Thoughts on a Question

Thanks for your note!

Regarding your questions: Good ones...ones I wrestle with all the time.

I don't think kids necessarily select a particular issue to rally their energy around as to why they don't continue in/join a church. I've never even heard a kid say anything about the war in Iraq or "religion is behind all wars" as an argument. I think they are sophisticated to differentiate between religion and religious extremism.

Rather, I think there is a broader theme. I think young people do not continue in a faith community or join a faith community because there is a sense of "it's not for me." If it's not relevant...if it doesn't address the issues and questions that are important to them... if they don't relate to the worship experience... then they don't engage.

Young people's time is valuable (like it is for all of us). If they don't engage, they don't feel like they would want to spend their time their. (Time is their primary form of currency.)

I feel like the church has done a disservice to young people in two ways:

1. We haven't adapted our faith communities to make them feel engaged, vital and important. We don't "involve" them in worship in ways that are meaningful (as a leader or a participant), we don't invite them into other ministry roles, and we perpetuate the one-eared mickey mouse.

2. We haven't taught them that the fundamental question should not be "is this engaging to me?" but instead should be "how can I engage?" The point of worship is not entertainment, but we fall into that trap. Then, when we don't entertain and they don't participate, or even show up, we act surprised.

If we treat young people like they are an audience, then that's how they will react. If we instead treat them that in worship, they are a primary actor in the worship of God, and it's not there for them to be entertained, I think they would react differently.

I'm not sure if this is helpful or not, merely my mental wanderings as I've been thinking about your e-mail.

I hope all is well!

Peace,

Todd.