Are Youth Walking Away From Church?

June 7, 2007
By

This Christianity Today article says, “Yes”. 

Check it out.  I would be interested in hearing what you think.

32 Responses to Are Youth Walking Away From Church?

  1. on June 8, 2007 at 2:48 pm

    I guess I’ll be the first to comment.

    By me being a young adult growing up in the church, I would say that unfortunately a lot of youth are no longer interested in church. Youth need something more than the every Sunday 2 hour service with the same routine. And I have also learned from experience that there are a few who need to mature a little more. After being forced to attend church for years at a time, someone might feel as tho they want a God for themselves, not mama’s or grandmama’s God, they want their own God. A God that has done something for them and brought them out of some stuff. Or maybe that’s just me.

    Tae’

  2. on June 10, 2007 at 9:16 pm

    I wasn’t going to comment because I have strong feelings about youth and young adults leaving the church, but an experience I had today reminded me of why I sometimes feel like leaving “the church” myself. I, like many other young adults, grew up in the church. I didn’t have a choice about whether or not I would be attending Sunday School or morning worship, it was mandatory in my household. Now, as a young adult, I am so turned off with the church culture. I love the Lord, but I feel like some of the older saints aren’t willing to communicate with or understand our generation. They believe wearing a suit every Sunday will really get someone to Heaven…they feel like speaking your honest opinion is disrespectful to the leaders of the church…they are stuck in tradition and I’m SICK of it. In fact, “sick of it” may be an understatement for what I’m feeling about the church.

    I am completely aware that I’m not a help to the problem of young flight from the church. My response has been to significantly cut back on my church attendance which I know is not the answer, but it’s what I had to do. In order for young people to continue being active in the church, the “sanctified, fire-baptized, Sunday go-meeting” folks need to get REAL with themselves and each other. It’s time to stop being more concerned about being an officer in the church or worrying about how long the preacher extends the invitation to discipleship and get more concerned about doing ministry that heals families and communities. The church needs to focus on giving hope to those who society has given up on. Active ministries are fertile ground for growing young souls in Christ.

    Do any of you know of churches here in Baltimore where youth and young adults are serious about Christ and doing His will? Heber, I hope you don’t mind this, but I’d like for people to give a shout out to these churches because they must be doing something right, and someone (perhaps me) may find restoration for their soul through these ministries.

    Be blessed!

  3. on June 11, 2007 at 8:59 am

    gr8destiny,

    I def. agree with what you have expressed. Yesterday, my church celebrated our Children, Youth, and Young Adult Day and although it was a success there was a lot of drama leading up to it. By the time Saturday night rolled around, I had made up in my mind that I was going to walk away from church altogether just to get a break. But somebody said something to me that kinda changed my mind.

    At the end of the day, I do what I do because I love it. I love church and I love God. A lot of times I do get discouraged but I’m only doing it for one reason and that is because I love youth ministry.

    There is a growing gap between the youth and the adults of the church and I often times get frustrated because I cant say what I want or express my feelings or opinions with out someone making me feel as tho I’m being disrespectful or out of place. But the only advice that I can give is to stick it out because aside from all the issues and all the drama its worth it. And honestly leaving the church will not help or solve your issues.

    I want to give a shout-out to my church. Not because we have done everything right or because we are perfect. But I want to acknowledge them because there are a few who give all that they can and they grit their teeth and do all that they can because they love the youth and youth ministry as a whole. They sacrifice and make it all worth it… and even after the cameras are shut off and the hype is over they will still be there working doing what they can without receiving a pat on the back. So Shiloh Baptist Church… keep it up you faithful few… All Love.

    B.Blessed

  4. on June 11, 2007 at 5:17 pm

    Heb, what a good question. It is really interesting because during my life expereince in Youth and Young Adult Ministry, I have come to a place in time where I see the same questions being asked, with really no one providing the answer to the problem. If I calculate it correctly, this same problem existed for the 14 years at my former church. Each generation faced the same problem. Even in my teenage years, I considered leaving. But, through maturing and really finding the Lord for myself, I took the good and ignored the bad and stayed. But, this generation is different. With all of the homicides and violence, along with drugs, sex and other things, this generation needs not the church, but a spiritual identification that will and can sustain them through this struggle. It is really unbelievable how times have changed.

    We have got to engaged them.. If not during the traditional worship service, whatever it takes. However, there are a few that even with nontraditional things, they will still leave. Even if you look at the best churches (Be quiet Heb!) in Baltimore with dynamic Y and Y ministries, some are still leaving. So the question still remains why?

    Tanea: Thanks for shouting out SBC of Edgemere. Yesterday was awesome and I hope that we continue to be United with a Purpose!

  5. on June 12, 2007 at 8:51 am

    Heb,

    Maybe a better question should be proposed… Not necessarily why are youth and young adults walking away from church but more importantly why are they walking away from God. Do we look at our issues with the church and take them out on God who has done nothing to us? Just a thought…

  6. on June 12, 2007 at 5:59 pm

    Tanae…that’s a very good question. For me personally, I initially took my frustrations with the church out on God. Initially, I stopped going to church and stopped reading my Word completely because I was in such shock from the way I was treated by the leaders of my church. I had been one of the leaders of the youth ministry at my church and was planning to attend seminary…I was completely “SOULed” out to God, but expressing one opinion changed my whole perspective on everything. In my situation I became angry with God because I couldn’t believe that the older saints got mad with me to the point that they would no longer would talk to me simply because I expressed a concern that went against what they believed.

    So…I think that youth and young adults are walking away from God because church folks are the main earthly representation that people see. When youth and young adults see people in church bickering, getting involved in cliques, and acting shady, they decide that they’d rather continue to do their own thing. In their eyes, being a Christian doesn’t seem to offer any hope or encouragement, so they either continue doing what they’re doing or revert back to doing things they used to do.

    This is just my perspective. Also, I consider myself blessed because I have crossed the paths of some really great young Christians who really encouraged me during my ordeal and really help to work through my anger with God.

  7. on June 13, 2007 at 8:34 am

    gr8destiny,

    What can be done?? How do we stop youth from not only walking away from church but from walking away from God as well? With so much stuff going on in the world today we really cant afford to have young people straying. So what do we, as young adults who have been in the church for so long, do to keep our peers and the generation that follows from walking away. I’m not sure if the issues within the church can be changed but how do we keep them encouraged while dealing with these issues??

  8. on June 21, 2007 at 8:05 pm

    Why are teens and young adults walking away from church?

    Well, this question is quite complex, and cannot be answered with a simple answer. But I’m going to give one, being that I don’t hve time or the energy to really explore this in this post.

    I believe that the younger generation, which is framed as the Next Generation, are doing what they typically do. This group of young people find it difficult to stick with anything for too long. They switch in and out of jobs, never sticking it out. This new generation are harder to satisfy than my generation (X). So, to see them becoming discontented with the same old same old at church is not shocking to me.

    Furthermore, these young people are the thinking generation. These kids must be challenged. The church can’t expect that they can continue to pump out the same emotional nonsense, and think they will captivate this group. This generation of kids will not allow their leaders to live a life that is the complete opposite of the Word, without challenging it by standing up to the leadership or by grabbing their things and leaving all together.

    It’s time for the church to step up their game and give the youth what they need. No, I’m not talking about high tech, fancy frills, like Power Point presentations or dramatizations of Bible stories.

    These kids want to know that the leaders believe what their teaching. If what the leaders are teaching is not worth the leaders living by it, then why should the youth be expected to live by it?

    My rambled two cents…

  9. on June 22, 2007 at 10:41 am

    Wow… Angie is on point…

  10. on June 22, 2007 at 7:43 pm

    Heber, I was thinking about this a little bit today. Back when our parents were coming up, there were not that many choices when it came to where you spend your time. But when we came up, the world expanded in terms of what we can spend our time and energy doing. Now that these babies are growing into teens and young adults, the world is cracked open with what seems as unlimitted opportunities of things to do.

    Who wants to come to a boring, repetitive, non-controversial, thoughtless, predictable environment, like many of our churches are? It’s ridiculous to think that these kids will be so hypnotized by the story of Jesus, that they will come no matter what the church is doing within those four walls.

    I hear people say “preaching the Gospel” is enough to draw souls. Yes, the Gospel is good enough to draw souls. But the question is how do you keep the bodies in the seats of the church? Heck, how do you even get the bodies to come in the church for the souls to get fed?

    In a day and age that people like me can stay at home and get a good word from Streaming Faith, what is the benefit of actually going to church? If the church is going to continue in its ineffectiveness, then what’s the point in putting my good clothes on, sliding my size 7 foot in a high heel shoe, and curling my hair to sit up with a bunch of folks that don’t mean what they say?

    We have got to understand that church is not going to be able to continue as the place where we are supposed to go on Sundays. If they want to be truly effective, they must break out of their traditional thinking that Sunday morning worship is the end all and be all of the Christian experience. It’s way more to living as a follower of Christ than just going to church at 11:00 on Sundays.

    If we ain’t gon’ collectively do the work of Christ, I rather be in the zoo on Sundays with my family.

    Hey, my brotha, don’t think I have left the church. I’m right here with all of y’all. I’m just thinking/chewing on what you threw out here. I’m just trying to make sense of it all. I’m trying to come up with a solution to a growing problem.

    Have a great weekend!

    P.S.
    I learned about Skeptical Brotha from your site. Why don’t you ever make comments over there? Heber, I’ve been missing you!

  11. on June 22, 2007 at 7:46 pm

    Hey Tanae! I love reading your post. I think is great to hear from the young people.

    What’s the point in having a conversation about young people without allowing the young people to enter the dialogue.

    Heber, thanks for making sisters like T feel comfortable to speak up.

    You know why I love both of y’all so much? You two were the first to link my blog on your blogs. Y’all are so special to me. (smile)

  12. Donald on July 13, 2007 at 2:56 pm

    i believe that it is a sad commentary, but the truth is that yes youth are walking away from the church, and in a time where ministys are taking off and everyone is establishing a mega ministrie, and major “houses” (the church building) the question becomes where are all the young people, what happend to the step teams, dance troops and choirs. one of the major proplems that i can site is that being a young preacher myself, (19) is that young people dont want another youth day message they dont want another kiddie sermon about what to do in the cafe at school, but the reality is that young people want God, and they desire him more now than ever, and if you have a need and its not being met where you are then you wil go somewhere else and meet the need superficially, so it appears and feels like they are being sustained with drugs alcoho, homosexuality, rap, sex etc. but in reality they are further strving themselves of what they really want and need, more ofg GOD:)

    Be blessed

  13. Monster Beats on March 30, 2012 at 7:45 pm

    That you are so cool! I didn’t suppose to find out everything such as this previously. So great to go looking out any specific with some authentic thoughts on this issue. realy thanks for beginning this up. this web page is an individual thing that is certainly necessary on the online, anyone with rather originality.

  14. Pierre Saltonstall on April 2, 2012 at 5:49 pm

    you’re really a just right webmaster. The site loading velocity is incredible. It seems that you’re doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you’ve performed a wonderful process on this topic!

  16. south bronx on April 5, 2012 at 7:50 pm

    I simply desired to appreciate you once again. I do not know the things that I might have implemented in the absence of the entire strategies documented by you about this field. It had become the alarming scenario for me personally, nevertheless observing your expert approach you managed that took me to cry for delight. Now i am grateful for this work and as well , wish you really know what a powerful job you have been providing instructing the mediocre ones by way of your web page. Most probably you haven’t encountered any of us.

  17. Sherice Demerson on April 9, 2012 at 12:10 am

    magnificent points altogether, you just gained a logo new reader. What could you recommend in regards to your submit that you made some days in the past? Any certain?

  18. compression stockings thigh high on April 9, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    Thanks for your article. It is very unfortunate that over the last 10 years, the travel industry has already been able to to fight terrorism, SARS, tsunamis, bird flu, swine flu, as well as the first ever entire global downturn. Through all of it the industry has really proven to be powerful, resilient and dynamic, getting new strategies to deal with hardship. There are usually fresh challenges and opportunities to which the sector must once again adapt and react.

  19. cheap web design on April 18, 2012 at 8:58 am

    LIz2RD Thanks a lot for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more.

  20. Bristol Airport Hotels on April 18, 2012 at 1:52 pm

    Oa8esi Wow, great blog article. Really Cool.

  21. best buy gift card on April 19, 2012 at 3:28 pm

    Im grateful for the article. Really Cool.

  22. reise on April 19, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    Appreciate you sharing, great post.Much thanks again. Want more.

  23. sleep supplements on April 19, 2012 at 4:26 pm

    Thanks again for the blog post.Really looking forward to read more. Will read on…

  24. SOCIAL MARKETING on April 19, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Im grateful for the article.Thanks Again. Cool.

  25. Roof on April 19, 2012 at 6:18 pm

    I value the blog post. Cool.

  26. dr. lawrence jaeger on April 19, 2012 at 6:23 pm

    Say, you got a nice article.Really looking forward to read more. Cool.

  27. custom baptism favors on April 19, 2012 at 8:23 pm

    Really informative post.Much thanks again. Awesome.

  28. acn Montana on April 19, 2012 at 9:23 pm

    Im thankful for the article. Awesome.

  29. Cosmetic Dentist Atlanta on April 19, 2012 at 10:24 pm

    I think this is a real great blog article.Thanks Again. Awesome.

  30. free online bingo game on April 20, 2012 at 3:52 am

    Major thankies for the blog.Really looking forward to read more.

  31. Job vacancy Johor Bahru on April 20, 2012 at 5:00 am

    Fantastic blog post.Really thank you! Really Cool.

  32. discount callaway ft irons on April 20, 2012 at 6:01 am

    Major thankies for the blog.Really thank you! Keep writing.

DISCLAIMER

The views expressed on this blog are those of Heber Brown, III and his alone unless otherwise noted.

Check My Stats!


View My Stats

Categories

I’m no rookie, chief!