So what's wrong with Church that Millennials are no longer being drawn to it? Church wasn't the reason I left it behind whereas that seems to be the case with Millennials.

http://faithit.com/12-reasons-millennials-over-church-sam-eaton/

I want to send global, sky-writing airplanes telling the life-change that happens beneath a steeple. I want to install a police microphone on top of my car and cruise the streets screaming to the masses about the magical Utopian community of believers waiting for them just down the street.

I desperately want to feel this way about church, but I don’t. Not even a little bit. In fact, like much of my generation, I feel the complete opposite.

Turns out I identify more with Maria from The Sound of Music staring out the abbey window, longing to be free.

It seems all-too-often our churches are actually causing more damage than good, and the statistics are showing a staggering number of millennials have taken note.

According to this study (and many others like it) church attendance and impressions of the church are the lowest in recent history, and most drastic among millennials described as 22- to 35-year-olds.

Only 2 in 10 Americans under 30 believe attending a church is important or worthwhile (an all-time low).
59 percent of millennials raised in a church have dropped out.
35 percent of millennials have an anti-church stance, believing the church does more harm than good.
Millennials are the least likely age group of anyone to attend church (by far).
As I sat in our large church’s annual meeting last month, I looked around for anyone in my age bracket. It was a little like a Titanic search party…

IS ANYONE ALIVE OUT THERE? CAN ANYBODY HEAR ME?

Tuning in and out of the 90-minute state-of-the-church address, I kept wondering to myself, where are my people? And then the scarier question, why I am still here?

A deep-seated dissatisfaction has been growing in me and, despite my greatest attempts to whack-a-mole it back down, no matter what I do it continues to rise out of my wirey frame.

[To follow my publicly-chronicled church struggles, check out my other posts The How Can I Help Project and 50 Ways to Serve the Least of These.]

Despite the steep drop-off in millennials, most churches seem to be continuing on with business as usual. Sure, maybe they add a food truck here or a bowling night there, but no one seems to be reacting with any level of concern that matches these STAGGERING statistics.

Where is the task-force searching for the lost generation? Where is the introspective reflection necessary when 1/3 of a generation is ANTI-CHURCH?

The truth is no one has asked me why millennials don’t like church. Luckily, as a public school teacher, I am highly skilled at answering questions before they’re asked. It’s a gift really.

So, at the risk of being excommunicated, here is the metaphorical nailing of my own 12 theses to the wooden door of the American, Millennial-less Church.

1. Nobody’s Listening to Us

Millennials value voice and receptivity above all else. When a church forges ahead without ever asking for our input we get the message loud and clear: Nobody cares what we think. Why then, should we blindly serve an institution that we cannot change or shape?

Solution:

Create regular outlets (forums, surveys, meetings) to discover the needs of young adults both inside AND outside the church.
Invite millennials to serve on leadership teams or advisory boards where they can make a difference.
Hire a young adults pastor who has the desire and skill-set to connect with millennials.
2. We’re Sick of Hearing About Values & Mission Statements

Sweet Moses people, give it a rest.

Of course as an organization it’s important to be moving in the same direction, but that should easier for Christians than anyone because we already have a leader to follow. Jesus was insanely clear about our purpose on earth:

“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

“Love God. Love Others.” Task completed.

Why does every church need its own mission statement anyway? Aren’t we all one body of Christ, serving one God? What would happen if the entire American Church came together in our commonalities and used the same, concise mission statement?

Solution:

Stop wasting time on the religious mambo jambo and get back to the heart of the gospel. If you have to explain your mission and values to the church, it’s overly-religious and much too complicated.
We’re not impressed with the hours you brag about spending behind closed doors wrestling with Christianese words on a paper. We’re impressed with actions and service.
3. Helping the Poor Isn’t a Priority

My heart is broken for how radically self-centered and utterly American our institution has become.

Let’s clock the number of hours the average church attender spends in “church-type” activities. Bible studies, meetings, groups, social functions, book clubs, planning meetings, talking about building community, discussing a new mission statement…

Now let’s clock the number of hours spent serving the least of these. Oooooo, awkward.

If the numbers are not equal please check your Bible for better comprehension (or revisit the universal church mission statement stated above).

“If our lives do not reflect radical compassion for the poor, there is reason to wonder if Christ is in us at all.” –Radical, David Platt

Solutions:

Stop creating more Bible studies and Christian activity. Community happens best in service with a shared purpose.
Survey your members asking them what injustice or cause God has placed on their hearts. Then connect people who share similar passions. Create space for them to meet and brainstorm and then sit back and watch what God brings to life.
Create group serve dates once a month where anyone can show up and make a difference (and, oh yeah, they’ll also meet new people).
4. We’re Tired of You Blaming the Culture

From Elvis’ hips to rap music, from Footloose to “twerking,” every older generation comes to the same conclusion: The world is going to pot faster than the state of Colorado. We’re aware of the down-falls of the culture—believe it or not we are actually living in it too.

Perhaps it’s easier to focus on how terrible the world is out there than actually address the mess within.

Solution:

Put the end times rhetoric to rest and focus on real solutions and real impact in our immediate community.
Explicitly teach us how our lives should differ from the culture. (If this teaching isn’t happening in your life, check out the book Weird: Because Normal Isn’t Working by Craig Groeschel)
5. The “You Can’t Sit With Us” Affect

There is this life-changing movie all humans must see, regardless of gender. The film is of course the 2004 classic Mean Girls.

In the film, the most popular girl in school forgets to wear pink on a Wednesday (a cardinal sin), to which Gretchen Weiners screams, “YOU CAN’T SIT WITH US!”

Today, my mom said to me, “Church has always felt exclusive and ‘cliquey,’ like high school.” With sadness in her voice she continued, “and I’ve never been good at that game so I stopped playing.”

The truth is, I share her experience. As do thousands of others.

Until the church finds a way to be radically kinder and more compassionate than the world at large, we tell outsiders they’re better off on their own. And the truth is, many times they are.

Solutions:

Create authentic communities with a shared purpose centered around service.
Create and train a team of CONNECT people whose purpose is to seek out the outliers on Sunday mornings or during other events. Explicitly teach people these skills as they do not come naturally to most of the population.
Stop placing blame on individuals who struggle to get connected. For some people, especially those that are shy or struggle with anxiety, putting yourself out there even just once might be an overwhelming task. We have to find ways to bridge that gap.

Pete...this is absolutely the best, most significant and even grave thread you ever posted, although I'm sure there's others that I've missed, and suddenly I find my respect for you at the place where it should be when I'm not passionate, drunk or feeling prideful and superior. You just showed me a side of yourself that I haven't seen yet (for whatever reason. Not important) and I appreciate it

That being said...there's just too much in this article to deal with in this thread. It's so...meaty...that it needs to be dealt with in little bites, if you follow me. There's literally weeks, months even, of deep conversation in this one post. In fact, I'd really encourage anyone on the OPP to cast aside every prejudice and engage in this thread if you have skin in this game, which I just realized Pete has.

The Christian Church has gone through some strange and painful changes over the millennia and it isn't over yet. A change is coming and the tone of your post conveys a distinct sense of foreboding. It's well placed and if no one else replies I'd be glad to carry on via PM.

I had an occurrence when a new neighbor moved in next door. When I saw him outside, I greeted him. First thing he asked was, "do yougo to church?" When I responded that I didn't, he said, "I can't talk to you." I guess my presence in the next house was disturbing as he moved out rather abruptly. I have been told numerous times that if I wish to make friends and have neighbors, I must attend a church.

I come from an area where neighbors sat outside evenings and just enjoyed each other. Religion never came up in our conversations. I sure do miss that ambiance. Been in the SW 30 years and still walk, primarily, alone.

I had an occurrence when a new neighbor moved in next door. When I saw him outside, I greeted him. First thing he asked was, "do yougo to church?" When I responded that I didn't, he said, "I can't talk to you." I guess my presence in the next house was disturbing as he moved out rather abruptly. I have been told numerous times that if I wish to make friends and have neighbors, I must attend a church.

I come from an area where neighbors sat outside evenings and just enjoyed each other. Religion never came up in our conversations. I sure do miss that ambiance. Been in the SW 30 years and still walk, primarily, alone.

Exceptional post PeterS. You pretty much already know my stance on this subject.

The Human Condition plays a big part and that IS indeed a deep subject. It most assuredly is NOT about the "path" of any given Christian "doctrine" of religion.

As I discovered, this older single mother did not bode well in "the Church"; a fifth wheel, if you will. There were only two, maybe three 'wifes' in "the Church" who seemed to accept my presence with true "sincerity". In other words, my being single wasn't deemed a threat to those few women.

Faith, hope and love...and the greatest of these is love. 1st Corinthians 13:13

By the time of his untimely death, my father had taught me, by the age of 13, about God's Word and His love. Not some seminar schooled "pastor" explaining his indoctrinated version of the Bible to me once a week.

It is rather amazing when you think about how much time Christ spent with the "sinners". Frankly, "the Church" today seems to carry a tone more intune with the Pharisees than with Christ. But that's just my humble opinion and I am truly most unworthy.

Years ago the same thing happened at my House of Worship, except the homeless man sat in the front Pew and wanted to be Baptized. I couldn't believe what happened next, He was escorted out of the building and told to come back after the service was over. He didn't return and I never saw him again, I don't know if anyone ever saw him again. Our Minister and Deacons didn't want to discuss the matter. Christians have to realize, when you except Jesus as your Lord and Savior and truly mean it in your heart and are born again and truly follow Christ teachings. You can't leave the Church and don't go there anymore, why because you know your the church, not that house of worship that you left for what ever reason. Why do people (christians) always ask you," what church do you go to"? I always tell them. How can you go somewhere when your already there ? I'm in church everyday, because I'm the church, my body is the temple of God, christ lives in me, and I'm His church that's He's coming back for, not that building on the corner everybody calls their Church. It's just a House of Worship, not the Church. So don't fret Christians if you feel you have left the church just because you don't go on Sundays anymore to a particular house of worship. Don't listen to that lie from the devil. Of course the devil wants you to think your only in church on Sundays, and thats the only day you have to act like a christian one day a week. Then go out and act anyway you want to the rest of the week. Wake up christians your in church everyday of the week and should live your life like christ everyday, not just on Sundays, like the devil wants you to believe and makes you think you have left the church and feel Guilty and Christ is not in you anymore. Jesus said He will never leave you or forsake you. Jesus lives in you, His Church. Wherever two or more people are gathered in my name, there I shall be also. Forsake not yourself of assembling together as some do. You should worship together as often as possible to help edify each other and grow in Faith. When you first except Christ, your a baby christian, you need help to grow up spiritually just like you did physically as a human baby. Live everyday in christ teachings. not just on Sundays, so you'll grow up to be an adult christian faster and not stay a baby christian forever. If you truly love Christ, you'll never leave the Church, you'll always be there, its you !!