There is a despair about the church from young adults and the upcoming generation. They seem to see the church for what the church is missing. They read the Scripture and they see something that the church is not embracing or they see in the Bible the power that the early church embraced and the post-modern church seems to deny.
We (yes, I'm included) see and hear what we should be refraining from and what is "attacking" our moral standings, and yet, we do not hear what we should be attending to or what ways we can work together to explain the Good News that Jesus proclaims.
So, some decide to leave church. It sucks and it is not getting any better, seems to be their mantra. Can we blame them? But the church is supposed to stick together and not give up is the call from the committee.
The problem as I see it is that neither the older generation nor the newer generations seem to be hearing one another. They both want the same thing but some want to get there one way and the others want a new way and neither can see how to do it God's way.
I have seen numerous churches change and experience great growth and wonder why that can happen where I am at. Today, I read something by Francis Chan (that name again) that has me thinking. He says we should start with the things we can control if we (especially the younger generations) want to see change in the church.
We will never get anywhere if we quit without trying. We will never be taken seriously if we absolve ourselves from any responsibility or if we stay away from any leadership positions. Why should the older generation listen to us if we are not willing to find something that needs to be done and roll up our sleeves and get involved.
I hate (yes hate) seeing young people leave the church because when they leave, ideas or potential leadership goes with them. Now, to be honest there are some people I don't mind when they leave because they...well, they just won't bend one way or the other. For them any compromise is compromise against their belief system and well....
Start with what we can control. Our Sunday school class has grown because some are not ready to give up. I hope others will come back and catch the vision as well. I hope those who are involved with the class will become more involved (other than just singing in the choir - nothing against the choir).
So how do we get involved? Well when you are small you look at the early church and see what they did. Acts 2 has long been one of my favorite chapters in the Bible, not just because I believe in Pentecostal worship, but because of the last few verses -
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47)How devoted are we to the teachings of the Bible? Do we enjoy fellowship (getting together) with other Christians? Do we eat together from time to time? How often to we pray for and with each other?
Are we in awe when God does awesome things? What do we have in common? How do we attempt to help and aid others? How much are we willing to sacrifice? How often are we willing to meet and discuss God's Word, without prodding?
As Ed Stetzer says, "If you want to convince me (and the body of Christ) to your cause, you must show me it is a better way. You must tell and show something different. You must not just protest what is, but you must show me what should be."
Have a great weekend! Here's the article I mentioned from Francis Chan.
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