Study this graph. What do you see? I see a disturbing trend of young adults who are not going to church and I can only speculate as to the reasons why.
Perhaps some are finally breaking away from their parents “strict” rules of always going to church on Sunday? Maybe they have jobs, at an entry level, that require weekend work? Maybe they have “lost” their religion as they are thrust into the postmodernism of university? Or maybe they feel like they just don’t need church and prayer, Bible reading, and religion (aka: God or spirituality) are enough in and of themselves for their “personal walk with the Lord.”
(It could be his head wasn't screwed on just right. It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all, May have been that his heart was two sizes too small. But whatever the reason — his heart or his shoes — he stood there on Christmas Eve hating the Whos.)
My friend, Ray Schloss, is heading up an initiative to have an inter-denominational music event in October. He’s invited worship ministers from all types of churches all across the
So, what do Ray and NightWatch Manassas understand that our college and career age former congregants don't understand? To quote Ray, “There is a concept in the IT world called ‘data siloing.’ Silos, which I’m sure you've seen at some point, are the large, tall structures on farms that are used to store grain. Well, a data silo is also a container, but for information rather than grain. The problem with data silos is that often you have data in one silo that needs to be shared with another application, but it can't be accessed. Or, you have two silos collecting similar information, which is a waste of time and resources and causes confusion because it's hard to find out which one has the accurate data, or ‘the truth’. Sadly... people and ministries get very comfortable collecting and protecting their specific version of the truth, while not communicating effectively with other parts of the body.”
“Well,” you say, “I don’t need church. Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior. I have the Holy Spirit to help me discern the scriptures. I have friends and family to bounce around ideas. I can have ‘church’ at Starbucks with my girlfriend. We talk about the Lord, encourage each other,…”
To you I say, “You may not believe that you need church, but church needs you.”
Maybe that is what the 30 and 40-somethings figured out in their return to congregational worship participation. Maybe they realized that the young fella whose dad left him could really use a “big brother.” Maybe they realized that Widow Smith has no one to cut her grass and they can help with that and other things that have gone un-tended since the Widow’s husband died. And maybe, through serving, they realized that they gain so much more experientially about the love of Christ and why even Jesus did not forsake the gathering of believers.
Or maybe, on a much more cynical note, they just “got over themselves” and lost the elitist “I don’t need you” attitude. Maybe they learned living in Christ means more than having your own private devotional time and sending the random “tithe” check to Zimbabwe for missions support.
Solomon wrote, “Is there anything new under the sun?” Well, is there? Or will this trend continue? Will our college and career aged adults forsake the church continually? Or will they wise up early, before they reach their 30’s and 40’s, to see how enriching serving and being served can be?
Church is more than just going on Sunday morning and Wednesday nights. You don’t GO to church, you ARE the church. That doesn’t mean that wherever you are, that’s good enough for church. It means acting out your faith to build up the Church, the Bride of Christ. It means being faithful to your church family — looking out for the boy who needs a ‘big brother’ and Widow Smith. It means that, yes, it is possible for your 70 year-old pastor to actually teach you something you don’t know. And you probably have something to teach your 70 year-old pastor!
I understand needing a break, wanting to sleep in from time to time, etc. But, just come back soon, okay?
-Sarah
http://prophetmoffat.blogspot.com/
I hear that Sarah. When ever I go to any church, except perhaps the mega churches, I notice a distressing lack of young adults. One of my friends pointed out the sad truth that many young people don't go cause there are no other young ones like them around.
ReplyDeleteThat is not how it should be. But it's how I am as well. I want to be in church that has people who both have common ground and are my age-ish. I like not only being the only single girl in her 20's.
But then again, church does not merely exist for social reasons, or what it can do for me.
You are right in that point. While looking for a church in Leesburg, the first question asked should not "how can this church serve me?" but "how can I serve this church?"
This may turn out not looking like a place thriving in young adults, although, I confess, I would like it to be.
i am definitely one of those people that, for two years after graduating, didn't want to have anything to do with church. i was struggling with doubt even before i finished at CNU, and coming home with no support system made it that much more difficult for me. i decided i wanted a "break" from God. now i'm finally trying to seek after him and find a church where i can serve and be served.
ReplyDeleteone thing i want to comment on specifically is the "sending the random 'tithe' check to Zimbabwe for missions support" statement: i don't think it's anyone's place to judge where people give. i believe any gift given to further His kingdom can be considered a tithe, and to imply that supporting people in their ministries or to sponsor a child in africa isn't a tithe is a bit insulting. i believe very strongly in the people and organizations i choose to give my money to - otherwise i wouldn't be giving to them at all. i don't think that's necessarily the point you were trying to make, but that's how it comes across.
Gretroid,
ReplyDeleteI, by no means, meant to be insulting. What I did want to indicate was the the "randomness" of such a gift is not a "tithe," but it is an "offering" and there is a difference. A tithe, from my understanding, is regularly offering 10%(+/-) to your local church in order to serve the community in which you live and to provide support so that they, too, can equip and send out missionaries throughout the world. I believe that the Lord loves a giving heart and blesses all offerings, especially those those that go toward equipping the saints on all the continents, not just ours.
I hope that clarifies my statement.
The church needs me …
ReplyDeleteBouncing off of St Paul’s observation that each part of the body of Christ needs the other members, fair enough: The church needs me, BUT no more or less than I need the church.
There are (at least) two extremes to avoid here:
1) Approaching church as some sort of gas station where I pull in, fill up, and leave; and 2) Approaching church as “my mission” where I go play Jesus in the lives of others while remaining detached from fellow-members, as they-don’t-have-what-I-need. What: they don’t have the Holy Spirit, don’t have wisdom from life-experiences?
Something to consider … or not
In investments a counselor will tell you about Security, Liquidity, and Yield. At best you get 2 out of 3, usually 1 out of 3! For example, if it is very Secure it will won’t have as great a yield as an investment that is bit more Risky. Etc.
Looking at local churches is much the same. There is Teaching, Worship, and Community. At best you are going to get 2 out of 3 … usually 1 out of the 3! Talk to family and friends, search your soul, evaluate where you are in your journey, and ascertain what you are presently needing most out of these 3 gifts. THEN as you engage in this church you do so “realistically,” avoiding expectations that simply aren’t going to be met in that church. (Not to say you can’t get these needs met in other settings/contexts.) Or so I believe …
BTW, nothing here should be framed as an "argument" with ANYTHING that has been written by Sarah or those who have commented. It is merely my 2-cents on the subject!