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Author Topic: The Fall of the Evangelical Nation - Young evangelicals fleeing church, faith  (Read 3203 times)
Thyme2BeeHealthy
Learning

Posts: 35
« on: March 06, 2009, 12:17:41 PM »

Have you all seen this?

stories of people who are leaving or changing their evangelical faith.

A recent TIME Magazine article points to research that found 61 percent of the adults polled who are now in their twenties said they had participated in church activities as teens but not longer so. Some argue that young people typically drift from organized religion in early adulthood, but others say the high attrition is a sign that churches need to change the way they try to engage the next generation.
A study from UCLA found that almost half of college students drift away from their Christian upbringing. While 52 percent of incoming students said that they regularly took part in church events, the number shrinks to 29 percent who are still involved in church activities by their junior year.
Josh McDowell estimates, ‘over 69 percent of youth are leaving traditional church after high school.’
LifeWay Christian Research reports, ‘The overwhelming majority of children from evangelical families are leaving the church as they enter adulthood.’
Mark Matlock finds, ‘Depending on whose numbers you use, 58 percent – 84 percent of graduating youth from church youth groups are not returning.’
David Wheaton, author of University of Destruction, states that ‘as many as 50 percent of Christian students say they have lost their faith after four years of college.’
George Barna gives troubling news in his book, Real Teens: ‘Now only 33 percent of churched youth say that the church will play a part in their lives when they leave home.’
Glenn Schultz at LifeWay Christian Resources estimates that 75 percent of young people leave church in their late teens and aren’t reconnecting later.
Student Venture reports that about 70 percent of seniors in high school who claimed faith, stop attending church during the college years.
Ron Luce in Battle Cry for a Generation estimates ‘88 percent of kids raised in Christian homes do not continue to follow the Lord after they graduate from high school.’
LifeWay Research found that 70 percent of young adults ages twenty-three to thirty stopped attending church regularly for at least a year between the ages of eighteen and twenty-two.”

http://www.christinewicker.com/?p=162
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amy3js
Master

Posts: 1557
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2009, 02:10:45 PM »
Quote
Some argue that young people typically drift from organized religion in early adulthood, but others say the high attrition is a sign that churches need to change the way they try to engage the next generation.
 

Personally, I see 2 reasons that young adults fall away, and I don't think either reason has anything to do with how the church reaches out or that young adults just go through a drifting stage. The first, and I believe most important, reason that I see young people fall away is the relationship they have with their parents. Or better stated, the relationship their parents have built with them. Micheal Pearl talks about this issue in his jumping ship articles, patriarchal articles and many other books and articles as well. The second reason I see as to why young people "fall away from the church" is that they see the false doctrines, hypocrisy and serious errors in denominational churches today and want to have no part of it. I am part of that second set. Though I would love to be part of the church culture I grew up in, I can't without unintentionally supporting their doctrines and letting my child learn them. I'm sure many people I grew up with think I have fallen away because I am not in church every sunday or part of the young adult groups, but the truth is I simply disagree with what I now see as churchianity instead of christianity. I would love to be part of a bigger church family but we just have yet to find one that will look at the bible, only the bible, and set aside all other human doctrine or understanding in order to see what is laid out in the Word. Oops, I think I rabbit trailed a bit  Roll Eyes. Anyway, my point is that the problem, IMO, is not how the church reaches out, but instead how children are raised in regards to the relationship they have with their parents and what the church teaches.  Wink
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What I want doesn't matter.
Gabriel Anast
Administrator
Master

Posts: 1588
« Reply #2 on: March 08, 2009, 01:03:22 PM »
@amy3js: ditto that.

Kids are looking for righteousness, cleansing, and clear direction... So, they leave the church. More "news" at 6.

--gabe
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Homeschool_Newbie
Master

Posts: 867


The best of summer...
« Reply #3 on: March 08, 2009, 03:24:41 PM »
These are the same statistics that I've heard from other sources, as well...

I went through " The truth project" , and was told that 93% of Christians do not have a Christian world view. That was from a barnum poll, I believe.

Has anyone read Vodie Bauchum's book " Family Driven Faith"? I have not read it, but I am familiar with his teachings that youth groups do not save. God can hit a crooked nail head on, ( he can and does bring kids to himself through youth groups) but youth groups are not the biblical example.

I grew up in the typical church setting. I went to sunday school, vbs, youth groups, you name it. ( I also went to both public and private schools) I am AMAZED at all the christian kids who fell away from the faith. One of the best Christian teens I knew went in the complete opposite direction of his faith.

I love and appreciate all the advice from titus2 types of teachers who are helping me to see WHY we've got all these problems....

Also- Amy3J's.... I'm in agreement with you that there are probably people in my church who think my faith in God is pretty rusty right now... We are not very involved... but we are in a tough position because we don't leave our kids in sunday school etc. etc...
I love my church, and I feel God's presence there... but it can be lonely to find fellowship with like minded people...

Good thread....
The statistics are scary....
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rejoicing
Adept

Posts: 366
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2009, 10:32:18 PM »
This is interesting, because my initial response was to say right on amy3j's. I wanted to respond from personal experience and personal hurts, but in fairness...I would not have even heard about Jesus if it weren't for evangelical youth groups.  There is not a doubt in my mind that there was so much disfunction in my youth group and church back then, even so much hurting that turned me away from church, and even God for a while.  But there is also not a doubt in my mind that they brought me to HIM, and I am so grateful for that. 

But what can WE DO?  Is the "evangelical nation" salvagable at this point?
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Homeschool_Newbie
Master

Posts: 867


The best of summer...
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2009, 03:42:55 PM »
HOT OFF THE PRESS:

Already Gone by Ken Ham

This book addresses the reasons why so many of leaving the church and/or the faith.
My Dh read the book, and says that one of the big reasons is that our children need to be taught to defend the faith.
I am using an apologia science book this year that does just that.... I am thrilled to see the author defending God's word, right off the bat. Smiley
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ridgerunner
Master

Posts: 1294
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2009, 03:15:16 PM »
Quote
Though I would love to be part of the church culture I grew up in, I can't without unintentionally supporting their doctrines and letting my child learn them.

I'm right there with you on this amy3j's!  That's why I don't go to church.  I want my daughter to learn the Bible, not how to be a good churchian member.

Growing up I was homeschooled and all that jazz, taught about Jesus at home, but was also expected to bow down completely to the church and be involved in everything and revolve my life around that group.  Youth groups and church outreach pushed me away from what I was taught at home (which wasn't the uninfluenced Word either, but closer) because I became so disgusted with the hypocrisy and money-changing that went on there.  No change of plan would have brought  me back in.  God brought me back to Him on His own.

I still miss the intimacy of the 'church group' and all the social benefits that come with belonging to it, but I feel strongly convicted against allying myself with a group that spews out false doctrine that sends people farther away from Christ than they were before.  (Which is how all the churches I've visited in my life in my area are.)

I'm sure there have to be good churches somewhere... a true functioning Body of Christ, but I've never seen one yet.  I'm beginning to think I won't get the opportunity on this earth..

(BTW, I'm certainly not putting down homeschooling - I think it's great - just stating my experience in regards to the OP with background)
« Last Edit: August 10, 2009, 03:19:15 PM by ridgerunner » Logged
"If these walls came tumbling down and fell so hard to make us lose our faith, from what's left you'd figure it out and still make lemonade taste like a sunny day.  Stay American" (DMB)
amy3js
Master

Posts: 1557
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2009, 03:55:58 PM »
Quote from: ridgerunner on August 10, 2009, 03:15:16 PM
...but was also expected to bow down completely to the church... 

You just put into words the thing that bothers me most about my past church experience. Some people seem to actually worship the church itself, instead of the God whom they are supposed to serve. I see it more and more lately in people and I am disgusted with it.   Sad
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AndysJess
Adept

Posts: 465


blessed to be my husband's wife
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2009, 05:00:10 PM »


Some people seem to actually worship the church itself, instead of the God whom they are supposed to serve.
[/quote]

This is a very disturbing trend my husband and I have noticed more and more.  Not only worship of the church, but more often, those in leadership.   We have attended 2 churches in the past decade who have put the authority of the pastor over the authority of the husband.  Needless to say, it detrimentally affected our family.  There was a lot of confusion on both my husband and my part.  We had to break away from it and refocus on what God had called us to...it was very hard.

Back to the topic, one of the churches I mentioned has lost at least 1/3 of it's youth group generation after generation.  My family or I have been connected to this church in one way or another for over 30 years.  This is a huge church...supposed to be an extremely strong church until you take a good look at it's underbelly.  It's so sad...my little sister was a victim, and still has not made her way back to God.
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Helpmeet to Andy 11 years; Mother to Drew, Dylan, Cullen, Avery and Sawyer.

Dylan..."Mom, I don't like it when you braid my hair cause when you take it out, my hair is too wriggly!"
smfmommy
Adept

Posts: 265
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2009, 07:47:53 AM »
I really liked Already Gone in one aspect as it showed that Sunday school is actually more of a detriment than a help to Christian values.  But it showed home churching as an extreme choice that doesn't help fix the current problems of the church.  Funny, that's how some people saw homeschooling at one time.  We don't home church but we would be if we hadn't found this particular church we are in (not perfect but trying).  Maybe like public school that fundamental premise of Sunday school, etc is flawed and instead of trying to fix it we should toss it.

Another aspect I thought interesting was that about half of the "lost" young people still had a faith even if they didn't go to church.  The focus of part of the book was how to get them back into the fold.  I kept thinking, maybe they are better off where they are.  If we could reach them to encourage and disciple them through web sites like 7xSunday then maybe they could grow without the churchosity stuff.

As much as I hate to see the witness of Christ marred by a church building becoming a tattoo shop I am not altogether certain that reducing the dross from Christianity is really a bad thing.

My take, whatever its worth
 Grin
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Wife to my best friend for 17 years.
Mommy to four little ladies, ages 13, 11, 7, 5 and two little men, ages 3 and 1.
Justboys
Wide Eyed

Posts: 2
« Reply #10 on: August 12, 2009, 11:56:12 AM »
Hey, I'm new here, but wanted to chime in on this.  I was not raised in church, but came to Christ because I had neighbors who took me to Wednesday night programs, etc.  I was not active in a youth group as a teen, so I don't know what went on there.  I only became a  Bible believer/student of the Word after I met and married my husband and we started going to church together. 

I can tell you, though, from the past 14 years of church experience that I believe that the worship of church leadership is one very real reason for a certain group of teens/young adults to leave the church entirely.  I have witnessed so many familes who give everything they have (time, money, friendships, etc) to the pastor, that they have forgotten that the family was instituted first and those precious children are only in their homes for a short time.  Then, when Johnny grows up and starts reading his Bible (if he even has one), and discovers that he might question some of what's going on, it causes a stir and Johnny opts out - maybe to even turn his back on the Lord. 

I am for outreach, if it had not been for a friend taking me to her church week after week of Awanas, then I very possibly would have never heard the Word of God. We are supposed to teach others what Jesus taught, and we need to do that personally - we need to see kids (and adults) who aren't in Bible believing families come to the Lord.  I don't know what to do for the teens who are falling by the side, other than bolster the other families that I know as the Lord leads.  It all makes me wonder if it is possible to reach those who have not had the chance to be taught one way, yet keep your family "unspotted from the world" and on the right path?  Surely it is.
 
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denim&lace
Master

Posts: 1721
« Reply #11 on: August 12, 2009, 12:34:24 PM »
Mike Pearl seems to have done a bang up job of just what you described, Justboys... 

I know that's one reason that my husband and I put any stock in his books and Bible teachings.  I mean, yes, it's Biblical teaching, and all, but without the TESTIMONY of having 5 adult children serving Christ, it wouldn't mean any more than the rest of those bible thumpers that seem to have their theology right, but their kids appear to be going to hell in a handbasket.  So what if  he is spot on about Calvinisim or all those other 'isims', if it didn't WORK in real life? 

Anyway, his family has shown us that it IS possible.
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BJ_BOBBI_JO
Guru

Posts: 2344


I SEE YOU


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« Reply #12 on: August 15, 2009, 07:40:47 PM »
As almost always I have a different take on it. That doesnt make me right or wrong I suppose but just one who sees thigns from the other side of the coin often times.

I figure many young folks fall away from the church because it is just plain boring. I dont think we should ever have to change what the Bible says but it cant hurt  to change how we teach what the Bible says. This is a modern fast paced time we live in. Young people are used to instant entertainment and results. Not the slow sit and listen for over and hour put you to sleep stuff of the old days. Times have changed. Our mind/eyes/ears receive info at a fast rate all the time now a days with Tv and other modern stuff. We get our food cooked right away in a microwave and fly to the other side of the world in a day.

So no wonder the young people are getting bored and jumping ship. We arnt living in the little house on the praire days where they sat around telling stories by candle light. I just wish there were more churches who stuck with the Bible and told the Bible the way it is but in doing so would do it in a way that was more appealing and better able to make the listener understand. Such as by using drama, screens with pics/videos, and so on. This tends to make  many of the older folks go into a tailspin and flip out but its the way it is. Just as the way our older folks conduct church isnt how it was done when their grandparents conducted church. Times change.

Also I think and now from my own experience that the old time religion of legalism and prideful thinking has chased many ppl away from church. Who wants to be around someone who bashes others, looks down on others for their dress codes and other things? Its a real turn off and sadly the church was littered with that junk for a long time. I am encouraged to see churches breaking away from it. But sadly the pendulum has swumg the other way in many churches. BUt I dont think there are as many dying ungodly churches as some ppl say. Either I live in a good spot with many good churches or the stats are wrong about how all the churches are dying off.

My church as well as others I know of are building on and busting out of the seems. Just last week I heard of more encouraging news of a local church growing out of its britches and needing more space to hold everyone on Sundays.

Gotta love religious freedom while we still have it here in America. Free to choose our own church and denomination.
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