For the past year I've emersed myself in Emergent books to try to understand what they are really saying. As I've written here many times, I disagree with much of their foundational theology. However, I feel they are asking the right questions and have some good insights to give to us about the postmodern generation. With that in mind, I am reading Dan Kimball's book, They Like Jesus But Not the Church. I've also ordered Sarah Cunningham's book, Dear Church: Letters from a Disillusioned Generation which is along the same lines.
I read Kimball's first book, The Emerging Church a while back and it helped me get a feel for things emergent and especially what emergent churches do in their services. In this latest book he wants Christians, and I gathered especially pastors, to know that we Christians don't have a good reputation among the postmoderns. He's talked with 18-35 year olds all over the country and has heard them say that Christians are scary, angry, judgemental and right-wing- finger-pointers with political agendas.
In the same vein, Lifeway, an arm of the Southern Baptists put out a survey of post high schoolers and found out that only 70% of them continued to attend church after high school. That is a slightly better percentage than Barna's 9% of 18-30 year old evangelicals attending church. Here are the reasons the post-high schoolers gave for leaving church from the Lifeway survey:
• Wanted a break from church: 27%
• Found church members judgmental or hypocritical: 26%
• Moved to college: 25%
• Tied up with work: 23%
• Moved too far away from home church: 22%
• Too busy: 22%
• Felt disconnected to people at church: 20%
• Disagreed with church's stance on political/social issues: 18%
• Spent more time with friends outside church:
• Only went before to please others: 17%
Did you notice that 26% "found church members judgmental or hypocritical?" And 20% "felt disconnected to people at church?" And 18% disagreed with church's stance on political/social issues?" That is 64% saying similar things to some of what Kimball found.
Kimballs' frustration in the first chapter seemed to be that many pastors just don't get it. They aren't facing the fact that these younger people just aren't showing up. And they don't seem to have a clue as to how to get them there--if they care at all.
As I read the book, I will keep reporting on it.
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1 week ago
5 comments:
Interesting. I'm a little young for that age group, but I know in my own church that the three which were specially mentioned are true too much of the time. On the flipside, a lot of the people in church don't like anyone else either... I'm curious to know what Kimball's solution is. So far unconditional love seems to be the only healing, but I haven't applied myself to learning about the topic.
"Kimballs' frustration...seemed to be that many pastors just don't get it."
What can pastors do? We've always had Christians who don't act like it, and you can prod, cajole, and yell, but in the end they're going to do what they're going to do.
I have to wonder, though, how much this problem is real and how much is due to bad press. Of course Christians are nasty, do you see the things they said they do on CNN/NYT/Kos?
Of course, the solution to this may just be to "live such lives that those who would accuse you will be ashamed."
I am in the age group that's being discussed. I attend church occasionally, but not much. I actually took a few years off and only returned at God's prompting.
Reasons I don't go to church include...
1. I don't get much out of sermons. I get more out of personal Bible study.
2. Sunday school doesn't allow for much fellowship. It's too formatted, almost like another church service.
3. Discussion is limited in a Sunday school setting. How can we discuss any deep questions when we're allocated only 5-10 minutes?
4. I believe the church (ekklesia, which literally means "called out ones") has drifted away from God's intent. I believe house churches would be more effective, and it's something I'm thinking of starting. For more on the subject, I highly recommend Megashift by James Rutz.
Ryan,
May I suggest that you haven't given any good reasons to not go to church?
Go to church to worship your Lord and to find ways to serve the other believers in your local body. Don't worry about what you get out of it. That's not what it's all about.
However, don't restrict your instruction from the word to your own Bible study. Find someone, via some medium, who will feed your mind and soul.
Regarding #2&3, talk to someone. See if you can get things changed. In my experience, though, Sunday school is almost all about fellowship and very little about learning. And that's fine if that's what you want to use that time for.
I'm not sure what you mean by 4, but don't think you have to go to a megachurch. Find a smaller body where you can serve, or find a small group within a megachurch. But seek ways in which you can serve other believers and you'll have found your reason for being there.
Hi Chris,
Thank you for your feedback.
I have two Christian teachers I learn from; one I learn from almost daily (six days a week).
Worship ought to be a daily habit. So that's my approach.
The serving others piece makes sense to me. Which is one reason I'd like to start a home group and/or volunteer with a Christian organization (not church).
You suggested I talk to somebody. I did that once, but it didn't turn out too well since my beliefs are quite different from most Christians.
The only way things will change in my church or any church is if it is God's timing. Only the Holy Spirit can bring about the change.
I believe there are reasons for not going to church, but I'd rather not share them here.
P.S. I mentioned #4 to disassociate church from church structures. A church is not a building.
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