Stanley. He went on to encouraged viewers to attend a local church, even after a long absence and despite difficulties and disagreements.

“People are looking for the perfect church, the perfect leader, perfect, perfect, perfect,” Stanley remarked.

“‘Cancel culture’ lowers the IQ of the entire culture,” Stanley went on to say. “We’ve gotten in such a habit of canceling our churches, canceling our denominations, because of a thing or one thing or one person. Consequently, we are giving up on the institution in our country that offers an immediate community, the safest community, and—should be—the healthiest community.”

“The church is the solution, in many cases, to the epidemic of loneliness,” Stanley offered. “Even an imperfect local church offers a solution.”