Last week I talked about why young adults are not really feeling church anymore and the issues they have with attending church as well as the issues they are dealing with personally that keep them from church.
This week, I want to suggest some possible elements that will help young adults find there way, first and foremost, back to God and then to the church. These are some helpful hints that I have found practical in my world that will help in this regard. I realize that some of these are not readily accepted because they go against what some call: Traditional Church. With some who embrace traditional church as the ONLY way to do or have church, what I am suggesting may be looked at as not of God, but hey, this is not about people who are already in church...its about those who aren't. So here they are some practical, helpful hints on how to reclaim or get young adults back in the church.
1. When they come back please don't judge them; instead of judging them, take that energy and love on them! They have been dealing with things that many of us have never dealt with and don't even understand. So to judge where they have been, how they look, and why they are wearing what they are wearing as they come back to church is not the best place to start.
2. As they grow, allow them a place of service in the church. Young adults, I believe perform best under responsibility. If we allow them areas within the church to lead out, serve, help and function, I believe that they will not only come but bring others.
3. The worship service must change! Before you crucify me, please understand that nowhere in the bible are we told how to have church on the weekend. There are no instructions that you MUST have a call to worship, repeat an affirmation of faith, place a song here, and preach there...Its all either tradition OR opinion on how the community that worships together should worship. However, with young adults "HIGH CHURCH" pushes them away. They literally cannot understand the 'why of some of the elements in some of our services. Most people will say things like: "We shouldn't change our service to fit a particular group of people". However what makes that service holier than another when none of it is necessarily biblical prescribed? Do you want young adults back? Change the worship service...
4. Hold them accountable. Believe it or not, young adults want to be held accountable, but they enjoy it more from people who they can trust and who they know genuinely care about them. Generation X'ers can sniff people who they know don't really care about them. But when you care, they want you to hold them accountable to what God expects from and of them. Encourage, encourage, encourage...If you only see them once a month right now, let them know how much you have missed them, and that you have been praying for them (this means you have to pray for them...remember if you say you are, but aren't...they can tell...LOL)
These are not exhaustive, but just some tips in my world I know will help to reclaim young adults back to church...
Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
Young Adults
As promised, wash's world blog will come at you EVERY Monday. I will continue to blog about my health as it relates to Lyme Disease but will also blog about current events, the church, and life in general.
Most of you know that a have great passion for youth and young adults. I came across an article by a ministry magazine that talked about why young adults leave the church. This is the age group of around 19-35, and it was addressing how many people who have grown up in church, begin quitting church during this time frame in their lives. I think many of us who are in church assume that the devil has fully gotten hold of people, they don't want to take responsibility, or a shaking within the church is happening and people are leaving.
I would suggest, that there are issues much deeper than what we may see...that are NOT being addressed. So, take it or leave it...I'm giving you the reasons, from this ministry magazine as to why young adults quit church...Its definitely something to think about.
1. Young Adults have been hurt. They have been hurt by families as well as the church. Many young adults who have been hurt by the church, because of decisions they have made in their adolescence, have scarred them tremendously. Their thinking is...if these are the people who hurt me, I don't want any parts of church...
2. Adult Life or College Life doesn't mix with church. As young adults get older, they love to try new things. The new things that they want to try do not mix with church. So instead of going back and forth between the new things and church, they just settle into doing, the new things.
3. There is no natural bridge to church. When young adults leave home and either go off to college or change scenery, there is often nothing where they land at, that helps them navigate through life's waters.
4. Young Adults are distracted. Oftentimes, its not that young adults don't care, its just that they are dealing with SOOO many things and going to church is the last thing on their mind.
5. Young Adults are skeptical. Young adults as well as generation x do not have loyalties to institutions. This is extremely crucial in our understanding of what is going on in their minds. Because they don't have loyalties to institutions they rarely accept things that represent institutional living, which oftentimes the church is guilty of.
6. Young Adults are exhausted. More young adults are going to college than previous generations. They are busy paying back student loans and credit cards. They are working full-time jobs, trying to maintain marriages as well as parenting...they are tired.
7. Young Adults don't get it. Young adults are the MOST unchurched generation in a long time. In many cases they are not guilty of quitting church...they never started in church. Many young adults are discouraged because they churches in their neighborhoods or the ones that they have grown up in are NOT addressing their needs and position in life, so they don't understand or don't get why they should waste their time going...it doesn't help them.
Food for thoughts...
Most of you know that a have great passion for youth and young adults. I came across an article by a ministry magazine that talked about why young adults leave the church. This is the age group of around 19-35, and it was addressing how many people who have grown up in church, begin quitting church during this time frame in their lives. I think many of us who are in church assume that the devil has fully gotten hold of people, they don't want to take responsibility, or a shaking within the church is happening and people are leaving.
I would suggest, that there are issues much deeper than what we may see...that are NOT being addressed. So, take it or leave it...I'm giving you the reasons, from this ministry magazine as to why young adults quit church...Its definitely something to think about.
1. Young Adults have been hurt. They have been hurt by families as well as the church. Many young adults who have been hurt by the church, because of decisions they have made in their adolescence, have scarred them tremendously. Their thinking is...if these are the people who hurt me, I don't want any parts of church...
2. Adult Life or College Life doesn't mix with church. As young adults get older, they love to try new things. The new things that they want to try do not mix with church. So instead of going back and forth between the new things and church, they just settle into doing, the new things.
3. There is no natural bridge to church. When young adults leave home and either go off to college or change scenery, there is often nothing where they land at, that helps them navigate through life's waters.
4. Young Adults are distracted. Oftentimes, its not that young adults don't care, its just that they are dealing with SOOO many things and going to church is the last thing on their mind.
5. Young Adults are skeptical. Young adults as well as generation x do not have loyalties to institutions. This is extremely crucial in our understanding of what is going on in their minds. Because they don't have loyalties to institutions they rarely accept things that represent institutional living, which oftentimes the church is guilty of.
6. Young Adults are exhausted. More young adults are going to college than previous generations. They are busy paying back student loans and credit cards. They are working full-time jobs, trying to maintain marriages as well as parenting...they are tired.
7. Young Adults don't get it. Young adults are the MOST unchurched generation in a long time. In many cases they are not guilty of quitting church...they never started in church. Many young adults are discouraged because they churches in their neighborhoods or the ones that they have grown up in are NOT addressing their needs and position in life, so they don't understand or don't get why they should waste their time going...it doesn't help them.
Food for thoughts...
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Gossip...
Why do we love to spread gossip? Is it that we love to tell the untold? Is it that we enjoy seeing people's reactions to the information that we are telling them? What is it about us that enjoys tearing down people's character, and whispering about them instead of talking to them. In case you didn't realize it, I would argue that gossiping is not of God! What pains me however is that in a lot of churches, we will discipline and look down on people who may have a child while not being married, yet we say nothing to the millions of people who go around gossiping and talking down about people. The bible says that: "A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid a man [or woman] who talks too much” (Proverbs 20:19).
I have realized a couple of reasons why people gossip. These reasons of course are not exhaustive, there definitely could be more. Let me share them with you.
1. Some people gossip because they literally have nothing else to do. Some people's lives are so uneventful that they get enjoyment out of talking about the events in other people's lives. If you enjoy gossiping, I would encourage you to get active in something so that you won't have time to think about and talk about other people.
2. Some people gossip to mask all of the dysfunction in their own lives. Some people have so much stuff going on in their own personal lives that they gossip to deflect attention to someone else. Its almost a defense mechanism as to not deal with the issues in their life.
3. Some people gossip because they think they are better than everyone else. Some of us believe justified in our gossip, because we somehow feel that it is our duty to share the untold. We think everyone should know whats going on and feel because we are not as bad off as them that means we should share it. The bible warns us that before we start doing this, we should take the plank out of our own eye...The reason we can gossip so easily is because when we look at other people we are actually seeing a reflection of our own dysfunction.
4. Lastly, some people gossip because they have honestly allowed the Enemy to use them. The bible tells us that the devil is the father of lies. It also teaches us that it was the devil who first started discord in heaven. He LOVES to cause confusion, disruption, and discord! Did I say he LOVES to do it? If he can use a person to spread information, regardless if its true or not, he will do it! Don't allow yourself to be used be the enemy!!!
Lets not allow the enemy to get glory by gossiping, but instead seek to lift someone up! Lets help, not hurt people! After all...thats what Jesus would do, wouldn't he?
I have realized a couple of reasons why people gossip. These reasons of course are not exhaustive, there definitely could be more. Let me share them with you.
1. Some people gossip because they literally have nothing else to do. Some people's lives are so uneventful that they get enjoyment out of talking about the events in other people's lives. If you enjoy gossiping, I would encourage you to get active in something so that you won't have time to think about and talk about other people.
2. Some people gossip to mask all of the dysfunction in their own lives. Some people have so much stuff going on in their own personal lives that they gossip to deflect attention to someone else. Its almost a defense mechanism as to not deal with the issues in their life.
3. Some people gossip because they think they are better than everyone else. Some of us believe justified in our gossip, because we somehow feel that it is our duty to share the untold. We think everyone should know whats going on and feel because we are not as bad off as them that means we should share it. The bible warns us that before we start doing this, we should take the plank out of our own eye...The reason we can gossip so easily is because when we look at other people we are actually seeing a reflection of our own dysfunction.
4. Lastly, some people gossip because they have honestly allowed the Enemy to use them. The bible tells us that the devil is the father of lies. It also teaches us that it was the devil who first started discord in heaven. He LOVES to cause confusion, disruption, and discord! Did I say he LOVES to do it? If he can use a person to spread information, regardless if its true or not, he will do it! Don't allow yourself to be used be the enemy!!!
Lets not allow the enemy to get glory by gossiping, but instead seek to lift someone up! Lets help, not hurt people! After all...thats what Jesus would do, wouldn't he?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)