Young Adults Quitting Church

First of all, what would be the age when we say “young adults”? In my own opinion, ages may range from 21 to 30 years old. So, do these people really quit church during this age? The answer is YES. 40 to 50 percent drop their faith between these ages.

Some of the reasons are that matured church mates always have their eyes on them. Mostly they see wrong things and unconventional way unlike what they had been during their time. Let us admit it. Things do change around us. Like for example is the type of music these young adults are interested. That’s why we sing some songs which somewhat has an upbeat or light rock to satisfy what we feel yet still worshiping God. Like me, I do love playing heavy metal songs. So I tried to find out song s or music like this but to give Him the glory. Please read “Psalms 96”.

Most of the youth felt they are outcasts in the church if they do things not on the traditional way. As a result, they will most likely to go with outside peer and that will accept them and may lead them into temptation.

One of the strategies we do in our church is that we try to balance activities. Some of the programs might have something to do with the traditional way and the other part is for the young adults or even mixed approach. With this, people will get together and encourage each other on their faith.

And for the young adults, please remember this: Sometimes, it’s easy to quit and give up. Have the courage, determination and commitment to finish. Don’t quit! Yes, God may be leading you into a different season but make sure it is God and not just a spirit of discouragement that is causing you to throw in the towel. The Christian life is a marathon, not a 100-metre sprint. It’s not how fast you run, but how long you last.

 

I have four grown children and two are very active in their choice of churches and two do not attend at all. My youngest daughter and her son attend church every Sunday plus the church has a young adult group that meets at least once a month and she attends that. They have a special meeting for them at church every Sunday and she really enjoys that.
My other daughter attends a different church. She enjoys her weekly Sunday service and the Sunday School meeting. She has made many friends there which is good because she lives far from her family. The church has many different activities which she enjoys attending during the week. She is very active and I am glad because the church members help fill the void that family would normally fill.

 

I grew up in a home that religion was not prevalent in. We were encouraged, but never really shown, to learn diffrent religions and decide for ourselves our beliefs. When I was around 15 I decided to research on my own and decided personally I thought many religions had good points and bad. I choose to believe alittle of everything. I choose to go with my heart on right or wrong. My personal God is loving, caring and accepts everyone for who they are. I'm not part of an organized religion because I cannot support a group of people who would judge me or my friends for the things they feel is best for them (ie sex before marriage, same sex relationships and so on). So I feel this is the reasons young adults abandon church in thier "young adult" age. That is the time they are discovering themselves and thier friends are as well. That age there is already a battle within themselves and their peers on right and wrong. They don't need another group there telling them they need to do or believe a certain way. Atleast that is my opinion. Everyone seems to forget when they were that age and the pressures that goes with it.

 

I think young adults quitting church is not necessarily a bad thing. We all have our own paths and often times we must stray from a path to find out if it rings true for us.

I grew up in a Southern Baptist church in southern Oklahoma and it was a big deal when youth attendance began to decline. Parents and clergy tend to think that it is their responsibility to indoctrinate their children which is not fair to the kids.

Quitting church as a youth was the best thing I did as it caused me to question the doctrines and dogma of religion and come to a place of knowing God / Source on a personal level.

 

This is an interesting perspective @srhoine. I agree with you that young adults are quitting the faith. From my experience, it is easier to be distracted by the activities in the world as young adults than it is to stand firm in the Lord. Hence, King Solomon charged us to 'remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them (Ecclesiastes 12:1).' I believe that young people are a special threat to the enemy. He knows that we are strong (1 John 2:14) when we walk in the ways of God. As a result, he uses people (inside and outside the church), the media, entertainment, technology, disappointments, things of this world, our peers and more to cause us to lose our faith.

However, I concur that we must not give up. For the life of a Christian is a marathan and not a 100 meter sprint. I also do not believe in religion. But I do believe that if a person desires truth and pursues it, he/she will receive it (whether it is to know who God is or otherwise). As a young adult, it is sometimes overwhelming with so much things being thrown my way, especially about denominations and doctrines. My search for the truth gave me a stronger desire to seek the Lord. Thus, by growing and walking in the truth gave me a fresh start in Christ.

In brief, why do you suggest a mixed approach in the activities of the church @srhoine? How would it be different from the activities of the 'world'?

 

I am a Roman Catholic, and I am very well aware of the decrease in Catholic Churches I attend. It is sad, but I understand why it is happening. People tend to find themselves in ways that do not relate to religion or are against their religion. For example, premarital sex is common among unmarried couples. Reasons for this are because they don't want to wait, they don't want to get married too soon, they don't want to get married at all but want to be with someone, same sex marriages are not legal in some countries and states, and more reason I cannot think of. They don't want to deal with going against a religion, so they decide not practice it anymore. I am not quitting church because I think going to church is a good thing. I just think that it should be more positive towards people.