Exodus of Church - Why so many young people are choosing to leave

     

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     In a country founded on Christian values, built by men who identified strongly as men of faith, and a nation known for its religious freedoms, it is hard to tackle the question of why so many young people are choosing to opt out of their forefathers roots, but I think it's important that we do, because it reveals some important things we should all be aware of.

     The first question that must be asked, are young adults, ages 18-30 really leaving churches more now than in other times? The answer is pretty clear, and the answer is yes. Research across the country shows a stark decline in church attendance as well as the number of young Americans who self-identify as evangelical or Christian. Nearly all denominations are experiencing a drop of 10% or more in church attendance, with some as high as 20-30%. 

      Is this normal? Has history shown times of regression such as the one American Christianity is currently experiencing? In short, no. In the last 100 years, the number of Christian Americans has stayed at a steady pace, increasing and decreasing at times, but for the majority, remaining consistent. In some cases, like in times of war and recessions such as the 1930's and during both World War's, Americans moved closer to Church, a place often seen as a safe haven, a home for the needy and poor. But why now, in 2019 and over the last decade is this trend decreasing at a rate that seems to be only downtrending?

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      The answer is complicated, it's difficult, but it's also very visible if one if willing to listen, to look, to investigate. I'd like to write a few things, to express what I have seen, my "investigation" into why so many of my friends, and those around me who are in my age group are choosing to leave the church, maybe not their faith, but the church body. 

3 Reasons Why

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Power - Apathy - Privilege 

      If you ask a spectrum of people this question, you'll get a spectrum of answers, things ranging from parents lack of upbringing, to school systems, to separation of church and state, our current political climate, social media, and those dang millennials, and while all of these could be pointed at in one way or another, the reasons seem larger, more sophisticated than single things.

Power:
   
      What does power have to do with the exodus of young adults in church today? In many ways, I would argue, everything. Younger generations have a defining characteristic that makes them millennials or Gen. Z. It's not a lack of commitment or desire, it's not that they enjoy bouncing from one job to the next, or even the crippling epidemic of student debt, no, it's their fierce desire for reconciliation and advocacy for the less than. 

      Have you ever notified how much the younger generation, those my age and younger seem to care about things that may or may not directly impact themselves personally? Things such as climate change, single use plastics, world hunger? It's as if millennials and Gen. Z have taken a personal vendetta upon themselves to right these wrongs for the world. They care deeply about making things "right" in the world and they are not afraid to speak up about it, to protest about it, dare I even say....tweet about it.

So what does this have to do with Power and Church? Keep reading:

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      Friends all around me are tired of the structure of power that exist in the church today. The type of power that allows for hundreds of thousands of kids to be molested in churches, by those in power, only to be hidden, often with extreme care, by those very same people who hold power. Young adults are saddned by the current state of affairs in our country, where a man with the upmost power, can use it to belittle, bully, and harass any one who gets in his way, and to then be backed up and defended by church people.

      The power structure that resides in American Christianity is threatening the very things older Christians want most, more christians! Just yesterday I watched a video posted by the White House of 2 prominent evangelical worship leaders, people of great power and influence across our nation, adamantly supporting the current rhetoric used by President Trump, going further to say how "good' things were in the White House, how "the marginalized are being taken care of", and how happy they were to see what was going on. And yet, those young adults sitting at home are outraged at the words used by the current administration, and how it seems those who have the most power, and often the most to lose because of that power, are the first ones to support the things that seems to many, to be completely opposite of the teachings of Jesus.

     I've heard it said that "absolute power corrupts absolutely" and I think we are seeing that in 2019. Those in power are willing to do whatever, say whatever, and support whatever gives them the best chance at keeping their power. And it sickens many to the core that this has become the face of American Christianity. A power driven, individualized, religion hellbent on keeping the status quo and forsaking all that would dare get in it's way. Don't believe me? Just ask those who are leaving the church.

     Christianity for many, and its churches have lost their status of safety, and become a place of hurt, a place where being anything but conservative, white, and male means danger, just ask Beth Moore after you watch the video of John MacArthur degrading her in front a crowd of laughing onlookers.

Just ask the immigrant whose skin, or choice of dress immediately makes them vulnerable to accusation. 

Just ask the poor kid with the "nappy hair" who is told to clean up, speak better, and look a certain way by the sweet old lady in the pews. 

Just ask the droves of young adults who are leaving churches across America. 

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Apathy:

      A generation of people who seem to care deeply for the wrongs in this world, for the rights of the underserved, and the for marginalized not just at home but across the globe, are surrounded by a generation of older christians who seem to either willing or ignorantly ignore all these things, and often in the name of Jesus.

     Walls are being built to keep people out, policies are being written into law to keep people out, and churches are often the easiest place to find the very people who are doing the building and writing. 

     When you walk into a church you hope to find a group of people, not perfect, but willing to risk their freedom and life for the sake of others, and yet, so many are finding an apathetic group of people, comfortable to sit where they are, safe, secluded, and in a position of power. And it is infuriating!

     Why are people dying at the boarder and Christians are acting as if it's their fault. Why are marginalized communities fighting for freedoms in the street only to be met with resistance by those sitting in church?

     Why are so many older christians upset at younger adults for speaking up about injustice in the world? It's a common phrase thrown around in church, the deflection that has become so expected many have learned not to hear it. Things like, " they just need to know Jesus, we should stay out of politics", or "why can't you talk about the good things that are happening, why do you have to bring up those things." Deflection, or rather apathy has become the gateway to turning young generations away from our churches. 

     If we continue to sit, when we need to stand, if we continue to silently ignore, when we need to shout, if we continue to remain apathetic to the cause of justice, we will continue to lose those who care deeply about it.

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     Martin Luther King Jr wrote that the greatest hinderance to the cause of social and racial justice was not the man who openly admits his racists thoughts, but rather, the christian man, who sits idle, failing to stand with and partake in the cause. Silence in the face of evil is often more harmful than those who do the evil themselves. One gives away it's power by being known, while the other holds on to its power by remaining silent.

     Churches have become silent in the face on evil and injustice and it appears, that many have wanted no part in remaining silent, thus they would walk away rather than stay in silence. 

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Privilege: 

     As if I haven't written enough about the concept of privilege, but yet, it remains a key factor in the reasoning for why so many are walking away from churches. Privilege means power, and where power and privilege meet, doors can be closed that were always meant to be open.

    When privilege seeps it's way into Christianity, the result is one that kills life, not gives it. Never has a generation in America history been more willing to give up its privilege that the generation growing up today. Young adults want nothing to do with the power of privilege, and when they have it, they want to give it away, or use it to open doors for those who are standing on the outside.

    What does privilege have to do with the exodus of church in America today? A lot. 

    When a church uses its privilege to ask people to vote for a certain group of people or face being seen as "un-Christian" that separates those with privilege and those without it. 

    When a church uses its privilege to remain silent when a synagog is bombed by a white man but asks for prayer when an office building is attacked by a muslim man, that divides those with and without privilege.

    When a church uses its privilege to ask someone in their congregation not to bring a gay couple to a life group, and refuses to reveal why, even tho it is very clear as to why, that hurts, and the effect....and exodus. 

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     So many young adults, including the newest generation, Gen. Z have become tired and fearful of what remains behind the current of the stage of their church. They are tired of churches preaching about the "Good Samaritan" and forgetting to mention the thousands of kids starving at the boarder. They are tired of the horror stories of women being cast out of the church for asking to take leadership roles. They are tired of narratives that seem well-intentioed but only seem to move the needle forward for the privileged, while using the marginalized as a door mat to being "woke".

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     Personally, I am sad to watch what is happening to America Christianity today, to see many be reluctant to proclaim they are a Christian for fear of being seen as hateful, apathetic, and silent. I am sad that so many Christians are ok with the current state of affairs in their Churches as long as Jesus is preached on Sunday and religious freedom is upheld in the Supreme Court. I am sad, like many, at the power, privilege, and apathy shown by so many who lead congregations, youth groups, and small groups across our nation.


     If we want to reach the younger adults in America, if we want them to stay, if we want them to come back, we are going to need to give up power, give up privilege, and be okay with the noise of the oppressed being heard. But as long as we continue to push back against change, hold down places of power over the weak, and remain silent in the face of injustice, I fear, the current trend will only continue.

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As always, I would love to hear your experiences with this, have you left church? Why? Are you struggling to understand the comments made above? Are you upset with this idea? 

Please, reach out, lets grab coffee and talk, it's life giving, and conversations are needed! I'll even buy you coffee!