MILLENNIALS, DON'T COME BACK TO THE CHURCH
I’m not so sure Millenials are leaving the Church. Wait, before you gather all your research or Google the statistics, hear me out. I believe something significant is happening with Millenials, but I do not think it’s fair to say they are leaving the church.
What I mean is this: Millenials are leaving what we have understood the Church in America to traditionally be. By this I mean they are leaving the institutions we have created, the Ecclesial Non-Profits that are designated as Tax-Exempt 501(c) 3 Organizations.
And this is not a bad thing either. I'm not sure they should come back. I think they can do better.
I believe that we are living in new times. I’m aware that every generation thinks they will do things differently than the one before them. But the times we are living in represent a shift happening across the globe. And, new times demand new thinking.
As I’ve engaged with and listened to Millenials what I hear from them is not an entire rejection of the Christian faith. What I hear is a desire to understand how they can live faithfully in the ways of Jesus in an rapidly changing world.
Their thinking has led many of them to believe that the Church, as it is currently constructed, will not continue to have the impact it has traditionally had in our world. As a result, many have left. Some in frustration. Some in search of something else. Some in hopes of defining a new way of thinking for the new times in which we find ourselves.
In the midst of all this I have hope. Let’s not forget that God has been a loving, faithful friend to humanity since the dawn of time. In fact, he is far more faithful and loving than any of us. No matter the day or age, he has always shown himself to people all over the earth, and he will do so in the days ahead.
Many have recognized the problems we face in our world today. The struggle is understanding solutions to those problems. My hope and belief is that the generations to come will create shape ways of thinking and communicating that will serve our ever-changing world well.
It’s easy to say what’s not working. But what about creating things that will work?
It’s easy to say why something is broken. But how can we find ways to repair what’s broken?
It’s easy to tear something apart. But what about building something?
You may be someone who has “left the Church.” There may be a long list of reasons for your having left. But whatever the reason, allow me offer up a challenge for you. No, I don’t intend to talk you into coming back. Rather, I want to encourage you to be the change you want to see.
Dream. Experiment. Create. Do something beautiful that will teach all of us how to think in these new times of ours. If we can commit ourselves to that we may see more people truly knowing the heart of Jesus – even if they never come back to Church.