Quote: steph wrote in post #11

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Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church

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Isolationism. One-fourth of 18- to 29-year-olds say church demonizes everything outside church, including the music, movies, culture, and technology that define their generation.

Shallowness. One-third call church boring, about one-fourth say faith is irrelevant and Bible teaching is unclear. One-fifth say God is absent from their church experience.

Anti-science. Up to one-third say the church is out of step on scientific developments and debate.

Sex. The church is perceived as simplistic and judgmental. For a fifth or more, a "just say no" philosophy is insufficient in a techno-porno world. Young Christian singles are as sexually active as their non-churched friends, and many say they feel judged.

Exclusivity. Three in 10 young people feel the church is too exclusive in this pluralistic and multi-cultural age. And the same number feel forced to choose between their faith and their friends.

Doubters. The church is not a safe place to express doubts say over one-third of young people, and one-fourth have serious doubts they'd like to discuss.

—Adapted from a list by David Kinnaman in You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church … and Rethinking Faith

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Young people today are the victims of their culture. They have been given everything they want and many things they don't need. I see a big change in my nephew who is almost twenty. He always attended church on a regular basis until this past couple of years. Now, he is going less & less as he finds more and more excuses to stay home. He works with a couple of gay men and finds nothing wrong with their relationship. Television, the internet, all the media that portray gays & lesbians as normal relationships have a big affect on our young people and they way they feel about it.

Our leaders in the church have failed to meet the needs of this particular age. They have many questions, doubts, erc., & we don't have enough adults to meet their needs.

My church has two services. The early service where they wear jeans, flip-flops...whatever they want... sing contemporary music and have a relaxed atmosphere of worship.
The other service is more traditional for the seniors who like it better. All of the young people go to the early service so that seems to be the church of the future.

Quote: Cedric wrote in post #28

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Quote: steph wrote in post #27

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #25

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Quote: steph wrote in post #22

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the big "conservative takeover" in 79....It just so happens to coincide with the marriage of the GOP to the Moral Majority.

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Which led to the election of Ronald Reagan.

So, that's good!

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Not if you look at the long term fallout.

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The long term "fallout" from Ronald Reagan's presidency has been a blessing to all mankind!

And, as an extra-added-bonus, thanks to the Great George W. Bush, you don't have to wear a burka.............unless you want to!

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #30

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Quote: ozarkian wrote in post #29

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Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #2

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I fail to get upset over gay marriage, sorry. Either way, in the bigger scheme of things, it just doesn't matter.

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Agreed, there are way bigger fish to fry.

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That's fine, but just keep that in mind if/when our civilization rapidly disintegrates, as a result.

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Quote: Olivia wrote in post #31

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Quote: steph wrote in post #11

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Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church

Zitat

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Isolationism. One-fourth of 18- to 29-year-olds say church demonizes everything outside church, including the music, movies, culture, and technology that define their generation.

Shallowness. One-third call church boring, about one-fourth say faith is irrelevant and Bible teaching is unclear. One-fifth say God is absent from their church experience.

Anti-science. Up to one-third say the church is out of step on scientific developments and debate.

Sex. The church is perceived as simplistic and judgmental. For a fifth or more, a "just say no" philosophy is insufficient in a techno-porno world. Young Christian singles are as sexually active as their non-churched friends, and many say they feel judged.

Exclusivity. Three in 10 young people feel the church is too exclusive in this pluralistic and multi-cultural age. And the same number feel forced to choose between their faith and their friends.

Doubters. The church is not a safe place to express doubts say over one-third of young people, and one-fourth have serious doubts they'd like to discuss.

—Adapted from a list by David Kinnaman in You Lost Me: Why Young Christians are Leaving Church … and Rethinking Faith

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Young people today are the victims of their culture. They have been given everything they want and many things they don't need. I see a big change in my nephew who is almost twenty. He always attended church on a regular basis until this past couple of years. Now, he is going less & less as he finds more and more excuses to stay home. He works with a couple of gay men and finds nothing wrong with their relationship. Television, the internet, all the media that portray gays & lesbians as normal relationships have a big affect on our young people and they way they feel about it.

Our leaders in the church have failed to meet the needs of this particular age. They have many questions, doubts, erc., & we don't have enough adults to meet their needs.

My church has two services. The early service where they wear jeans, flip-flops...whatever they want... sing contemporary music and have a relaxed atmosphere of worship.
The other service is more traditional for the seniors who like it better. All of the young people go to the early service so that seems to be the church of the future.

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Part of the problem is the church forgot it's primary purpose to evangelize the lost, care for the poor and needy and disciple new believers. They sold out for political power and control. They decided that legislating morality was the easier route. We are simply starting to see the backlash.

Quote: Cedric wrote in post #35

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Quote: steph wrote in post #34

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Part of the problem is the church forgot it's primary purpose to evangelize the lost, care for the poor and needy and disciple new believers. They sold out for political power and control. They decided that legislating morality was the easier route. We are simply starting to see the backlash.

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It is not hardly beating a dead horse when it is currently affecting the state of affairs primarily in the church and in the country. The topic of the thread is "The GOP’s Complicity in the Spread of Gay Marriage" finding out why that is helps to figure a way out of the current GOP mess we are in right now.

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #30

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Quote: ozarkian wrote in post #29

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Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #2

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I fail to get upset over gay marriage, sorry. Either way, in the bigger scheme of things, it just doesn't matter.

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Agreed, there are way bigger fish to fry.

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That's fine, but just keep that in mind if/when our civilization rapidly disintegrates, as a result.

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #37

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Quote: steph wrote in post #36

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #35

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Quote: steph wrote in post #34

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Part of the problem is the church forgot it's primary purpose to evangelize the lost, care for the poor and needy and disciple new believers. They sold out for political power and control. They decided that legislating morality was the easier route. We are simply starting to see the backlash.

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It is not hardly beating a dead horse when it is currently affecting the state of affairs primarily in the church and in the country. The topic of the thread is "The GOP’s Complicity in the Spread of Gay Marriage" finding out why that is helps to figure a way out of the current GOP mess we are in right now.

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You say "the church forgot", not "some churches forgot" implying that the entire Christian church, nationwide, forgot its proper mission unison.

You say "they sold out" without ever identifying who "they" are.

You say "They decided that legislating morality was the easier route" without providing specifics.

I think it's time you did.

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Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #39

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Quote: Cedric wrote in post #30

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Quote: ozarkian wrote in post #29

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Quote: Weird Tolkienish Figure wrote in post #2

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I fail to get upset over gay marriage, sorry. Either way, in the bigger scheme of things, it just doesn't matter.

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Agreed, there are way bigger fish to fry.

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That's fine, but just keep that in mind if/when our civilization rapidly disintegrates, as a result.

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Ok, but they said the same thing about letting blacks marry, etc.

Nearly every social evolution is a step towards moral oblivion, yet here we are.

I do agree somewhat about morals but not all moral issues are created equal. Gay marriage doesn't affect me one iota.

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Six Reasons Young People Leave the Church...

Olivia and Steph, I was listening this morning to American Family Radio during the Dr. Dobson portion (and darned if I can find out who it was that was speaking; it's not the person that is showing on Dobson's "Family Talk" for today). The man was saying how church, as it is and has been organized, appeals to women not men, not boys. Boys, when they grow up, want to leave the childish behind; the way Christ is taught in Sunday Schools is like an 'effeminate' Christ; church is formatted in ways that do not appeal to men (socializing/chatting). The pastors direct their sermons to women, usually talking about feelings, and love, and kind acts, etc. He was not ridiculing the pastor's hearts, or the church goers, or saying that Christ doesn't encompass the 'soft' side of humanity. But men tune in better to learning via stories, boys are not girls; they are captured better by such things as, instead of "Sunday School" having it be called "Adventureland" where the children DO things, not sit in their seats being 'good, quiet listeners.' Middle school / high school boys are turned off from the 15 minutes of standing still and singing praise songs. He said the pastors need to direct their sermons to men if they expect and want men to come to church and stay there. He said his pastor even says things like "dudes" during the sermon. If the services are directed at the males, of all ages, the women and children will go. It's the boys and men who, in high numbers, don't go or won't go /remain in church. The man speaking today stated great ideas and observations. He's written two books. I think he's on again tomorrow so I'll try to remember to get his name and/or the books he wrote and add them here later. Thought it was well worth posting here as I agreed with much of his points and they are worthy of consideration, imho.