Personal spiritual neglect can have significant effects on Christians.

Here are several ways in which personal spiritual neglect may affect Christians:

1. Weakening Faith: Regular participation in church services and spiritual practices helps Christians nurture and strengthen their faith. By neglecting these activities, individuals may find their faith gradually diminishing over time. Without regular engagement in prayer, worship, and study of religious texts, doubts and uncertainties may arise, leading to a weakened spiritual foundation.

2. Lack of Guidance: Church services often provide teachings and sermons that offer guidance and direction for believers. By avoiding these services, Christians may miss out on important moral and ethical teachings that can shape their worldview and provide insights for navigating life's challenges. This lack of guidance can leave individuals feeling adrift and unsure about their beliefs and values.

3. Absence of Community: Christian faith is inherently communal, and church services serve as a gathering point for believers to worship together, share fellowship, and build supportive relationships. By neglecting church services, Christians may become isolated from their faith community, leading to feelings of loneliness and a loss of the support and encouragement that comes from being part of a spiritual community.

4. Spiritual Stagnation: Personal spiritual growth requires intentional effort and engagement. Church services often provide opportunities for individuals to engage in spiritual practices, such as communal worship, prayer, and reflection. By avoiding these services, Christians may miss out on the transformative experiences that can deepen their spiritual life and lead to personal growth.

5. Moral Drift: Church services often provide moral teachings that guide Christians in making ethical decisions and living a virtuous life. Regular exposure to these teachings can help believers develop a moral compass and make choices in line with their faith. Without this guidance, individuals may find it more challenging to navigate moral dilemmas and may experience a drift away from the ethical principles upheld by their religious tradition.

6. Loss of Spiritual Nourishment: Church services are designed to provide spiritual nourishment and a sense of connection with the divine. Through worship, prayer, and participation in sacraments or rituals, Christians seek spiritual sustenance and a deepening of their relationship with God. Neglecting church services can deprive individuals of these vital sources of spiritual nourishment, leading to a sense of emptiness or spiritual hunger.

7. Reduced Accountability: Church communities often provide a system of accountability where members hold each other responsible for their actions and offer support in times of temptation or moral struggle. By avoiding church services, Christians may miss out on the checks and balances that come with community accountability, making it easier to veer off course and indulge in behaviours that contradict their faith.

8. Limited Understanding of Doctrine: Church services often include teachings on theological doctrine, helping believers develop a deeper understanding of their faith. By neglecting these teachings, Christians may have an incomplete or skewed understanding of core theological concepts, making it difficult to articulate and defend their beliefs effectively.

9. Hindered Discernment: Regular engagement in church services and spiritual practices provides Christians with an opportunity to develop discernment and spiritual discernment. This involves recognizing and understanding the promptings of the Holy Spirit and distinguishing between truth and falsehood. By neglecting church services, Christians may miss out on the training and practice necessary for cultivating discernment in their lives.

10. Decreased Sense of Purpose: Christianity often provides a sense of purpose and meaning by emphasizing the call to love and serve others. Church services often inspire believers to engage in acts of kindness, charity, and social justice. By avoiding these services, Christians may miss opportunities to fulfill their purpose by actively participating in the work of God's kingdom, leading to a diminished sense of fulfillment and purpose in their lives.

It is important to note that personal spiritual neglect affects individuals differently, and the specific consequences may vary depending on the individual's level of commitment, personal circumstances, and the depth of their prior spiritual experiences. However, overall, neglecting church services can have a detrimental impact on a Christian's spiritual journey, potentially leading to a loss of faith, a sense of disconnection, and a diminished ability to live out their beliefs in daily life.