Hello
Emmanuel,
I
have a theory about the lack of young adults in churches today. It is well documented that the 18-30 year-old
demographic in churches across denominations is lacking. Gaining momentum in Young Adult ministries is
difficult as well. So why is this? Some might say that young people are strapped
for time and money or that they are simply more mobile than ever before. Here is my theory:
It
starts with how the Church ministers to young teens. As children enter their teen years, the Church
does not adjust well to their development of independent thinking. We expect a 14 year-old to react to a Sunday
School teacher’s lesson the same as a 6 year-old might. 6 year-olds will more likely assume the teacher
is smart and wise and knows all the answers.
Teenagers? Not so much.
The
Church needs to be equipped to answer tough theological questions that, if
answered poorly, threaten the basis for our Faith. Who is God?
How do you know the Bible is true?
How does this Trinity thing make sense?
Who did Adam and Eve’s kids marry?
As
teens get older, we get less smart and not-so-wise in their eyes. We need to be ready to give answers that help
them explore their Faith, not minimize it.
We need to stop trying to act like we have all the answers and explore
our Faith with them. If not, they will
wise up and realize that we don’t have all the answers. And when they do, it will discredit the
Church in their eyes.
The
Youth are learning about other religions as part of their Sunday School
program. They are even visiting other
houses of worship. This can make some of
us grown-ups nervous. Why? Well I think it is because we are sometimes
afraid of what they might think. We know
they are thinking more independently.
What if they like Catholicism?
And, heaven… er…. Methodists
forbid…. What if they like the Mosque?
I
believe education is a good thing…. As long as we are by the side of the youth and
think alongside of them, we can explore Faith with them and show them why we
are where we are… at Emmanuel United Methodist Church. If we do not, when the teen turns 19, 20, 24,
26 years old, they will go off on their own and explore on their own. They WILL find out that our way is not the
only way. And, often times, the reason
for the Young Adult to leave the church is that they have felt tricked to
believe a certain way throughout their childhood. And as some of you know, they WILL exercise
their independence.
So
if the Young Adult is going to leave the Church, let them do so after we
struggle in the faith with them as they are a teen. Let’s not try to hide the rest of the
religious world from them and get them to assume our way is the only right way
(some call that ‘brainwashing’). Let’s
have open discussions with them and be the kind of teacher that isn’t afraid of
the hard questions. My theory is that
the Good News is Good enough. We don’t
have to embellish it or pretend that it is better than it is. If we are honest and vulnerable and faithful
with our young people as they grow into adulthood then that is all God is
asking of us. And when it is time for
them to be on their own, they will make their decisions, which is going to be
true if we walk with them or not.
Let’s
trust that God will speak to all of us in the Church, including our
teenagers. We can’t make them believe
like we do. But I can’t make you believe
like I do either. And yet God’s love and
grace will be revealed to their hearts in time.
Let our conversations with them allow it to be revealed sooner rather
than later.
God
is Good,
Pastor
Joe
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