LEAVING PROTESTANTISM: THE YOUTH MASS EXODUS

 

Reading the comments in a post from one of my Facebook friends who's a pastor in a Baptist church, it's dawning on people that the use of fun, entertainment, and concert-like worship services are not doing anything to keep youth engaged in our mainstream protestant churches.

Some who've commented are youth pastors and they're seeing youth fleeing their churches or other churches because "fun and pizza" ain't cutting it.

The RCC and Eastern Orthodox churches are seeing an influx of these youth because they're tired of the gimmicky, cheesy worship services aimed at the youth.

Let's get something straight here.  Right now, we live in a world that's VERY dark and VERY scary.  There are things today's youth are experiencing that is causing a whole lot of confusion and in this dark, confusing world, the last thing these kids and teens need is "fun and entertainment"; what they need are ANSWERS and the church is failing them.  When they need someone with wisdom and understanding to navigate this wicked world we're living in, all we're throwing at them is pizza, games, and loud music with flashing strobe lights and fog machines.

The church is supposed to be different.  We're supposed to be who they run to when the world gets too much for them.  But instead of being different, the church is conforming itself to the world.  They don't need more of the "world", they need Christ.  Many say, "But if we don't offer any fun activities, they'll leave!!"  Those who leave probably weren't meant to be there anyway.  The gospel is sheep food.  The sheep will stay for the sheep food.  The goats will return to the "garbage can", so to speak.

You want the kids to stay?  Give them the answers and those will only be found in deep, consistent Bible study, not in pizza parties and loud music.