Why are young people leaving the church?

[John81]

Why are young people leaving the church?
Groundbreaking study says Sunday School makes exit more likely

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Posted: June 14, 2009
10:11 pm Eastern

[Guest Guest]

Interesting article, Brother John; thanks for sharing.

Too little emphasis is put on Genesis today. It's just, "Believe in Jesus, and it doesn't matter what else you believe!" It does matter what all you believe. Genesis is part of Scripture, and "...All Scripture is given by inspiration of God..."; therefore, it should be treated as truth, like all of Scripture.

It's a well-known fact that when you give someone an inch (that is; an inch to compromise. Though I would daresay compromising the Genesis Creation account is more than one inch), they'll go a mile. Look at feminism, for example. Women were given the right to vote, and it just went downhill from there.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[heartstrings]

Interesting article, Brother John; thanks for sharing.

Too little emphasis is put on Genesis today. It's just, "Believe in Jesus, and it doesn't matter what else you believe!" It does matter what all you believe. Genesis is part of Scripture, and "...All Scripture is given by inspiration of God..."; therefore, it should be treated as truth, like all of Scripture.

It's a well-known fact that when you give someone an inch (that is; an inch to compromise. Though I would daresay compromising the Genesis Creation account is more than one inch), they'll go a mile. Look at feminism, for example. Women were given the right to vote, and it just went downhill from there.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

Yeah...
Then they went and gave it to the Blacks.......Imagine that.

I pity your wife

[John81]

Interesting article, Brother John; thanks for sharing.

Too little emphasis is put on Genesis today. It's just, "Believe in Jesus, and it doesn't matter what else you believe!" It does matter what all you believe. Genesis is part of Scripture, and "...All Scripture is given by inspiration of God..."; therefore, it should be treated as truth, like all of Scripture.

It's a well-known fact that when you give someone an inch (that is; an inch to compromise. Though I would daresay compromising the Genesis Creation account is more than one inch), they'll go a mile. Look at feminism, for example. Women were given the right to vote, and it just went downhill from there.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

Even way back in the day when I attended Sunday school as a child they failed to confront the false teachings I was getting from public school. Of course, it was a Methodist church and they were already going soft even back then.

One of the great things about our church today is how they make the Sunday school classes and the youth groups not only biblical, but practical as well.

[John81]

Yeah...
Then they went and gave it to the Blacks.......Imagine that.

I pity your wife

My own Mom and several other women I know have said the same thing; including my wife. A study that came out a few years ago showed the terrible effects of women voting upon American politics. The more women began to vote the more politicians switched from issues based speeches to emotion based speeches.

All the liberal presidents of the past few decades were elected by the vote of women. Even before this study was done it was acknowledged that Bill Clinton won both terms because of women voters.

[Guest Guest]

Yeah...
Then they went and gave it to the Blacks.......Imagine that.

I pity your wife

Actually, sir, I am quite sure black males received the right to vote before women. By 50 years or so, I believe.

You may pity whoever my wife may be in the future, sir, if you wish; however, you are doing it needlessly.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[Guest Guest]

My own Mom and several other women I know have said the same thing; including my wife. A study that came out a few years ago showed the terrible effects of women voting upon American politics. The more women began to vote the more politicians switched from issues based speeches to emotion based speeches.

All the liberal presidents of the past few decades were elected by the vote of women. Even before this study was done it was acknowledged that Bill Clinton won both terms because of women voters.

Well said, Brother John.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[JerryNumbers]

Is it not from lack of separation from the world?

The large majority of those whom I went to church with, and others who I knew that grew up in church, after high school church stopped. Where did they get the conflicting teachings, the idea that the Bible is not true, from public school, from setting under teacher who were lost as a goose, from being friends with others there own age who had not church or Bible teachings, many times our best friends were lost children of which we spent much time with.

Plus as John said about his growing up in a Methodist Church and not teachings about the false teachers or false teaching churches, I was in a Baptist Church in the 50's & 60's and I got no such teaching either.

One more item, parents, parents giving conflicting living testimony, mine failed there, but I failed at the same thing with my daughter.

For the most part the only ones we can blame for our children not being in church is our self, but I know that is not popular, most want excuses, but when it comes to God, we better not use excuse, we had better confess our faults, our sins, them and only them will He forgive us and cleanses us.

Yes, I know, someone will say, but hey, I went to public schools, look at me, I'm in church and serving God. if you think that just take a long look at the number of children who grew up and left church.

Remember to, we cannot rightly blame our forefathers, we each will answer for self, we each make our own choices, heaven knows I have made way too many bad choices.

What counts is what we do from now on out when we have learned better. What is sad, is when we know better, but we don't do no better.

[John81]

Since the article focuses upon Sunday school, what is (or should be) the purpose of Sunday school?

Considering that most Sunday schools tend more towards entertainment is it any wonder those who grow up attending Sunday school don't learn the truth of the Word?

The church in this area with the largest number of children in their Sunday schools and youth groups is exceedingly entertainment based and just as exceedingly light on biblical teaching.

Our church has a much smaller number of children compared to that church but our church views Sunday school and youth groups as means to teach Scripture, lead children and youth to Christ, and to teach them how to live biblically. They do some entertaining things too, but that's not the focus, and even the entertainment factor is used to teach biblical principles.

My own experience with Sunday school in that Methodist church left me with a great fear of the devil and even a certain amount of dred of God. I though the devil was everywhere and very mighty. I thought God was just waiting for me to do something wrong so he could hammer me. I was not taught anything about the need to be born again, nothing about the end times. What I gathered was that if I was "good" I'd go to heaven but if I was "bad" I'd go to hell. Many years later when I heard of the need to be born again and of what the Bible says about the end times I was shocked and scared! I grabbed my Bible and found out those things were true and ran to Christ wondering why I hadn't heard about any of that before.

If children spend five days a week most of the year in a school teaching them ungodly things and they spend an hour or two at church each (or most) weeks and receive nothing that counters this, does it really take a scientific study to see why children go the way of the world?

And as Jerry so rightly pointed out, we can't forget the parents. Where are they? What are they teaching and exampling to their children? Some, like my sister, are lost but think they are doing good enough for their children simply by sending them to Sunday school...never mind the church isn't biblically sound.

Parents need to be far more involved in the raising of their children and doing so in light of eternity.

[HappyChristian]

Actually, sir, I am quite sure black males received the right to vote before women. By 50 years or so, I believe.

You may pity whoever my wife may be in the future, sir, if you wish; however, you are doing it needlessly.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

Black males did receive the right to vote before women (the 15th amendment vs the 19th amendment), but there were all kinds of obstacles put in their way at election times to try and keep them from voting. It wasn't until 1964 that all obstacles were removed.

I just wanted to point out, Crush - the feminist movement did not begin with the right to vote....it started many years before that, and culminated in the 19th amendment. While I personally believe this country would have been better off had women not been given the vote, we have it now and need to exercise it properly. The vote didn't cause things to slide, though. Things were already on the down slide due to women fighting for their "rights" to be like men.

[Guest Guest]

Black males did receive the right to vote before women (the 15th amendment vs the 19th amendment)' date=' but there were all kinds of obstacles put in their way at election times to try and keep them from voting. It wasn't until 1964 that [u']all obstacles were removed.

I just wanted to point out, Crush - the feminist movement did not begin with the right to vote....it started many years before that, and culminated in the 19th amendment. While I personally believe this country would have been better off had women not been given the vote, we have it now and need to exercise it properly. The vote didn't cause things to slide, though. Things were already on the down slide due to women fighting for their "rights" to be like men.

I did not say it began then, ma'am; I am just saying that was the first major step. Here is what I said:
"Look at feminism, for example. Women were given the right to vote, and it just went downhill from there."
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[HappyChristian]

I did not say it began then, ma'am; I am just saying that was the first major step. Here is what I said:
"Look at feminism, for example. Women were given the right to vote, and it just went downhill from there."
God bless,
Crushmaster.

I know what you said. And please note that I didn't say you said it began there...I was just adding information. Sorry.

[Guest Guest]

I know what you said. And please note that I didn't say you said it began there...I was just adding information. Sorry.

It appears it was just a misunderstanding then, ma'am. :smile

Please accept my apologies.
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[PreacherBen]

I heard a stout message for parents of young people called, 'Making Disciples At Home.' It was a timely message that pertains to this very topic (as well as others.) The speaker said that many times, churches, not seeing the future of the youth, let them play play play in children's church, and play play play in Sunday School and then comes the day when they have to sit in the "real" church service! Yikes! They are quickly disenchanted with "adult religion" and want more play and depart from the church. Sad, but in some cases I can see this happening. We need to prepare the next generation for sobering and serious times. This, of course, starts with the total consecration of the parents to the Lord. Children know when mom and dad are fooling around. They know if mom and dad's religion is changing their lives, they see it every day! OUCH!!!

I know and I repeat, I know, it is not soley the fault of the church, but the families that make up the churches need to get a vision for what lies ahead. Recently, my daughter received a letter from a saved (we think, hope, who knows,) friend of hers that attends a Baptist church. She was telling my daughter how much she has been enjoying these Twilight series of books and the movie! We were stunned and hurt. These people used to be so careful. Loss of vision on behalf of the parents and the youth group/church that is letting the girls in the church read and see this trash. Wicked.

How can Preacher Joe compete with young vampires in love or fast cars, guns, and action. The deck is stacked against him. We have allowed the new Dagon of entertainment and wicked friends to come and sit right in the congregation. He sits, he watches, he laughs. He knows the old time power ain't there and he does not have to fear. He even feels at home somewhat.

On our faces, that's were we need to be for a good long time until we soak a teri cloth bath towel with our tears. Dry eyes and straying youth. Not only staying youth, whole families. You've seen it haven't you? Soon, the standards drop. Here comes the worldly attire and music. Soon the old friends are the dull friends and the new friends are the hip friends and the enemy drives in the wedge...WHACK!!! It's in so deep they never knew what hit them. Sometimes it's our dear child. (I'm not judging, I'm weeping.)

We don't need events, we need Christ...in his glory...in his beauty! We don't know him, or we've become distracted from him. We are often very good _______________ (fill in the blank with your favorite denomination or ism,) but Him...no he's bit distant, his voice is faint, sometimes not even heard (if honesty is to sound.) In his sovereignty, he hears the bleeting, but we are over the hillside and the wolf is lurking. Where were those still waters? Where are those green pastures?

He's calling...the wolf is watching...and time is running out.

Cure: Only one, real revival. It is the only thing that will do. Not just a "good meeting" but a real meeting. Prayer until the Holy Ghost of God comes down and everyone in town knows it.

Can it be done still?

Bro. Ben

[John81]

Great posting Preacher Ben!!!

Unfortunately I see what you speak of all around. Entertainment centered children and youth programs in the churches. The youth reach the teen years or high school graduation and they are gone from the church.

So many of the youth in the area church programs are getting drunk and sexually active on Friday and Saturday nights and going to Sunday school and youth groups on Sunday to keep the parents happy and to hang out and play games.

Of course, many of the parents either don't attend church themselves, or one spouse does but not the other. The parents attend church as a social function rather than to worship God and grow in Christ. Christianity is lived as a Sunday or special event thing, while the rest of the week; or actually anytime other than when one is actually in church, is to do almost whatever they want.

Our church youth programs are Christ-centered; therefore they are smaller than the main church in town which has entertainment-centered youth programs.

Around here, when parents are talking about church youth programs all that's talked about is how much fun they are, how they really keep the kids entertained. No talk about Christ, no talk about children being saved, no talk about teaching the youth how to live for Christ and stand against the world, the flesh and the devil. So very sad.