Young Adults Don't Go to Church?

[Marilyn C]

25 minutes ago, copenhagen said:

I don't think they should compromise either. I'm simply saying that unless we can appeal to young people who are constantly brainwashed by political correctness, membership rolls will continue to decline until there is almost nothing left. I don't want to see that happen. 

I wonder if there's a way for the church to adapt, by becoming more interactive and offering a greater sense of community. I get so bored of being lectured to. It's patronizing at this point. And I gotta tell you, many churches are extremely afraid of being asked questions. I've tried, and the level of hostility is astounding. 

Have you read my comments on your other post?

[copenhagen]

I may raise these issues with the lead pastor. Clearly, he and whoever he consults with seem to have some interest in expanding operations. Although he and the church have been unsuccessful, he is at least interested. At best, they are maintaining attendance but can't increase numbers. They've tried with at least three different new services at different days and times and all three have folded within months. 

I think christianity is too important to give up, or at least some sort of a moral and spiritual life, but going to sermon to get lectured to isn't cutting it for me anymore. 

Or, I might just leave this particular church. The rigidity of the lecture sermons is a problem. The lack of thoughtful church members is another problem. The most important however is the shameless hypocrisy of far too many members and staff. It's truly embarrassing.

The thing is, it's an open secret. Everyone knows that the church I attend harbors very few true Christians. It's mainly attractive first of all as a day care center, and secondarily it attracts huge numbers of curious casuals who either are dealing with extremely serious life problems and/or have gotten word that it's a fun, festive atmosphere, and entertaining enough to warrant a few visits a year. 

There's no path for growth in the church beyond donating a lot of money or volunteering as a greeter or in the parking crew. There is no path to intellectual growth and deep engagement. That's only possible through serious engaged discussion. And that's totally impossible within the existing church structure. 

Come to think of it, I'm not sure if a talk with the lead pastor is even possible with so many in attendance. I'm sure he'd just as well hand off the task to an underling for obvious reasons. I'm quite certain I'd receive confused looks, dejection, confusion and thats in a best case scenario lol. 

This church cannot handle intellectual engagement. It's meant to involve a large number of people at an extremely superficial level. I find it very unsatisfying. 

Edited February 17, 2020 by copenhagen

[Marilyn C]

25 minutes ago, copenhagen said:

I may raise these issues with the lead pastor. Clearly, he and whoever he consults with seem to have some interest in expanding operations. Although he and the church have been unsuccessful, he is at least interested. At best, they are maintaining attendance but can't increase numbers. They've tried with at least three different new services at different days and times and all three have folded within months. 

I think christianity is too important to give up, or at least some sort of a moral and spiritual life, but going to sermon to get lectured to isn't cutting it for me anymore. 

Have you read my comments in your other post?

[copenhagen]

I'm not predicting good things, but I feel obligated to reach out to one of the pastors at church. This is going to be tricky since I have very little respect for any of them aside from the lead, and the lead has stated explicitly (as have many other pastors) that individual consultations are very draining emotionally. This is just the simple truth of the matter in so many cases so I don't have a problem with a pastor willing to say that. Well, maybe a little. It almost seems like a passive aggressive way of saying "don't talk to me, it's a pain in the butt."

I know it's tough for them, I know many pastors leave the occupation but it's part of the territory and this "it's so draining for me" seems like a cop-out. I don't know, I'm close to burnout, but I'm willing to give it another try. I have almost no tolerance for lecture sermons anymore. It's just so uninvolving at this point.

I feel like leaving the church will benefit me in many ways, although I will miss the morning croissant and coffee!

Edited February 17, 2020 by copenhagen

[copenhagen]

I read your reply but the church doesn't care. They've adopted a neat and tidy 75 minute format which works very well for attracting a steady stream of casuals: begin and end with contemporary worship music, sandwich in 40 minutes of lecture, everyone goes home with a couple of chuckles, a free pastry, and something along the lines of 'be nice to one another,' or something equally vague which they dump immediately once they exit the parking lot, assuming they paid any attention at all.

The staff and assistant pastors are basically bureaucrats whose primary job is to make sure the pastries are out and that people get in and out of the auditorium efficiently and on time. Spiritual matters are basically foreign to them. If it's a very serious matter, sure, they'll try, otherwise, they are going to lose interest real fast. A big story will always draw them in, if only for marketing purposes, as in a heart wrenching story they can share in a sermon.

 

I remember what I was going to post: there are a handful of churchgoers who become very closely involved (not paid staff). Is it through the generosity of donations? I suspect so. I'm pretty darn sure of it, actually. They are appointed as leaders of volunteer efforts and occasionally "teach" a class. What is the payoff for these churchgoers? Ego. The ego boost of being a pastor small p with their own small flock listening to them and treating them like a mini-god.

You can tell it's ego driven because if you have anything remotely resembling a thoughtful question, they go into full on fight or flight mode. They literally panic and start to scramble for an answer. It's frightening how ill prepared most christians are to answer even relatively basic questions about their faith, even those who teach. Perhaps it's best that questions not be asked.

Edited February 17, 2020 by copenhagen

[Neighbor]

15 hours ago, copenhagen said:

Obviously, there's nothing I can do about this, but it's sad that young adults don't have many options within churches to find a spouse who is Christian minded.

Gee as I have shared many times here; I find that there are three to four generations of family  within the local church body, many of whom have been raised up in the church, community schooled at the Church school, or as part of the church supported home school groups, also attended and grew to love the word of God at AWANA, and at Children's Sunday school, and children's choir, and children's song groups, and High school Sunday school,  and after care groups after school, and at college and careers group, and at young marrieds group, and at missionary trips to El Salvador and Benin, and locally downtown, and at regular worship services, and at Wednesday acts classes for all ages. Whew long sentence -there is a lot going on. (Sitting on a pew it is not noticed.)

My own replacement at church was raised at the church, went a local Christian college, became a teacher at the Christian school, worked with me tending to facilities, and became a deacon,  also replaced me when I retired, and will likely soon be an elder, and now his own children are about to be educated at the same Christian school he attended long ago. There are several tens if not a few hundred such individuals at just this one midling sized church. At even my age  there is opportunity to help in childrens' ministry. It takes fully 80 individual's to staff the need for just Sunday's children's groups.

There is always need for volunteer to just listen to children practice their memorization skill and reciting Bible verses that they learn by the bookfull each semester.

So yes there is something you can do about "it". Volunteer! Come volunteer, see the many younger brighter faster servants of God that God is raising up, help their families, join them in making the local body of Christ strong in support of one another.

I am thrilled to see the young are indeed better educated and have far greater capacity than me. They are full of energy, filled with the Holy Spirit, and determined  for their family and the church body's sake that they serve Jesus our Lord and savior as His church.

[frienduff thaylorde]

15 hours ago, Omegaman 3.0 said:

I think that the things of God in general, are the things of God and are desirable on that basis. There is no gender or age or race etc. involved. No need to try to cleverly market to special groups, you either love Jesus and His church, or or you do not. The problem is not with the church, it is with people's lack of interest. The church does not exist for entertainment! Just my opinion!

WELL GOOD NIGHT ,   YOU HIT IT SPOT ON RIGHT .    that's not opinion ,  its called TRUTH .

 

[enoob57]

16 hours ago, The_Patriot2019 said:

I think its not so much that churches lack appeal to the younger crowd, but that many people lack interest in God. even among those who claim to know Christ-and its not necessarily age specific. Older folks are more focused on tradition then faith-and young people are more focused on entertainment then faith-so naturally you don't see them in the same church. Instead you see a bunch of older folks at a very traditional church steeped in tradition, while a bunch of younger folks rocking out to 3 word praise choruses in a far more modern church down the street. While both are equally shallow in many  cases.

We are on the same page on this... I believe we are experiencing two things from God
1. The fulfillment of prophetical foreknowledge 

Amos 8:11-12

11 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD:

12 And they shall wander from sea to sea, and from the north even to the east, they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the LORD, and shall not find it.
KJV

The reason of not finding is the church have shallowed down to little or no substance of God's Word being taught...

2. Calling good bad and bad good in increase of wickedness

Matt 24:7-12

7 For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places.

8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.

9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

10 And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another.

11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
KJV
 

[copenhagen]

I have volunteered for the church on many occasions. However, it doesn't appeal to me anymore. I've run into far too many stupid, hypocritical church members to even have an ounce of enthusiasm for the prospect. I'm not saying I won't ever volunteer for a church, I'm saying it increases my cynicism more often than not. 

[Dennis1209]

Your post describes most / many churches I my area. I have my own thoughts and opinions on why such a low attendance and lack of children and young adults. But my biblical thoughts and opinions are not going to change anything by me discussing them. Many Gospel preaching churches in my area have closed their doors, due to little attendance and insufficient funds to operate. 

My home church, of which I'm a member, and other churches I've attended in my area; 90% or better are old folks like me, 60+ years old, with few children and young adults to replace us. If that doesn't change in the near future, our church and other area churches will be closing their doors also in the near future. 

Driving by on a Sunday, I've seen the parking lots of a few [what I would consider] mega-churches that seem to be doing well in attendance. Being an old guy, I guess I'm set in my ways, I'd even call myself a traditionalist perhaps? I like good ole fashion Gospel preaching and singing traditional hymns. I'm not saying anything is wrong with this but; I don't personally care for an entertainment atmosphere in church, with loud music, guitars, drums, and an overly animated preacher, etc. Haven't been to one but, I've heard there's mega churches out there that provide babysitting, snack bars and a wide variety of amenities to the attendees? 

The small community churches seem to be rapidly disappearing.