I've been in a discussion with a good Pastor recently about the state of the church he oversees as well as the state of the church locally and in general.
To give you a little bit of background, this is a small and relatively rural church. This church is located is in a suburb of the state's capital. The church itself is just outside of this small city's limits and it has had its share of issues. For all intents and purposes, though, it is your typical southern church so in spite of its small size, I think it represents the average church in more ways than one.
As I was talking with this Pastor, he brought up the nature of the composition of the church. Like many others in the area and across America, it has some very faithful members, but it really seems to lack the youth and young adult component. Now there are children and teenagers in the church, but you're looking at a definite disparity when it comes to the 13-17 and 18-30 range. As most of you know, I recently graduated college and married my high school sweetheart of many years now. We're smack in that young adult category. With this Pastor, I'd say he connects very well to others our age. He's "up" on things and has embraced computers, blogs, websites, and other things like that. I won't comment too much more on the church overall, but IMHO he is Spirit-led and there are very clear changes for the better taking place over time. Things feel updated but the Word is taught.
We got to discussing the lack of youth and young adults. He asked for my perspective and it got me to thinking. I don't play big brother here and ask for dates, but I do have a reasonable idea through posting, pictures, and more how old most members of this board are. I quickly began to realize that even Christianity Board shares in the lack of youth and young adults.
I know the simple argument is that's just the way things go; it's a sign of the times. Of course I'm reminded of II Peter 3:3:
The case that we are a material culture and a rushed culture is pretty much blatantly obvious. We can blame wandering hearts, unparalleled temptations, and a general decadent society as a source of some attrition. I think that folks might would quibble with some words, but that just about any Christian would make the same or very similar statement.
However, I have a number of friends whom I'd consider Christian that are my age or around it who just don't go to church. Let's just put aside the discipline arguments for this discussion. Let's also put aside a polluted society and just focus on these age ranges. I mean sin is nothing new in the world and men and women have been enticed by it since the time of Adam and Eve, right? Well, when you are able to talk and maybe pick brains for a time, it becomes evident that church is just no longer found to be a good place to go. Many people come from families where the parents do still attend and they freely talk about Christian issues. You know they are restrained by Christian morals and even notice that they pray or delight in discussing Christianity.
So why the empty pews? I think part of the answer is the churches. For whatever reasons they are not interesting. (Again let's put aside the protests that the Word is interesting - we know that and even those that don't attend church seem to know that...) I feel like in the past folks think I'm "anti-church" or something silly like that, but I do believe in a fundamental failing within the churches. I believe bad doctrine is much of the issue, but I believe many other times its just bad "packaging." Who is to say that the one sitting on the pew bored and daydreaming as the Pastor tells a story is better off than the one simply not there?
We all know about seeds. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) has at least one lesson on the topic at one level as well as the many other verses about seeds and planting:
You know the phrase repeated lately about throwing good money after bad? Maybe we're throwing good seed after bad? Maybe it's time to examine exactly how churches try and reach younger generations.
With that in mind, how do you feel churches should reach them? What can a church do to reach just the local crowd of young adults just starting their lives or whatever. Is social media the way like Facebook and Twitter? Do we look for new ways to present the Word through new types of media? (Maybe you go to church and watch a presentation along with the sermon or see a video about the Word.) What ministries can churches perform to plant seeds that might germinate a month or year down the line?
What can churches do to become more relevant and help light the fire? We know teaching the Word, of course, but how do you hook the fish?
Please feel free to input and brainstorm as much as you'd like! I'll be listening for this website as well!!
To give you a little bit of background, this is a small and relatively rural church. This church is located is in a suburb of the state's capital. The church itself is just outside of this small city's limits and it has had its share of issues. For all intents and purposes, though, it is your typical southern church so in spite of its small size, I think it represents the average church in more ways than one.
As I was talking with this Pastor, he brought up the nature of the composition of the church. Like many others in the area and across America, it has some very faithful members, but it really seems to lack the youth and young adult component. Now there are children and teenagers in the church, but you're looking at a definite disparity when it comes to the 13-17 and 18-30 range. As most of you know, I recently graduated college and married my high school sweetheart of many years now. We're smack in that young adult category. With this Pastor, I'd say he connects very well to others our age. He's "up" on things and has embraced computers, blogs, websites, and other things like that. I won't comment too much more on the church overall, but IMHO he is Spirit-led and there are very clear changes for the better taking place over time. Things feel updated but the Word is taught.
We got to discussing the lack of youth and young adults. He asked for my perspective and it got me to thinking. I don't play big brother here and ask for dates, but I do have a reasonable idea through posting, pictures, and more how old most members of this board are. I quickly began to realize that even Christianity Board shares in the lack of youth and young adults.
I know the simple argument is that's just the way things go; it's a sign of the times. Of course I'm reminded of II Peter 3:3:
The case that we are a material culture and a rushed culture is pretty much blatantly obvious. We can blame wandering hearts, unparalleled temptations, and a general decadent society as a source of some attrition. I think that folks might would quibble with some words, but that just about any Christian would make the same or very similar statement.
However, I have a number of friends whom I'd consider Christian that are my age or around it who just don't go to church. Let's just put aside the discipline arguments for this discussion. Let's also put aside a polluted society and just focus on these age ranges. I mean sin is nothing new in the world and men and women have been enticed by it since the time of Adam and Eve, right? Well, when you are able to talk and maybe pick brains for a time, it becomes evident that church is just no longer found to be a good place to go. Many people come from families where the parents do still attend and they freely talk about Christian issues. You know they are restrained by Christian morals and even notice that they pray or delight in discussing Christianity.
So why the empty pews? I think part of the answer is the churches. For whatever reasons they are not interesting. (Again let's put aside the protests that the Word is interesting - we know that and even those that don't attend church seem to know that...) I feel like in the past folks think I'm "anti-church" or something silly like that, but I do believe in a fundamental failing within the churches. I believe bad doctrine is much of the issue, but I believe many other times its just bad "packaging." Who is to say that the one sitting on the pew bored and daydreaming as the Pastor tells a story is better off than the one simply not there?
We all know about seeds. The Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13) has at least one lesson on the topic at one level as well as the many other verses about seeds and planting:
You know the phrase repeated lately about throwing good money after bad? Maybe we're throwing good seed after bad? Maybe it's time to examine exactly how churches try and reach younger generations.
With that in mind, how do you feel churches should reach them? What can a church do to reach just the local crowd of young adults just starting their lives or whatever. Is social media the way like Facebook and Twitter? Do we look for new ways to present the Word through new types of media? (Maybe you go to church and watch a presentation along with the sermon or see a video about the Word.) What ministries can churches perform to plant seeds that might germinate a month or year down the line?
What can churches do to become more relevant and help light the fire? We know teaching the Word, of course, but how do you hook the fish?
Please feel free to input and brainstorm as much as you'd like! I'll be listening for this website as well!!
