I am getting more and more perplexed about what I perceive is a lot of anger in our young Christian adults. I've seen this online for the past 10 years. And now I am hearing it outside the online world too. Perhaps that is why they don't want to attend our churches. They hide it well, but I can sense it. It's outright hostility. But why?
There are several symptoms of this anger. One is the foul language used by some of them. At a blog I read recently the blogger felt that it was because many were unchurched. Here is the reply I left on that blog,
I think we need to look at the root of the problem. While some may be in the category you presented - the unchurched - many know exactly what they are doing. The root seems to be a lot of hostility and anger and "in your face-ism." I am becoming more and more alarmed with the anger I see in our younger Christian adults. We saw this in the secular society in the 60's and early 70's but not really with the younger Christian adults. This is a whole new ballgame for the church and I think we need to address the root problem, not just throw Scripture at them about using nice language. And frankly, many don't care about those verses anyway.
A second symptom of this anger is boycotting the churches. Some of this is out of boredom, but I know some of it is out of the anger of "you do church my way or I hit the highway."
A third symptom is the abandoning of the importance of the atonement along with other Scriptural orthodoxy. It's almost like a "forget your stupid theology; we'll get our own (which they in fact have done--think emergent).
A fourth symptom is an adoption of occultic (New Age, Hindu, Buddhist, etc.) and medieval Catholic practices. I don't believe people who do this are simply looking for something different, but it often arises out of anger and frustration.
So what are these younger people angry about? Here is my guess. It goes back to just one thing. And here is that one thing:
Their Baby Boomer parents and Baby Boomer-created society.
Four problems originated by the BB's.
1. Too many divorces--this will almost always create anger, insecurity and alienation in children.
2. Both parents working--this is similar to the above. It creates insecurity and anger when parents are not available or home.
3. Their upbringing--BB's tend to not discipline their children as much as their predecessors. As a teacher for many years, I've seen the toll this takes in the anger of children.
4. The secular society with it's constant gray areas. The BB's made sure that everything was turned upside down especially in regards to morality. This creates a lot of anger, believe me. Young people want boundaries and their guilt assuaged. This cannot happen in an immoral, hang loose-anything goes society.
(5) I've put this in parentesis because I feel that it doesn't apply in most places anymore (outside the South). Also, the BB's didn't originate it. In fact, they are the main ones who have been and still are, abolishing it. But sadly, the emergents constantly want us to believe every church is like this.
#5 then is-----Legalism in the churches. Yes, that will make one angry too.
So, what say you?
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3 comments:
I agree with some of what you say and it is interesting to read your views on such a subject. Why are teens and young adults angry? Big question, but is not directed at church specifically.
There is an older generation that believes that they have all the methods and ways of doing things, the younger ones seem to be wrong for asking the 'why?' question.
Postmodernism..... now there's a subject and half, but I would suggest that the skepticism and negativity to church is as a result of the mythical golden period of the Enlightenment. Individualism pervaded and has done so from then on into our churches. Yes, it also shows itself in the emerging churches as well.
Interestingly enough, the Enlightenment via Reimarus, Swietzer and Wrede were able to punch holes in themythical christianity that pervaded then and still does in our reform churches. I would suggest that the Good News needs to come from our lives and not the Reformist angle of dogma. Dogma that maintains bad models... a preference of Paul over Jesus...We are seeing again example after example of why the 40's and younger offers very little good news but lots of a wrathful God. Maybe a balance would be good for a change. Having said that, the Enlightenment did us a big favour, it shot holes in searching for faith through reason alone... Calvin etc have a lot to answer to. That's a dig at the whole period of rationalism of the 18th century in general..... is church constantly reforming? That's why Jesus turned up.... not to perpetuate a doctrine of atonement!
I want to clear something up Diane. I can't speak for why young people cuss in the thousands of Churches in America.
I was only speaking of the one I was Sunday School teacher in. We'd brought in a few dozen rough young people into a Church of 200 people.
That's where I dealt with cussing.
I think we have to reconsider the idea that mouthing a prayer makes you a Christian. Salvation is an act of Christ that is received through repentance and trust.
I doubt many of the angry youth are Christians yet. Their sanctification can only begin after their salvation.
BTW, I'm going to add a link to this post. It's an interesting take on why lost young people are angrier than in the past.
I am 23 and have only been attending church again for a couple of years, and I think you've hit the nail on the head when it comes to my generation. Borrowing from David Kinnaman's language in his book, unChristian, it's primarily older Mosaics (1984-2002) and young Busters (1965-1983) who comprise the 16-29 year-old age group; who have so many issues with church.
We've been raised in a postmodern, existentialist world, and frankly, our upbringings have been filled with many unique (im)moral influences that our parents didn't deal with until a much later age (typically).
For instance, I was raised in an abusive home where my parents each left one another for members of the same sex at an early age. The behaviors that were considered living on the 'fringe' only a decade ago are today the norm. I grew up believing this was 'normal' so it didn't bother me much. Not to mention the technology we have and what that gives us access to. Just demonstrating my point....
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