I am alarmed. I am concerned. I am very sad.
Three reports sit upon my desk; Pew Sitter, Megathemes from the Barna Group, and an article from Christianity Today. All confirm what we already know. Christianity is losing souls out the back door.
I must be more than...well....let me say I am more than alarmed. I want to know what is going on and what we need to do to help. While these reports offer no surprises, I call all of us to stir our hearts for God's possible solutions.
Compared to the ages of those beleaving the fastest, I am old. However, I'm hungry. I yearn to know what is needed to claim these wonderful hearts....and keep them. The solution must be God's on the basis of His wisdom and passion. It cannot be of our modern psychology or spiritual habit...unless such are aligned with Him.
We who are 40 and older must evaluate what we are doing which might be contributing to this negative trend. It would be more convenient to blame the beleavers. Yet, could the fault lie within the household of we believers? It very well could....and most likely is.
I see trends I don't like which cause me concern about that age group. I might be of proper judgment. Again, I might be operating from my natural assessment rather than the Spirit one.
Would some of you volley thoughts you have...especially what you see changing/working which might awaken leaders as myself who want to see a transformation of beleavers becoming believers?
11 comments:
Terry,
Here is what we are doing
1. Praying for them.
2. Hired a 20's,30's minister who has had success with them.
-He opens his home on Wed. 26 there last week, fellowship, relationships, chess, hard questions, they leave at 11.30pm
3. Tells stories,
4. Accept them and love them
Terry,
Finishing the last comment.
Robert Brock is my associate and he is very patient and gently but honest about life.
Larry in Denver
Terry,
I highly recommend Rick Atchley and Jonathan Storment DVD's called: When Past Meets Post. I am teaching this material starting next week for our church to better understand the post-modern age.
Rick and Jonathan have done an outstanding job. I recommend all leadership to watch it. There are 6 lessons. It can be purchased on the website where Rick Atchley preaches: www.thehills.org
Great thoughts, Terry!
Terry:
I too (at 49) am deeply alarmed about all the people that have been a part of our church family who simply choose to walk away. My husband and I have a group that meets at our home every week on Sunday night. We want it to be a "shelter" or "reentry" site for these who cannot for whatever reason, stand "big church" any more. I think this might be part of the answer, smaller,more "life-oriented" settings and deeper, "accountability" oriented studies.
TERRY,
Could it be a lack of Spiritual
enthusiam that shows the lost we
are no different than them???????
Terry,
I share your heart about the loss of persons out the back door of our churches. My take on the problem is the health condition of our congregations today. Many people come to our fellowships seeking help and healing. But they often encounter additional dys-functional problems in our church life. While churches are never perfect, we often are needing healing on the inside in order to extend healing to those who come in to us from the outside.
Bill Campbell
You may be interested in what some young people have said are the most difficult challenges that they have faced while growing up. You can read their responses on my blog at http://adisciplesthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/01/world-of-hurting-souls.html. We must be sensitive to the fact that many of our young people are hurting (even though they may cover their pain with their smiles). We must respond with compassion and with truth.
As being a member in that age bracket, one thing that sticks out to me is the need to feel needed. We need to feel that we are an important part of the church and that we have a place and are loved as members of the body.
From my own experience, churches often choose to segregate that age group out, and with a strong minister or group of volunteers to work with that age group might work, but I have seen it not work when there isn't a leader. But when including them with the adults, they need to feel a part of that group as well.
They also need to know they have a place to go and hang out and be together. Building friendships and relationships are key at that age and the need to have a group to associate with adds a sense of belonging.
But overall, I would conclude by saying: let them feel as if they are important and you have a place for them at the church and more importantly God has a place for them in his kingdom and that you as a church body are willing to make time to have relationships with those in that age group.
In my observation, we've pushed a lot of "formula" for decades, and have ignored real-life. Real-life hits these young folks between the eyes, and the formula breaks down. Then they leave, seeking a path that works. ANY path that works (or at least seems to work).
My personal path, thanks to God, lead me back to Jesus. And He is no formula. Real-life often does not fit in the church of Christ box. And yet REAL, real-life (i.e. eternal life), is found only in Jesus. Seems many congregations have missed the mark on BOTH.
Oddly, when I've studied with young people, I've found that readily offering an "I don't know" to a given question for which I have no answer, often IS enough of an answer in itself. And also, taking them to scripture and letting THEM read and interpret for themselves, VERY often provides the answers they are seeking. We're just not guiding them there.
We're too often just peddling the church formula. And THAT, fellow Christians, is on US.
Churches can have programs, but how successful are they? I feel it is important we teach family and family values. Support those who are going through divorces. Satan has a great way of drawing people away from each other and from the church and Worship. There is a lack of teaching in classes that teach family togetherness, how to divorce proof your home and most of all learning how to spend time together. Families are being torn into technology like texting, games, the internet, and media. Back in the 70's and 80's I remember the churches I attended focused on the family and values. Most of all individual Christians who make up the church will need to exemplify behaviors that are loving and not condemning. Family is the focus after all are we not a family of God?
Thanks for the discussion. Eyes to see, hearts to pray, and the hope of Jesus.
Probably most to not be discouraged and you are not alone.
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