A Lost Generation
Twenty-somethings are dropping out of church like flies. A whole generation of young people is choosing to opt out of church for a plethora of reasons. The church of their parents is no longer relevant to this generation, but neither are the scores of churches that are being started to reach out to this group.
There is a lot of blame to spread around, but one of the biggest reasons for why twenty-somethings aren't going to church is that they don't see the connection between the life of Jesus and how it is lived out by the typical Christian. Many of these young people like Jesus, they just don't like the organized religious aspect of Christianity. Church politics, hypocritical church-goers, tons of money going to non-essential things, inferior music and boring preaching all head the list as reasons for dropping out.
What we need is a more connectional approach to knowing and serving God. Experiencing something is high on the list of what attracts the twenty-something generation. An action oriented church will be more successful in reaching this particular generation. Taking trips into the inner-city to feed the homeless under viaducts or in shelters, appeals to this group. Short-term missions trips to minister in undeveloped countries also works.
If we are to salvage this generation for the cause of Christ, churches must retool. That is a hard thing to do as older generations don't like change. But change we must. I've got an idea, why don't we let the older generation lead the change, instead of avoiding it, or allowing others to thrust it upon us? It would be an exciting thing to see our churches filled inter-generationally. I want my grandkids to attend our church, but it will never happen if my kids abandon it.
There is a lot of blame to spread around, but one of the biggest reasons for why twenty-somethings aren't going to church is that they don't see the connection between the life of Jesus and how it is lived out by the typical Christian. Many of these young people like Jesus, they just don't like the organized religious aspect of Christianity. Church politics, hypocritical church-goers, tons of money going to non-essential things, inferior music and boring preaching all head the list as reasons for dropping out.
What we need is a more connectional approach to knowing and serving God. Experiencing something is high on the list of what attracts the twenty-something generation. An action oriented church will be more successful in reaching this particular generation. Taking trips into the inner-city to feed the homeless under viaducts or in shelters, appeals to this group. Short-term missions trips to minister in undeveloped countries also works.
If we are to salvage this generation for the cause of Christ, churches must retool. That is a hard thing to do as older generations don't like change. But change we must. I've got an idea, why don't we let the older generation lead the change, instead of avoiding it, or allowing others to thrust it upon us? It would be an exciting thing to see our churches filled inter-generationally. I want my grandkids to attend our church, but it will never happen if my kids abandon it.
posted by jawbone at
11:27 AM
7 Comments:
I think that your suggestions are one step to reaching this generation. The next step is trying to find a way to "connect" the generations. If twenty-somethings are not serving and fellowshipping in the church alongside of the older and younger generations than all we've done is created yet another individual group within the church.
By
Anonymous, at 2:12 PM
my friends are dropping out of church because it feels like we got to be 50 or 60 or even 70 years old before our opinions, ideas, plans, and suggestions would count. that will take a major leadership shift for the 'more mature' brethren but unless we make room for participation of the younger leaders along the older leader, all that we'll do will be scratch our tongues...
By
Anonymous, at 2:44 PM
I understand how fustrating it can be when you want to participate in church and you want to be involved, but you seem to be ignored. However, I don't think that dropping out of church entirely is the solution. The Bible clearly calls us to be part of a body of believers - the church. I don't understand how we can claim to be followers of Christ and yet abandon the church, which Christ established.
By
Anonymous, at 3:17 PM
How grounded were they before they left? Let's look at the facts. Teenagers leave the cocoon of their parents home and their youth group. They jump right into freedom, go to college with all sorts of temptations, and are bombarded by liberal thinking professors. They graduate and become an official member of one of most materialistic societies on earth. Are they having trouble connecting the life of Christ to the average christian or have they just simply lost their own connection to the life of Christ?
By
Anonymous, at 6:41 PM
I think you make a good point. As a church, then, how do we reach our children and youth so that they are grounded in their faith before leaving for college? And then, how do we reach out to the generation that has already left the church?
By
Anonymous, at 10:08 AM
i am a young adult who has NOT left the church and who, in fact, thinks the church is the most important organization the world has going for itself. however, most people i know in my age group don't feel a connection with the church because their families and communities failed to live their lives as Christians consistently (notice i did not say PERFECTLY, but rather CONSISTENTLY) and they were not taught how to fully integrate Christian beliefs and relationship into their ENTIRE lives. this becomes a problem in college when a student's intellectual side is confronted by prevalent philosophies. these kids do not know how to THINK as Christians, and so they assmiliate the ways of thinking they are taught- which are generally based in materialism, survivalism, and relativism. teach your kids how to think.
By
Anonymous, at 11:16 AM
Excellent point. The onus falls on the parents. We as parents are ultimately responsible when our kids are young to teach them how to follow Christ. Regardless of how anyone has failed, pastors, the church body or the parents, anyone who has been in the church as a child has heard the Gospel many times over. Now in their own adult life they have to make a decision whether to live in the truth or not.
The Word says that Jesus is continually knocking at the door of our soul. He never gives up. The Word of God is the only thing that can truly change the way we think. The onus is ultimately on us.
By
Anonymous, at 2:28 PM
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