According to George Barna, 98% of pastors believe themselves to be gifted teachers, and 80% believe that they are effective disciplers. Yet only 26.9% say they consider God's perspective when making decisions (73.1% consider "perceived needs" of th e congregation when making decisions); 88% of young people "leave the faith" after they get out of the homes of "evangelical" parents. The data can go on, and on, and on. It's all negative. By any and all objective measures, "church," as it has been commonly known and expressed in the West, is a failure.
In any other category of life, other than American churchianity, a perception-reality gap like this would require professional mental health treatment and institutionalization. Read more