Why Are We Losing Young People?

[Jason B]

They are losing the younger generation, because there are two predominent influences calling the young people in these times. One is compromise. Embrace wordliness under the guise of enlightened Christianity. The other is a sincere call for truth, which neccesitates a return to the Word of God. Not the Word of God plus tradition, the Word of God sans tradition. This young generation isn't just going to put up with someone shoving unbiblical absolutes down our throats. If you can't defend your doctrines against scrutiny, then why would we want to embrace that mickey mouse theology and look like fools when a real Bible student takes us to task for our poor exegesis, misunderstanding of context and cultural norms, and overall poor hermenutic?

The younger genreation wants to declare truth to a genereation that doesn't belive there is such a thing. But there is such a thing! There is a truth that is more powerful, more dynamic, than all the philosphies of man put together. A life changing truth, that is more than a philosphy, but is the very power of God himself. That truth is the gospel of Jesus Christ, to preach Christ crucified and resurrected, and the implications that has for everyone whether they accept the offer of grace or reject it.

We can declare the truth of the gospel in the person and power of Christ. We can stand in the face of the most bitter persecution and preach the gospel and defend the truthfulness thereof. We don't have to create an "environment of worship" or have a group of people who will amen our every point, even when those points are absolutely unbibilical and just buzz words and recycled phrases. We must have a truth that can stand up to scrutiny, and the harshest persecution. We can declare the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the power of a living Christ to save souls and change lives even in 2013. What we can't declare and stand up to scrutiny, and has no power to change lives, are the misguided traditions of men. I can't declare in a prison (where everyone wears short sleeved jump suits) that if you don't wear long sleeves your're going to hell, or if you have a beard you're going to hell, or if you watch TV you're going to hell. I can't declare to an intellectual man that a person ought not to have a TV, but there is nothing wrong with the internet. Telling sinners that they can't wear shorts doesn't deliver from sin. Oh, but they say "no, no, no, you don't tell them that at first." OK, right. You hook them, and don't concern yourself with the minutia of standards, but then after a year or so, you throw it on them as heaven/hell issues. I can't do that. Not only is it deceitful, but more importantly it is unbiblical. I preach repentance from sin. Fornication, adultery, homosexuality, theft, lying, greed, pride, etc. If wearing shorts, trimming hair, and watching TV are sins, then they need to be repented of at the time of conversion, not much later on using the bait and switch method. They have added so much to the gospel that it becomes drowned out by the noise, and becomes unrecognizable, yet when we raise a red flag to ask some questions we are shouted down and sat down. We are called rebellious, compromisers, charismatics, and warned that our families will be torn apart. Divorces will happen, kids will end up on drugs, our ministries will be destroyed, God will write ICHABOD on our lives, we'll believe a strong delusion and be damned, and finally be forever separated from God, burning in hell......all because we don't bow the knee to their standards. And then folks say "why is the younger generation leaving?"