Why are young people leaving the church?
Dear Readers:
No question from a reader this week. But recently I came across this bit of wisdom from an AT reader, who gave me permission to share it.
Church: Why are young people leaving the faith?
Young people: Well, you see, we’re discouraged by the fighting about totally irrelevant issues while real crises are happening and being ignored.
Church: It’s a complete mystery!
Young people: We have real questions about theological points we’ve been taught, and no satisfactory answers.
Church: Perhaps if we add some flashier musical numbers to our service, or hire a youth pastor who wears a beanie?
Young people: We keep seeing the wide gap between the life and teachings of Jesus and the behavior of Christian leaders, and it’s making us lose confidence in the establishment.
Church: How about a bigger and nicer church building? Like a theater, with multimedia and an amazing sound system?
Young people: We can no longer tolerate the blatant misogyny and homophobia our church leaders espouse, and which remain the official church position.
Church: [Shrug] Well, I guess we’ll just never know.
Dear readers, what do you think?
Aunt Sevvy
You can write to Aunt Sevvy at DearAuntSevvy@gmail.com. Please keep questions or comments short. What you send us at this address won’t necessarily be, but could be, published—always without real names. Aunt Sevvy writes her own column, and her opinions are not necessarily those of Adventist Today’s editors.
