Why Are We Losing Young People?

[Cindy]

http://marc5solas.wordpress.com/2013...-leave-church/

We all know them, the kids who were raised in church. They were stars of the youth group. They maybe even sang in the praise band or led worship. And then… they graduate from High School and they leave church. What happened?

It seems to happen so often that I wanted to do some digging; To talk to these kids and get some honest answers. I work in a major college town with a large number of 20-somethings. Nearly all of them were raised in very typical evangelical churches. Nearly all of them have left the church with no intention of returning. I spend a lot of time with them and it takes very little to get them to vent, and I’m happy to listen. So, after lots of hours spent in coffee shops and after buying a few lunches, here are the most common thoughts taken from dozens of conversations. I hope some of them make you angry. Not at the message, but at the failure of our pragmatic replacement of the gospel of the cross with an Americanized gospel of glory. This isn’t a negative “beat up on the church” post. I love the church, and I want to see American evangelicalism return to the gospel of repentance and faith in christ for the forgiveness of sins; not just as something on our “what we believe” page on our website, but as the core of what we preach from our pulpits to our children, our youth, and our adults.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Cindy

http://marc5solas.wordpress.com/2013...-leave-church/

We all know them, the kids who were raised in church. They were stars of the youth group. They maybe even sang in the praise band or led worship. And then… they graduate from High School and they leave church. What happened?

It seems to happen so often that I wanted to do some digging; To talk to these kids and get some honest answers. I work in a major college town with a large number of 20-somethings. Nearly all of them were raised in very typical evangelical churches. Nearly all of them have left the church with no intention of returning. I spend a lot of time with them and it takes very little to get them to vent, and I’m happy to listen. So, after lots of hours spent in coffee shops and after buying a few lunches, here are the most common thoughts taken from dozens of conversations. I hope some of them make you angry. Not at the message, but at the failure of our pragmatic replacement of the gospel of the cross with an Americanized gospel of glory. This isn’t a negative “beat up on the church” post. I love the church, and I want to see American evangelicalism return to the gospel of repentance and faith in christ for the forgiveness of sins; not just as something on our “what we believe” page on our website, but as the core of what we preach from our pulpits to our children, our youth, and our adults.

I love #10 of the article!

10. The Church is “Relevant”:

You didn’t misread that, I didn’t say irrelevant, I said RELEVANT. We’ve taken a historic, 2,000 year old faith, dressed it in plaid and skinny jeans and tried to sell it as “cool” to our kids. It’s not cool. It’s not modern. What we’re packaging is a cheap knockoff of the world we’re called to evangelize.

As the quote says, “When the ship is in the ocean, everything’s fine. When the ocean gets into the ship, you’re in trouble.”

I’m not ranting about “worldliness” as some pietistic bogeyman, I’m talking about the fact that we yawn at a 5-minute biblical text, but almost trip over ourselves fawning over a minor celebrity or athlete who makes any vague reference to being a Christian.

We’re like a fawning wanna-be just hoping the world will think we’re cool too, you know, just like you guys!

Our kids meet the real world and our “look, we’re cool like you” posing is mocked. In our effort to be “like them” we’ve become less of who we actually are. The middle-aged pastor trying to look like his 20-something audience isn’t relevant. Dress him up in skinny jeans and hand him a latte, it doesn’t matter. It’s not relevant, It’s comically cliché. The minute you aim to be “authentic”, you’re no longer authentic!

[followingJesus]

From what I see the percentage is about the same. I think alot of it has to do with the home. Living for God has to be more than just going to church. We have two children both grown now. Both living for God. We did our best to instill a love for God and His Word in their hearts. We tried to teach them to respect the man of God and he church. We did not run down the church, the preacher , etc over dinner.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by followingJesus

From what I see the percentage is about the same. I think alot of it has to do with the home. Living for God has to be more than just going to church. We have two children both grown now. Both living for God. We did our best to instill a love for God and His Word in their hearts. We tried to teach them to respect the man of God and he church. We did not run down the church, the preacher , etc over dinner.

[MawMaw]

Originally Posted by followingJesus

From what I see the percentage is about the same. I think alot of it has to do with the home. Living for God has to be more than just going to church. We have two children both grown now. Both living for God. We did our best to instill a love for God and His Word in their hearts. We tried to teach them to respect the man of God and he church. We did not run down the church, the preacher , etc over dinner.

Yes, this is how I see it too.

[Michael The Disciple]

The real Christ is not being manifest by and large. They /We see a "preacher Christ". Someone in a pulpit with a suit on preaching sermons. Now the real Christ did preach but could be found most anywhere. In the Temple. In the Synagogue. In the streets.

He was exciting, adventurous, anointed. There was a sense that God was with him. He never said "I love you go and be nice to everybody".

He called them to discipleship! Forsake all! Take up the cross and follow me! Listen to my teaching and do it! God will be with YOU!

The people were astonished at his teaching for his word was with power.

Preach the true Jesus and discipleship. Then its between God and them.

Dont forget this:

37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:37

We wont run anyone off by teaching them the truth. Thats how God draws his true elect.

[PreacherME]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Something went wrong when a generation of young people left the church. But they didn’t just leave, they left broken, bruised, offended, bitter, and have grown distant from the church. And now willingly and openly ridicule and mock their humble beginnings in ignorance. Those that had callings on their lives now walkout their days with dreams unfulfilled. Young people that were swindled out of their inheritance by the evil manipulation of the devil, or chased out from a pulpit manned by an arrogant dictatorial demanding preacher or the hypocrisies of double standards of those in authority and in their homes.

I weep for the unnecessary and or willful loss. Who will grieve with me? Better yet, who will pray with me that they will return?-Joel Barnaby

you know Cindy, I am beginning to wonder the same thing. What will the UPCI look like in 20 or 30 years? (if the Lord doesn't come back first)

[Praxeas]

You guys realize it's NOT just the UPC?

[Evenuntodeath]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

You guys realize it's NOT just the UPC?

Hoovie mentioned other denominations are loosing young people too. However, i cant speak for other denominations. I can only speak as to why i believe UPC is loosing the younger generation.

[Cindy]

It is not limited to the UPC or any other Pentecostal organization.