The Bigger Problem: Religious But Not Spiritual

There’s a lot of talk these days about people leaving the church, identifying as Spiritual but Not Religious (SBNR). It’s the big story in Christian circles—how the “nones” are rising, how church attendance is declining, how the next generation is walking away.

But what if we’ve been focused on the wrong thing?

What if the bigger problem isn’t those leaving the Church, but those staying?

Because while the rise of the spiritual-but-not-religious gets all the attention, there’s another group that’s quietly shaping the Church from the inside out. And I’d argue it’s this group that’s causing more damage.

I’m talking about the religious but not spiritual crowd.

Religious but Not Spiritual: The Silent Crisis in the Church

You’ve seen them. Maybe you’ve been them.

The ones who show up every Sunday, but their lives are untouched by the presence of God. The ones who know all the right doctrines but have never actually experienced transformation. The ones who defend their faith with passion but somehow miss the heart of Jesus.

Being religious without being spiritual is about going through the motions, checking the right boxes, and playing the part—without ever really encountering God in a way that changes you.

And here’s the kicker: This isn’t just a problem in traditional churches. It’s not just the old-school, hymnal-singing, pew-filled congregations.

It’s also the modern, trendy, nondenominational, megachurch-style churches—the ones with fog machines and high-energy worship sets, the ones with Instagram-worthy sermon clips and perfectly branded social media campaigns.

Because the truth is, religion without spirituality isn’t about a worship style. It’s about a mindset.

You can dress it up with a rock band and LED screens, but if it’s still all about attendance numbers, financial goals, and feel-good messages that don’t lead to transformation, it’s just as empty as the dusty traditions it left behind.

The Commodification of Faith

If traditional churches struggle with rigid legalism, modern churches often struggle with commodification—turning faith into a product to be consumed rather than a relationship to be lived.

Faith becomes a brand. Sermons become content. Worship becomes a concert.

And in the process, people are treated more like customers than disciples.

Sure, the seats are full, the music is moving, and the production is top-notch. But is anyone actually being transformed?

Are people encountering the living God or just an emotional high?

Are they learning to love their neighbors, serve the poor, and seek justice—or are they just being sold a faith that feels good but costs them nothing?

Why the Religious but Not Spiritual Drive People Away

Whether it's the traditional church with its rules and rituals or the modern church with its branding and buzzwords, the result is the same—people leave. And they leave not because they’ve given up on God, but because they’re searching for something real.

Here’s why the religious but not spiritual crowd is such a turn-off:

1. They Make Faith Feel Empty
   Whether it's cold legalism or slick marketing, faith without depth leaves people hollow. They come looking for purpose and find performance. They want Jesus, but all they get is a Sunday show or a rulebook. Eventually, they walk away.

2. They Prioritize Control Over Connection
   The religious-but-not-spiritual—whether in suits or skinny jeans—love control. They create rigid systems where there’s no room for doubt, questioning, or struggle. Instead of walking alongside people in their spiritual journeys, they try to force them into pre-made molds.

3. They Confuse Morality with Spirituality
   In traditional churches, this looks like legalism; in modern churches, it looks like self-help with a Jesus twist. Either way, it’s about behavior modification rather than true transformation. But Jesus didn’t come to fine-tune our behavior or improve our image—He came to transform our hearts and our lives.

4. They’re More About Exclusion Than Invitation
   The religious-but-not-spiritual spend more time drawing lines than extending grace. Whether it’s the "holy huddle" of a small traditional church or the exclusive, influencer-style vibe of a megachurch, it creates an "us vs. them" mentality that leaves people feeling like outsiders.

We Need More Honest Religion, Not Just Empty Rituals

Religion itself isn’t the problem. In fact, good religion—the kind that connects us to God, to each other, and to the world in meaningful ways—is what we need more of. The problem is when religion becomes hollow, a checklist of rituals and routines disconnected from real life.

What if church embraced the true purpose of religion—guiding people into deeper relationship with God through meaningful practices and genuine community? What if we stopped treating religion as a performance and started using it as a tool to help people grow, heal, and belong?

True religion, as Jesus described it, was always about caring for the hurting, seeking justice, and walking humbly with God—not just showing up and looking the part. It's not about less religion, but about real religion—the kind that actually leads to transformation.

So What’s the Solution?

If the religious-but-not-spiritual are the problem, then what’s the way forward?

1. We Need More Spiritual Depth, Not Just Surface-Level Engagement
   What if we taught people how to truly encounter God—beyond Sunday services and social media clips? What if prayer became a genuine conversation, not just a ritual? What if scripture reading was about transformation, not obligation?

2. We Need More Questions and Fewer Slogans
   Whether it’s a hymn or a Hillsong track, people need space to wrestle, doubt, and ask hard questions. The Church must become a place where those questions are welcomed—not dismissed with catchy phrases.

3. We Need to Stop Selling Jesus and Start Following Him
   Jesus didn’t come to build a brand; He came to build a Kingdom. Churches need to stop trying to "sell" God and instead invite people to walk with Him—messy, complicated, and all.

A Different Kind of Church

Imagine a church where people didn’t feel pressured to perform. Where they didn’t have to pretend they had it all together. Where spirituality was about relationship rather than rules.

That’s the kind of Church Jesus envisioned. That’s the kind of Church people are longing for.

And if we don’t start becoming that, we’ll continue to see people walk out the doors—not because they’re rejecting God, but because they’re rejecting a hollow version of him.

Where Do You Find Yourself?

Maybe you’ve felt like faith has become a performance rather than a pursuit of God. Maybe you’re longing for something deeper but don’t know where to find it. Or maybe you’ve left the church, but not God.

Wherever you are, know this—God is bigger than religion. And spirituality isn’t about trends or traditions.

And if you’re still part of the Church, here’s the challenge: Let’s stop playing the part. Let’s stop going through the motions. Let’s start seeking God for real.

Because the world doesn’t need more religious people. It needs more people who are truly spiritual.