Thursday is For Missions

Get this: "70% of young adults (ages 23-30) dropped out of church for at least a year between the ages of 18-22. That 70% includes many who spent their teenage years as active members of their church youth group. The sharpest drop occurs between the ages of 17-19 and reasons for leaving the church fall into three main categories: life changes or situations, church or pastor related reasons, and religious, ethical, or political beliefs." Emphasis mine.

That's a quote from Lifeway Research. You can read more about this here.

Scott Stevens from Lifeway wrote the article and expands on the reasons "why." I won't dispute the data he cites; however, I can articulate it differently.

What the young adults see in organized religion is garbage. We pay lip service to raising the relationship over religion, but it's not lived out authentically. The adults in church are in bondage and they're scared to death of freedom. They're in bondage to legalism, tradition, approval, and on an on. They attempt to place their children and the youth they work with in the same bondage (misery loves company) and the youth are saying no way. Actually they're biding their time. Once they leave home, they leave the church.

What does this have to do with missions?

A missionary is primarily concerned with two big things: Being the Lord's instrument to transfer the lost from darkness to light through Jesus Christ, and establishing healthy churches that will multiply. If 70% are bailing, I'm guessing our churches aren't healthy.

To do these two things, one must first study the culture and environment of the group he or she is trying to reach. Without ever compromising the Gospel, the missionary will alter the presentation, the medium, and means to make it as culturally appropriate as possible. For example, if a natural meeting time is at night around the fire, then you have church at night around a fire where you recount God's word and truth.

To establish healthy churches, he or she sets up checks and balances and constantly goes to scripture for the governance of His church.

You are constantly asking, "What will it take to reach these people?" You don't simply export your system to their culture. The missionaries who have done that have failed, often spectacularly. I've waded through the messes they've left.

It's funny, when you focus on What will it take? and you have an outward focus with your hands on the plow, you don't worry so much about the tertiary junk that leads to unhealthy churches that drive their youth away from Christ.

Better a millstone be tied to our necks.

Mike