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Why are many young people leaving the church?

evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Many young people (at least in my observation in non Bible belt states) seem to be departing the church or at least not actively participating after the college years and either leaving altogether or departing to the Contemporary and Charismatic churches. In our home church there are a few our age (30's) and most of them do not show up to SS on a regular basis. In the Calvinistic church where I join the men there is only one person in my age gap, while all other are in their 50's and beyond. I am 3x and the other man is in his late 20's - early 30's. I mean there are probably others in my age gap, but they never show up to men's study or men's breakfasts.

However if I were to stop by one of the many seeker friendly and Charismatic churches in the area (there are many and they are very populated) dollars to doughnuts there would be a half dozen people in their late twenties - thirties. Three seeker friendly churches in my local area all well populated seem to be preaching the essentials of the faith and so I have no basis for challenging them, but I disagree with their Rick Warren, Willow Creek & Andy Stanley ministry philosophy, so I just keep my distance.
 
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Q

quantumfaith

Active Member
evangelist6589 said:
Many young people (at least in my observation in non Bible belt states) seem to be departing the church or at least not actively participating after the college years and either leaving altogether or departing to the Contemporary and Charismatic churches. In our home church there are a few our age (30's) and most of them do not show up to SS on a regular basis. In the Calvinistic church where I join the men there is only one person in my age gap, while all other are in their 50's and beyond. I am 3x and the other man is in his late 20's - early 30's. I mean there are probably others in my age gap, but they never show up to men's study or men's breakfasts.

However if I were to stop by one of the many seeker friendly and Charismatic churches in the area (there are many and they are very populated) dollars to doughnuts there would be a half dozen people in their late twenties - thirties. Three seeker friendly churches in my local area all well populated seem to be preaching the essentials of the faith and so I have no basis for challenging them, but I disagree with their Rick Warren, Willow Creek & Andy Stanley ministry philosophy, so I just keep my distance.
Click to expand...

We appreciate that you "keep your distance", but still you would be welcomed.
 
Crabtownboy

Crabtownboy

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
  1. They see preachers and church members making statements that make no sense in to them ... about science, women, right and wrong.
  2. They see the scandals of sexual abuse by Catholic priests and protestant preachers.
  3. They see politicians abuse their power as well as in sexual scandals.
  4. They see failure in institutions and even those with no failure or scandal are viewed with suspician.
  5. They lives are dominated by texting, IM'ing, quick messaging ... no patience for sitting and listening to 20+ sermons.
  6. They see no valid reason for joining an institution.
  7. Too many see their parents preach one line but live another.
  8. I am sure there are more reasons ... these just came to mind as I typed.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
I agree with CTB – there are many reasons. I think of the inability (or, perhaps more correctly - the unwillingness) of some churches to engage a more contemporary culture. I have seen members leave because the offering was moved from the middle to the end of a service, because the doxology was replaced by another song during the offering, because the worship service changed times with the “Sunday school” program…the list goes on. We do not like change but we have to change in some aspects to communicate to a changing culture. The church was never meant to be stagnant. (I am not talking abandoning doctrine, but rather problems with clinging on to tradition because of an aversion to change). A church that does not teach true doctrine is not fulfilling its calling…but a church that is trapped in tradition and a long faded culture is also failing its calling regardless of the correctness of its doctrinal beliefs.
 
preachinjesus

preachinjesus

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I'll give some pushback to the idea that "young people" (20-30s) are leaving the church because I don't see it happening en masse like some. The stat that 2/3rds of Millennials leave the church when they go to college is erroneous and dangerous. It misunderstands the reality of the present day by applying out of date trend analysis and patterns of attendance.

That said, we are seeing plenty if young people attending churches where we are, but they'd probably because we are in an area where lots of young people live. In my estimation there are some trends to note:

1. Young adults are not leaving Church so to speak, but are leaving the churches of their youth. They are going to church often but it is often not the church where they grew up.
2. Young adults are highly mobile and will not return home to the community they grew up in, most are opting for urban or metro area living.
3. Young adults are attending church, but it is, by and large, in large to mega church settings they utilize progressive worship and leading edge technologies to enhance their worship experiences.
4. Young adults, with some exceptions, are not entertained by poor music and worship presentation, not to mention tired, old political talks disguised as sermons.
5. Young adults are looking to partner with churches that are doing things to bring about biblical justice and ministry to poor and needy.
6. Young adults don't wish to be part of ministries stuck in paying the bills by pleasing the older crowd.

There are number of other things that could be said but I'll leave it here for now. CTB had some good things above as well. Let's see how this goes. :)
 
Q

quantumfaith

Active Member
preachinjesus said:
I'll give some pushback to the idea that "young people" (20-30s) are leaving the church because I don't see it happening en masse like some. The stat that 2/3rds of Millennials leave the church when they go to college is erroneous and dangerous. It misunderstands the reality of the present day by applying out of date trend analysis and patterns of attendance.

That said, we are seeing plenty if young people attending churches where we are, but they'd probably because we are in an area where lots of young people live. In my estimation there are some trends to note:

1. Young adults are not leaving Church so to speak, but are leaving the churches of their youth. They are going to church often but it is often not the church where they grew up.
2. Young adults are highly mobile and will not return home to the community they grew up in, most are opting for urban or metro area living.
3. Young adults are attending church, but it is, by and large, in large to mega church settings they utilize progressive worship and leading edge technologies to enhance their worship experiences.
4. Young adults, with some exceptions, are not entertained by poor music and worship presentation, not to mention tired, old political talks disguised as sermons.
5. Young adults are looking to partner with churches that are doing things to bring about biblical justice and ministry to poor and needy.
6. Young adults don't wish to be part of ministries stuck in paying the bills by pleasing the older crowd.

There are number of other things that could be said but I'll leave it here for now. CTB had some good things above as well. Let's see how this goes. :)
Click to expand...

Excellent observations.
 
evangelist6589

evangelist6589

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
preachinjesus said:
I'll give some pushback to the idea that "young people" (20-30s) are leaving the church because I don't see it happening en masse like some. The stat that 2/3rds of Millennials leave the church when they go to college is erroneous and dangerous. It misunderstands the reality of the present day by applying out of date trend analysis and patterns of attendance.

That said, we are seeing plenty if young people attending churches where we are, but they'd probably because we are in an area where lots of young people live. In my estimation there are some trends to note:

1. Young adults are not leaving Church so to speak, but are leaving the churches of their youth. They are going to church often but it is often not the church where they grew up.
2. Young adults are highly mobile and will not return home to the community they grew up in, most are opting for urban or metro area living.
3. Young adults are attending church, but it is, by and large, in large to mega church settings they utilize progressive worship and leading edge technologies to enhance their worship experiences.
4. Young adults, with some exceptions, are not entertained by poor music and worship presentation, not to mention tired, old political talks disguised as sermons.
5. Young adults are looking to partner with churches that are doing things to bring about biblical justice and ministry to poor and needy.
6. Young adults don't wish to be part of ministries stuck in paying the bills by pleasing the older crowd.

There are number of other things that could be said but I'll leave it here for now. CTB had some good things above as well. Let's see how this goes. :)
Click to expand...

You may be correct. Personally if I had grown up in a IFB Church I would hit the road to another Calvinistic type church when I graduated, unless I was in SC where most churches are IFB Churches. Its not that I dislike Hymns, its that I prefer a more modern tune and don't want to be lectured on why I can't go to the movies, read from a non KJV Translation, wear anything but a suit and tie to church, and so forth.
 
A

annsni

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
So many are PART of the church because they are loved and accepted and can play the belonging game and have a great group of friends.

They are leaving because there was never a change in their heart. They were there for "club", not Christ.
 
R

Revmitchell

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
annsni said:
So many are PART of the church because they are loved and accepted and can play the belonging game and have a great group of friends.

They are leaving because there was never a change in their heart. They were there for "club", not Christ.
Click to expand...

I agree but the bigger part of theblame most likely lies with the church. Are, as a church, discipling our people to know the difference?
 
1

12strings

Active Member
I heard an interesting statistic recently (can't remember the source) that said almost all of those who leave church and don't return are those who are not married. Ie, most people who grew up in church will return when they get married and have kids. And as our culture is defined more and more by adultolescence, delayed marraiges, or simply not marrying, those people don't generally come to church.

I'm not sure how a curated this is, but it is interesting...and I know that there are "successful" church services at some larger churches that draw large numbers of young singles, but I wonder how plugged in they are to the church as a whole outside their peer group.
 
plain_n_simple

plain_n_simple

Active Member
evangelist6589 said:
Many young people (at least in my observation in non Bible belt states) seem to be departing the church or at least not actively participating after the college years and either leaving altogether or departing to the Contemporary and Charismatic churches. In our home church there are a few our age (30's) and most of them do not show up to SS on a regular basis. In the Calvinistic church where I join the men there is only one person in my age gap, while all other are in their 50's and beyond. I am 3x and the other man is in his late 20's - early 30's. I mean there are probably others in my age gap, but they never show up to men's study or men's breakfasts.

However if I were to stop by one of the many seeker friendly and Charismatic churches in the area (there are many and they are very populated) dollars to doughnuts there would be a half dozen people in their late twenties - thirties. Three seeker friendly churches in my local area all well populated seem to be preaching the essentials of the faith and so I have no basis for challenging them, but I disagree with their Rick Warren, Willow Creek & Andy Stanley ministry philosophy, so I just keep my distance.
Click to expand...

Ask yourself the simple question

"What drew crowds to Jesus and kept them?"
truth, understanding, salvation, healing, miracles


Then ask

"What did Jesus' ministry have that mine doesn't?"
 
Scarlett O.

Scarlett O.

Moderator
Moderator
12strings said:
I heard an interesting statistic recently (can't remember the source) that said almost all of those who leave church and don't return are those who are not married. Ie, most people who grew up in church will return when they get married and have kids. And as our culture is defined more and more by adultolescence, delayed marraiges, or simply not marrying, those people don't generally come to church.

I'm not sure how a curated this is, but it is interesting...and I know that there are "successful" church services at some larger churches that draw large numbers of young singles, but I wonder how plugged in they are to the church as a whole outside their peer group.
Click to expand...

.........................................oh, never mind

[deleted post]
 
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