Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Young People and Church
USA Today write about how to attract young people to church. Two basic ideas: 1) Treat them like adults, and 2) Give them "genuine" community. I'd like to rephrase that just a bit - "Conform the church to what they think the church ought to be."
Now, I will not deny the fact that community is part of what a church should be, but I also will not deny that part of being an adult is that you experience community in very different ways then you did as a youth. I also will not deny that granting responsibility is part of teaching people how to grow up, and they may be of majority age, but I know for sure I am far more of an adult at 57 than I was at 27. There are limits.
Young people today seem to be in a great hurry to enjoy all the benefits of older adulthood. I know I was. But there were people that gently said "No" to me. That sought to shape and refine me into full adulthood. I cannot help but think that if we older folks reached out to kids with that kind of care and concern, in real love and affection. They'd show up at church.
adulthood church young people
Now, I will not deny the fact that community is part of what a church should be, but I also will not deny that part of being an adult is that you experience community in very different ways then you did as a youth. I also will not deny that granting responsibility is part of teaching people how to grow up, and they may be of majority age, but I know for sure I am far more of an adult at 57 than I was at 27. There are limits.
Young people today seem to be in a great hurry to enjoy all the benefits of older adulthood. I know I was. But there were people that gently said "No" to me. That sought to shape and refine me into full adulthood. I cannot help but think that if we older folks reached out to kids with that kind of care and concern, in real love and affection. They'd show up at church.
adulthood church young people
