The death rates for members of the United Methodist Church are about 1/3 higher than the general population of the United States. Does this mean we should all “get out while we still can”? Not necessarily. This study done by the United Methodist Church points to a major challenge the church is facing today…
In his book Present Future, Reggie McNeal makes it clear when he says:
The further down you go in the generational food chain, the lower the percentage each succeeding generation reports going to church. The drop is from 52% of builders (those born before 1946) and seniors to only 36% of GenXers….Armed with this information, of course, churches are launching an all-out effort to reach GenXers. I wish! Most churches have actually just written them off, waiting for them to grow up and learn to like what the church has to offer.
In today’s passage from Paul’s first letter to Timothy, we are reminded that God’s will is for all people to be saved. And, the only way anyone will be saved is through Jesus. Who did Jesus leave in charge of introducing other people to him? You guessed it – you and me…the Church. So, how are we doing?
Well, according to Pamela Crosby from the UM Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the average age of members in the United Methodist Church is 57 and 80.1% are over the age of 40. According to Pastor Scott Chrostek from Church of the Resurrection, with the current rate of decline in membership and worship attendance, the United Methodist Church will die in 44 years. Along with that, the emerging generations see the Church as hypocritical, judgmental, and out of touch with reality. This morning, we’re going to take a look at what’s going on and what we can do about it.
We live in an increasingly anti-Christian society. Church is no longer the place to be on Sunday morning. Everyone, but particularly children and young adults, are bombarded with more and more temptations, and the internet is both a blessing and a curse. Add to that the increasing number of kids coming home to empty houses. A family where kids may or may not know who their parents are is becoming the norm. The natural human reaction is to try to find somewhere to belong. Somewhere to feel needed and wanted. This place used to be called the Church.
Unfortunately today’s Church seems to respond to this deep need of our young people by saying, “We don’t want you here. You don’t relate to the way we ‘do church’ and we’re not going to change.”
I expect many of you will disagree with this because you haven’t experienced it…but I have. I don’t believe anyone in the Church is intentionally saying it, but I have felt it. And, I’m sure there have been times when I have embodied that attitude as well because it’s easy for you and me to settle into our routine, and forget about all the hurting people on the other side of our stained-glass windows.
Consider this story from author, pastor, and GenXer, Craig Groeschel about his first trip to church after he became a Christian:
Think about how you would feel…Craig arrives at church and he is told he’s not dressed nice enough by a grumpy usher. He’s barely given a bulletin by a greeter, and then gets told by an elderly woman that he needs to get out of her seat. After all that, listen to the rest of the service in his own words:
Finally a man in a gown sauntered regally to the podium and with arms outstretched offered in a very pastoral voice, “Greetings in the name of the Lord.” Everyone mumbled something that I couldn’t understand, stood up almost as one, and the organ sputtered to life. We sang three hymns like we were lifeless robots. It was comforting, I guess, but odd. The passionate words in these ancient songs were some of the most beautiful I had ever read – at least the words I recognized.
For each hymn, we sang verses one, two…and four. What did they have against verse three? Or perhaps someone had abducted all of the verse threes?…
After the songs, another guy in a gown came up, less regally, and droned some announcements. Finally, we came to the feature presentation. The guy with the nicest, fanciest gown – I assumed he was the big pastor – got up to deliver a sermon that would feed our hungry souls. He talked. And he talked and he talked. And I stayed hungry.
When he finally finished, everyone got up and left unceremoniously…On my drive home, I was bewildered, struggling to understand why God – this God who had so radically flipped my life upside down, who breathed into me a new life and new passion – would demand that I waste my Sunday mornings like this.
From Craig’s perspective, can you see how some of the things you and I take for granted when we’re at church are foreign to unchurched people? (Especially those who are younger than 45.)
So what do we do? We can take our queue from Paul’s advice to Timothy…
First, you and I need to pray for all people. Pray for those who don’t know Jesus that they may meet him. Pray for wisdom for government leaders and church leaders. Pray for opportunities to share your faith.
Second, be real. Gandhi said, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” This disparity is why many people see the Church as hypocritical and judgmental. If we want to regain credibility with today’s young people, then when you and I say we follow Jesus, we had better act like it – whether we’re at church or not. We must live what we believe. This is how we live lives marked by godliness and dignity.
Third, reach out to unchurched people; build relationships with them. Our actions should make unchurched people wonder why we do what we do. This gives us the opportunity for number 4:
Share your faith. Peter tells us to “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) If you have built trust with someone, they are much more likely to be receptive to your story of Jesus’ love and faithfulness. At the right time, they may even come to church with you…if you invite them. According to Rev. Dr. Dick Jones, 80% of visitors to churches come because someone from that church personally invited them.
Fifth, and finally, you and I need to be willing to change the way we’ve always done things in order to welcome unchurched people (both young and old alike). This may mean worshiping in ways that are not our favorite. It may mean putting up with noisy or messy children because many of the “children” that have been lost by the church now have children of their own. But, God’s desire is for everyone to be saved. Therefore our response needs to be to do whatever it takes to reach out to those who are lost. This isn’t a new concept! Paul told the Corinthians, “I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” (1 Corinthians 9:22)
After all of this, I’m concerned that you might think I’m saying “out with the old, in with the new” when it comes to people. This is not the case! Those who have been Christians for a long time have a very special job to do. New believers and younger believers don’t have the experiences that you do. We need you to share your stories of God’s faithfulness in your life. We need you to say “Yes, Paul was right when he said, ‘And we know that all things work together for good to those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.’” (Romans 8:28). And, we need you to partner with us in ministry as we reach out to those in need.
In summary, God’s desire is that everyone be saved through a relationship with Jesus Christ, but the Church is losing generations of young people. You and I are Jesus’ ambassadors to the world. We need to live lives of prayer and godliness so that we may have the opportunity to share Jesus with those who have yet to meet him. It is both our privilege and our responsibility.
Bibliography
Barrick, Audrey; Thu, Jul. 02 2009 04:08 PM EDT; The Christian Post; “United Methodist Members Dying Faster than Americans”, http://www.christianpost.com/article/20090702/united-methodist-members-dying-faster-than-americans/index.html
Crosby, Pamela; “Churches Join Project to Gauge ‘Pulse’ of Young Adults, a UMNS feature; Nashville, TN; http://archives.umc.org/interior.asp?ptid=2&mid=3996
McNeal, Reggie; Present Future; John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 2003.
Groeschel, Craig; It, How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It; Zondervan; 2008.
“The Emerging Generation in Church Leadership”, Chrostek, Scott; The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection; 2009.