5 Reasons Young People Are Leaving The Church

Young People Leave The Church Because It Creates No Value For their Lives.

When people look at their schedule they make time for the things that bring their life value or solve a problem. The Unfortunate fact for most young people is that they believe the Church does neither. I don't want to use the word irrelevant because many "churched people" will dismiss this by saying that we have the most relevant message and those people obviously are heard-hearted. However, after 15 years of ministry, I find people are more open to spiritual conversations than ever before. They are usually surprised to hear the wisdom in scripture speaking directly to the issues they have their most pressing questions. What I have found is that we do a poor job of connecting the issues of the day with God's character.

The other large contributor to this, it seems that we (I'm a pastor too) make the Church into the hero instead of the guide. Many churches don't know how to develop people in the way of Jesus, or do a poor job of communicating to people that they indeed have a pathway to develop people into their calling. This creates a perception that the only value churches have are to come on Sunday and Listen to a professional book reader give his opinion of  a book they can read themselves. Today, we can just get on Youtube for that sort of thing. This creates the indication that Church is an archaic form for a pre-digital age.  In a world where any content we want is at our fingertips, without tangible investment in their personal development, it just isn't worth the drive.

Young People Are Leaving the Church Because of Leadership Abuse.

Honestly, this is sad. Minority cultures often feel the weight of a "bad apple's" sin. We (Churched People) now hold a minority view in the cultural marketplace. So, when one person falls we feel like it's a plight against all church leaders and churched people. My former Denomination just came out with a 200 page list of leaders whom abused victims– people they were called to shepherd and care for. When this happens and the outside world watches, they see this as dangerous...as they should. No one wants to join a community ripe with hypocrisy. No one wants that label. No one wants to be their next inevitable victim.

Young People Leave The Church Because They Aren't Valued.

I'm going to say something very sensitive here, and I mean no disrespect, but absolutely mean every word I am about to say. Many Churches want young people to want to worship and relate to God they way previous generations did. When they realize that younger people don't, they often disregard their ideas or input. Older Churches know they need young people, but don't want to accommodate them. They don't enjoy young people in leadership positions who want to change more than what's comfortable, and they don't want them to mess with a good thing. Young People feel this, whether real or perceived, and realize that church wants their money and energy, but not their creativity, style, or way of relating to God. When people feel like they aren't valued, then they make decisions that reflect that–like leaving the church.

Young People Leave The Church Because Church Feels Oppressive.

Three issues converge here: the rise of Christian Nationalism, Fundamental Moralism, and the unjust treatment of those that do not share our skin color, sexuality, theology, political leaning, etc.. This deadly mixture gives many young people the perception that all Church would like to turn us into is a Pharisaical Conservative who uses their power to shame those that don't toe the theological line. Beyond how we view scripture–because most Young People haven't given that a lot of thought while they are just trying to make ends meet and have a little peace in an increasingly volatile world–we would be better served modeling Jesus in our conduct and attitude, more than just our soteriology. Young People want no part of feeling the oppression that comes with not being able to conform to a list of "dos and don'ts." It's better to be outside that type of system than in it.

Young People Leave The Church Because The Church Doesn't Reach Unchurched People.

I have noticed a brain drain and talent drain in the church as well. The Most amazing Jesus Followers are leaving the American interpretation of Church for nebulous communities that care the for marginalized and look a whole lot more like what Jesus did with his disciples than the liturgical masses with academic homilies or the energetic concerts with "religious Ted Talks." Some people don't think this is Church, these young leaders don't care what they think. They experienced what Church has to offer and left them empty, knowing that there was more to mission than what they were being spoon fed on a weekly basis. They Felt the spirit in the wildness of the marketplace more than in the domesticated pews on Sundays. They got tired of Mission being a veiled compulsory plea to pass out a bulletin or serve in Children's ministry, and instead wanted to create Kingdom Minded Businesses, or Nonprofits to care for the poverty stricken areas of their cities. So they went on a new adventure to Serve Jesus where the wild things are.

If you’d like to join NewBreed on this journey of reaching the Next Generation, you can support us by partnering financially or join one of our 8 week cohorts starting up Defining Mission: Discover, Develop, and Deploy Your Team's Gifts or Making Disciples: Being Like Jesus by Acting Like Jesus.