Are Young Adults Active in Your Church?

Young adults aren't sticking with church. So reads the August 8 online edition of USA Today. The article reports that currently seven of every ten Protestant churchgoers leave the church by age 23. Seven out of every ten!

The 18 to 30 year olds who were surveyed, attended church regularly during their teen years. Few saw church members as caring, welcoming, or authentic. Most said church members were judgmental, hypocritical, or insincere.

Astounding.

True, people in their late teens and early twenties are highly idealistic in their expectations about many things, including their views on how a true Christian should behave. Our current culture is highly relativistic, and the newest generation of adults has been consistenly fed the lie that any reference to sin is categorically judgmental and unloving.

Clearly, the truth cannot be altered in order to accommodate an over-sensitive worldview. But this reality does not solve the problem. Knowing we are sometimes unfairly labeled by our culture does not absolve us from the responsibility to be above reproach in our attitudes.

The statistics quoted in the article come from several sources. The numbers do not represent a few disgruntled folks who don't want to repent, so they lash out. They aren't referring to a few people on the outskirts of Christianity who are making judgments about something they know nothing about. Nearly 70% of our churched young adult population feels unloved at church. Teenagers are going to church looking for authentic, loving faith. They can't find it, so they leave!

Notice that judgmental attitudes are not the entire picture. Young people not only feel judged at church, they feel judged by Christians they percieve as hypocritical, insincere, inauthentic, and unloving.

They may have a point.

Why would I say that? Because it's Biblically sound. Jesus told us that people know we are his disciples if we love each other (John 13:35). Nothing undermines truth more hideously than a lack of love.

The love we Christians are to have must be REAL. This isn't "yeah but" love. You know what I mean, "Yeah, of course we have to love each other, but ..."

Followers of Christ are called to a deep, deep love. Christ defined it for us in the John 13:34. We are to love each other as he loved us. When we love each other like that, we show we are the REAL deal to anyone who may be quietly watching, regardless of their age.

In case we missed the point, Paul makes it clear in I Corinthians 13. He tells us that everything we say, everything we do, everything we teach, everything we give, and everything we sacrifice is worthless if not done from a loving heart. To keep us from giving a little non-committal nod of assent, he goes on to define Biblical love: patient, kind, not envious, not boasting, humble, not rude, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not record-keeping, truth-rejoicing, protecting, hoping, trusting, persevering, and unfailing.

Later, the Apostle Peter said, in effect, "Great job in the obedience department guys. I'm glad you love the truth. It purified you and caused you to love each other sincerely. So, now that your love is real, love each other deeply. Make sure it comes from your hearts." (I Peter 1:22)

In other words, there is no competition between absolute truth and genuine love. Biblical truth will result in Biblical love -- sincere, deep, from-the-heart love.

When our churches abound in this kind of love, the truth about tough issues is more likely to be heard. If the person who is calling for repentance is obviously repentant, the listener is more likely to hear. If the person announcing the truth is doing so in love, the truth is more likely to be received. Strength is shown most powerfully when it framed in meekness.

Of course, there are no guarantees. Our job is to become like Christ and leave the results to him. After all, no one was more loving than he was, and he ended up being crucified.

Hmm, adds a whole new dimension to taking up your cross, doesn't it?

Gettin' Real!

Melodie