Why are so many youth leaving the church? To be honest, I don’t believe them when they tell me that it’s because they’re bored. If we believe this then we will only try to throw a few more illustrations into the sermon or buy a new Play Station for the youth group. I don’t buy that they’re bored because I believe the real problem is a heart issue that sadly we’ve helped ingrain in them. A more truthful answer from a wayward youth might be, ‘I don’t go to church because I’m selfish.’ And here we must first blame ourselves as youth leaders for we have trained them to think this way. What I mean is that while many of us youth workers have frantically tried to step it up another notch and make church more fun and entertaining, we’ve unwittingly undermined our very purpose to bring more youth into the church. Though our intentions are very good, in always trying to entertain our young people we’ve sent the message that it’s all about them: church exists for their entertainment. I believe that the inherent flaw of ‘me-centered ministry’ is that it ropes the church into a fight that they are bound to lose. If we are going to put the youth’s wants at the center of our ministry then we must entertain them and the church will never be more entertaining than the world!
That is why, through these series of articles, I am proposing that it’s time we as youth ministers change our tune and allow church to be what God intended it to be: a fountain of unhindered, non-diluted truth from which all who are thirsty can come and drink. Instead of shouting the praises of the latest program let us proclaim the power of God’s Word. This generation is spiritually starving. They have gorged themselves on all the world’s delicacies only to be left more anemic than ever before. At their center youth are fed up and sickened with the things that promise it all but leave them empty. Yet they don’t know where else to look. The church is not inherently flawed. Our embracing ‘me-centered ministry’ is what has failed as youth have begun to see through the façade. Let us grab them by the shoulder before they walk out the door and convince them that church has the answers they’re looking for – they won’t find it anywhere else. No, it’s not about them nor the Play Station 3 on the shelf. Rather it’s about that big black book filled with great and glorious promises that won’t disappoint, ‘what do you say we dig in together?’
But will youth really accept this approach? Wouldn’t they rather be entertained? Don’t they want to hear that it’s all about them? Consider this quote from a young Bible study leader that emphasizes theology and doctrine, “I tell people we’re a really boring ministry, if God is not your attraction, you’ll be bored.” You may think this attitude would be a death sentence to any ministry trying to reach young people in this day and age. However, much to our surprise, groups like these are experiencing growth. This, I believe, is the Cure. It’s not so much our youth ministries that need fine tuning as our youth’s hearts. When we stop telling our young people it’s all about them and begin to establish unabashedly God-centered ministries that hold high the banner of His Word above the almighty program and the almighty me, I believe youth will once again flock to that which they are truly hungry for. Convincing our young people that this is what they need is our next great challenge. I hope to convince my disciple Koke of this. Much more than the new Christian ring tone on his cell phone, he needs to allow God’s Truth to resonate within his own heart. Oh, and I do have reason to be encouraged. The next day in another discipleship class I asked Tito, “Do you think we need to make our Bible study more entertaining?” “No,” came the reply, “this Bible study is just what I need.”
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This is really great. Very true. The attraction should be God, not hi-tech worship or whatever else some use to get young people into church. When I was a new Christian at 16, I was eager to learn about God and what it meant to be a Christian... and that's why I went to church. I am much more impressed and attracted by the integrity in worship of the believers in a church than I am by the kind of music or the use of video... and I don't see why young people would be any different. What we need is Biblical teaching, honest worship and Godly Christians living out their faith in community, in relationships defined by LOVE. If we as the bride of Christ really live the way Jesus showed us and taught us, then we will be the kind of community that others - including young people - want to be a part of.
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