Featured Why are many young people leaving the church?

"Why are many young people leaving the church?"

This is why: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0wz8nVcvuI

 

We appreciate that you "keep your distance", but still you would be welcomed.

 

1. They see preachers and church members making statements that make no sense in to them ... about science, women, right and wrong.
2. They see the scandals of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and protestant preachers.
3. They see politicians abuse their power as well as in sexual scandals.
4. They see failure in institutions and even those with no failure or scandal are viewed with suspician.
5. They lives are dominated by texting, IM'ing, quick messaging ... no patience for sitting and listening to 20+ sermons.
6. They see no valid reason for joining an institution.
7. Too many see their parents preach one line but live another.
8. I am sure there are more reasons ... these just came to mind as I typed.

 

I'll give some pushback to the idea that "young people" (20-30s) are leaving the church because I don't see it happening en masse like some. The stat that 2/3rds of Millennials leave the church when they go to college is erroneous and dangerous. It misunderstands the reality of the present day by applying out of date trend analysis and patterns of attendance.

That said, we are seeing plenty if young people attending churches where we are, but they'd probably because we are in an area where lots of young people live. In my estimation there are some trends to note:

1. Young adults are not leaving Church so to speak, but are leaving the churches of their youth. They are going to church often but it is often not the church where they grew up.
2. Young adults are highly mobile and will not return home to the community they grew up in, most are opting for urban or metro area living.
3. Young adults are attending church, but it is, by and large, in large to mega church settings they utilize progressive worship and leading edge technologies to enhance their worship experiences.
4. Young adults, with some exceptions, are not entertained by poor music and worship presentation, not to mention tired, old political talks disguised as sermons.
5. Young adults are looking to partner with churches that are doing things to bring about biblical justice and ministry to poor and needy.
6. Young adults don't wish to be part of ministries stuck in paying the bills by pleasing the older crowd.

There are number of other things that could be said but I'll leave it here for now. CTB had some good things above as well. Let's see how this goes.

 

Excellent observations.

 

I agree but the bigger part of theblame most likely lies with the church. Are, as a church, discipling our people to know the difference?

 

I meant to add the word "we" after the "are".

 

Why do you even have to? Wouldn't the HS provide that understanding?

 

I heard an interesting statistic recently (can't remember the source) that said almost all of those who leave church and don't return are those who are not married. Ie, most people who grew up in church will return when they get married and have kids. And as our culture is defined more and more by adultolescence, delayed marraiges, or simply not marrying, those people don't generally come to church.

I'm not sure how a curated this is, but it is interesting...and I know that there are "successful" church services at some larger churches that draw large numbers of young singles, but I wonder how plugged in they are to the church as a whole outside their peer group.

 

Ask yourself the simple question

"What drew crowds to Jesus and kept them?"
truth, understanding, salvation, healing, miracles


Then ask

"What did Jesus' ministry have that mine doesn't?"

 

answer: Jesus.

 

Jesus no more kept crowds then than the church does today.