What is happening to the youth in the American church?

There is concerning new news about our "churched" youth. According to a recent survey by Lifeway Christian Resources, "...seven in 10 Protestants ages 18-30, both evangelical and mainline, who went to church regularly in high school said they quit attending by age 23. And 34% of those had not returned, even by age 30." (USA Today, Tuesday, April 27, 2010)

From a phone survey released in April, Lifeway Christian Resources President, Thom Ranier notes that of those Millennials who call themselves Christian, 67% rarely or never pray, 65% rarely or never attend worship services, and 67% don't read the Bible.

Sadly, this news isn't really shocking to us anymore. Our youth are in search of something real and I'm afraid my generation has failed to model authentic Christianity.

Our youth don't want polished Christianity. They want honesty. Christians who are big enough to admit they are small, that they really don't "get God." (After all, isn't he a bit beyond "gettable?"

When Paul spoke to the Roman church he urged them to let their love be--what? Polished? Showy?

Of course not. He said, "Let love be genuine."

Have we modeled a faith where Jesus is domesticated, seen as a nice comfortable (?weak) savior who provides a ticket out of hell, but has little to offer in terms of changing us here and now?

When Jesus talked of others looking in on the church, what did he say? "They will know you are Christians because of the love you have for one another."

Perhaps this is where we have failed. Has an absence of genuine love been a factor in the exodus of our youth from the church today?

Have we modeled for them a faith in a weakened Savior, a cute baby in a manger who exists to serve me instead of the opposite?

Barna's research reveals Christians don't really look any different than those who don't claim affiliation with our faith. We lie, gamble, have broken marriages, and view internet porn just like every one else.

Can we blame our youth for fleeing such hypocrisy?

Do we not realize that the gospel is powerful enough to transform us, to lead us along a path of steady gain towards regular victory over sin, a life of peace, a life where love overflows from us towards other undeserving people around us?

I'm afraid that too often I've been part of the problem, not the solution. There are too many examples in my life of how I (and the rest of the Church) have made Jesus small. (No, I understand he is without limits, but in my actions, I behave as if his power is limited, don't I?)

I've explored these themes in an open and honest way in my book, Domesticated Jesus, which was released this week by P&R Publishers. I write as an insider of the Christian faith, but not as one who has arrived. It is a book for Christians, those who struggle as I do to keep a realistic image of Christ in focus. He is, after all, the creator of the universe!

It is a book that I hope you will give this book to unbelivers as a fresh look and admission at how far we've strayed from where we should be. We act as if we serve a small savior. I hope you will give it to our youth. they need to see transparency from my generation.

I only write what I need to read.

And I've already gone back to passages of this book over and over to remind myself of God's greatness and my smallness.

I think this will be a theme for me for a long time.

GRACE,

Harry