Why young evangelicals are leaving church

redrock

These 'mega-churches' are just another form of a 'corporate whore'. In the end, it's about the money it can get.

Personally, I believe that all these stage effects, smoke machines, pyrotechnics, mega screens, etc. are becoming pure entertainment and the 'real' message gets lost. Sure, it may attract a younger generation to the church, especially with rock bands, etc. but one wonders what really comes out of them.

All off the 'entertainment' of these churches sound so much like a rock concert.... same visuals, same 'hysteria'. A place to 'lose' one's self?

And I agree with other posters here - cool & hip does not equal progressive.

Prince Of Dorkness

know1 wrote:

What I said is the absolute truth outside of me guessing at the number of attendees. The young adult (20s) segment is the fastest growing segment of our church.

OK. If you say so. Your church is the only one where the numbers are going up. What church is that, by the way?

gimmesometruth27

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

know1 wrote:

What I said is the absolute truth outside of me guessing at the number of attendees. The young adult (20s) segment is the fastest growing segment of our church.

OK. If you say so. Your church is the only one where the numbers are going up. What church is that, by the way?

it is definitely not the catholic church, whose numbers are dwindling...

probably because it is so regressive...

among other reasons....

know1

Prince Of Dorkness wrote:

know1 wrote:

What I said is the absolute truth outside of me guessing at the number of attendees. The young adult (20s) segment is the fastest growing segment of our church.

OK. If you say so. Your church is the only one where the numbers are going up. What church is that, by the way?

I don't think we're the only one, although I'll bet we're way in the minority for sure.

It's a non-denominational, fairly modern (won't say progressive) Christian church in the bible belt. I'd just about bet that we're getting people who were raised in religious families as children, but are put off by the ultra-conservative views of the traditional (Baptist, Methodist, Catholic, etc.) churches and are opting for something more liberal and less structured.

Prince Of Dorkness

OK. well... that actually does make sense.

Skeptical. But willing to accept that as fact, then.

pandora

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

pandora wrote:

The ones around here are alive and well and growing. There is a whole new generation
of needs and the churches are listening. Are those against the church doing as well?

how can any church be "progressive" when the teachings are based on a 2000 year old book?

Did you read know1's post?
My daughter as well has found a church recently after searching for over almost a decade
on and off. I do not think the Bible has been discussed much at least nothing she has shared.
They do have a Bible study group but that is not apart of the service she attends.
She said she may go and see what it is like. The sermons are more based on thought provoking
everyday things to make a person a better person and feel better. Exercises in forgiving,
kindness, strength, relieving anxiety and worry. She really loves it. What she likes is the
positive feel and there are no judgements of others. And everyone is sincerely nice and friendly.

gimmesometruth27

pandora wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

pandora wrote:

The ones around here are alive and well and growing. There is a whole new generation
of needs and the churches are listening. Are those against the church doing as well?

how can any church be "progressive" when the teachings are based on a 2000 year old book?

Did you read know1's post?
My daughter as well has found a church recently after searching for over almost a decade
on and off. I do not think the Bible has been discussed much at least nothing she has shared.
They do have a Bible study group but that is not apart of the service she attends.
She said she may go and see what it is like. The sermons are more based on thought provoking
everyday things to make a person a better person and feel better. Exercises in forgiving,
kindness, strength, relieving anxiety and worry. She really loves it. What she likes is the
positive feel and there are no judgements of others. And everyone is sincerely nice and friendly.

no judgement of others???

have you read the old testament? the whole bible is about judging others.

which is precisely what is keeping us from progressing as a society...

pandora

Being a “’progressive church” can, of course, mean many things. A progressive church is one that embraces the contextual needs of the community while trying to make sense of a God rich in grace and love. Yet, can this simple statement really explain what it means to be a progressive church? For some conservative groups “progressive” can mean embracing people who have special and “sinful” sexual preferences. To others it may mean taking a gamble which demands theological and social changes, a gamble that may require moving away from traditional paradigms of worship and community outreach.
Being a progressive church demands a higher sense of definition as well as an in-depth analysis of is social, theological and environmental expressions. Therefore, what is a progressive church which professes that there is a God who is still speaking? A progressive church is a church which has realized and accepted that what they have and who they are is relevant to modeling and igniting changes within the realm of their legacy and vision. This interaction will propel a church to embrace a world that is in dire need of a life-changing experience and redeeming love."Love is what distinguishes a healthy church from an ill-mannered church.
Love is what makes the difference between attending church and having church. Love makes the difference between speaking religiously and speaking from the heart. A progressive church is one that dares to love, and mostly dares to love everybody. May I add: love is not just embracing those who worship the same way, think the same way or even walk the same way. It is daring to love everybody and in the process, understanding that we are not perfect yet, but we are on the way.. That is a progressive church!"

pandora

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

pandora wrote:

gimmesometruth27 wrote:

how can any church be "progressive" when the teachings are based on a 2000 year old book?

Did you read know1's post?
My daughter as well has found a church recently after searching for over almost a decade
on and off. I do not think the Bible has been discussed much at least nothing she has shared.
They do have a Bible study group but that is not apart of the service she attends.
She said she may go and see what it is like. The sermons are more based on thought provoking
everyday things to make a person a better person and feel better. Exercises in forgiving,
kindness, strength, relieving anxiety and worry. She really loves it. What she likes is the
positive feel and there are no judgements of others. And everyone is sincerely nice and friendly.

no judgement of others???

have you read the old testament? the whole bible is about judging others.

which is precisely what is keeping us from progressing as a society...

I wouldn't go that far blaming the Bible but read about progressive churches
also as I mentioned they are not discussing the Bible in the services my daughter attends.

gimmesometruth27

pandora wrote:

I wouldn't go that far blaming the Bible but read about progressive churches
also as I mentioned they are not discussing the Bible in the services my daughter attends.

i don't have interest in reading about progressive churches. i think these modern megachurches are an abomination. i think ministers who make millions from their flock are going to hell. that is counter to what jesus taught. i would like to see a leader of a megachurch actually live what jesus said instead of worrying about amassing a fortune. they talk about how god wants them to be prosperous and amass wealth and material things. i think it is bullshit. jesus said to give away your possessions and money to help others, not amass those things.

how can you have a church without discussing the bible, the tenets that most religion is based on?

Go Beavers

pandora wrote:

Go Beavers wrote:

pandora wrote:

Thank goodness some churches are providing for the young
still helping them in the ways they need.
We have quite a few mega churches here that are progressive and filled to the brim.
I never quite knew what went on in there to attract so many of the young but I do now.
I hope this is the trend that continues.

In the Northwest, I've never seen a mega-church that's progressive. Maybe it's different down your way. They might try to be hip and cool, but it's the same outdated fire-and-brimstone message here. Someone keep me posted when there's a gay marriage at a mega-church.

yes very different in these parts ...
very much cooler and no fire and brimstone. Have you been to church recently?

My simple litmus test for a progressive church would be the answer to the question: would the pastor marry a gay or lesbian couple in the church? The answer to this will pretty much give me the answer I need (with maybe a couple exceptions). There's pastors in mainline Christian churches that will say yes. I've seen this in Disciples of Christ churches, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist (UCC) churches. While it's in the Congregationalist national charter to be encompassing, others are neutral, and some nationally are against gay marriage (or at least not for it) but you'll see individual congregations vary from one to the next. I've seen Presbyterian churches on opposite ends of the spectrum. Typically, most mega-churches aren't the mainline ones that have been around for a long time.

From what I know about mega-churches, they're very conservative (e.g. foursquare, first assembly of God), or they're non-denominational. I'd be curious what the pastors in the latter would say if asked about whether or not they're progressive.

Cosmo

know1 wrote:

It's a large church, but likely not as big as the one you referenced. I've never heard of that church and wouldn't go to one named after a person anyway.

...
That's great.
The one by me is called 'Grace SomethingErOther'. It looks like a College/Office complex. It has a gym with a basketball court and a giant auditorium-like thing and a place for weddings. The Services take place in the auditorium and even has grandstand seating... like bleachers, only nice bleachers. Big screens and closed circuit with a pretty solid P.A. system.
The only thing I would warn you about... don't think it doesn't carry the same pitfalls as any other large organization. Like i said, the kids in my neighborhood tell their parents they are going to church in the evenings, it isn't all about learning about Jesus. They get to meet girls from places all over the L.A. and Orange County area, not just the same old girls they knew in High School or Jr. College. They are still young people with the raging sexual overdrive of young people. it sounds good to the parents... the kids going to the church, rather than hanging out on the streets. Just keep in mind that they are still kids.
It doesn't mean they are bad kids... they are just kids, doing what kids have always done... being kids. The kids i know, I've known since they were babies. They are now young adults, but still living with their parents. So, yeah, they go to the church to shoot some hoops and pick up girls. It's much better than going to bars, but it really is pretty much the same intent.

pandora

The church I'm speaking of has 200 members, not a mega church
but I am close with mega churches because of our biz and they are moving towards
this belief.

I hope everyone read the italicized post, yes gays are welcomed.

Sometimes I think atheists are very hard to please on the subject of church.
Do you want to hate? Or do you want to love?
When a church is right in front of you accepting everyone based on love truth and God's love
for us all can you accept that? Not believe just accept. This is the future of churches.
I think that is lovely.

callen

pandora wrote:

The church I'm speaking of has 200 members, not a mega church
but I am close with mega churches because of our biz and they are moving towards
this belief.

I hope everyone read the italicized post, yes gays are welcomed.

Sometimes I think atheists are very hard to please on the subject of church.
Do you want to hate? Or do you want to love?
When a church is right in front of you accepting everyone based on love truth and God's love
for us all can you accept that? Not believe just accept. This is the future of churches.
I think that is lovely.

Think its the "Truth" word that gets to some including myself. I'm all for love and understand humans wanting to be a part of a group, following.Its just the bible is pretty hard to swallow for some, so when there's an organization that's based on the bible its tough to get behind or pretend there is legitamacy. I've started reading the bible so that I'm better versed and trying to understand its draw but still don't get it.

I do think there are good things that come out of organized religion and it is evolving and getting better and what you and Know 1 are describing are good things.

More power to you and glad it fills a need. I've really chilled on my hatred of all things religion and much more accepting as I get older. I'm evolving as well.

Peace

pandora

I don't attend church never have because I have not felt the need.

I was talking with my daughter this am and I told her about this thread and others we have had.
She is new to church going in the past few months as I have mentioned. 27 and discovering.
She said to me that she does not agree with everything said in church. She doesn't have to.
She was taught, she said by her Dad and I, to be loving, to think for herself
and respect others beliefs. I was very proud at that moment as anyone can imagine.

So from that I realize she is not alone.
There must be many in church who do not agree with everything
spoken and also have their own interpretation as my daughter does.

In the italicized articled I posted it said 'God is still speaking'. That covers exactly how I feel.
We can take not only the time of Jesus and the Bible but everything since, everything before
all that our human existence tells us and listen. Just Listen. Those listening will hear and interpret.
God is speaking to me and I'm listening.

chadwick

http://youtu.be/q0MuzDLk5mk
jesse ventura on organized religion & the catholic church being prosecuted with the RICO act.

I remember many moons back when ventura said something like this (and I been searching & haven't found it), "organized religion is for small minded people" he said something very much like that there. it made me smile & do a ventura fist pump in the air

lukin2006