Hello Friends,
I wanted to do another blog. But it's going to be a toe cruncher, just to be honest with you. I want to talk about a subject that is on my mind.
In church, from time to time, I hear about how many young adults are leaving the church, and yet the church as a whole, I believe there are churches out there trying be more engaging and offer things for the young adult crowds, but as a whole the church is not stepping up and doing anything about it to help out their young adults.
I want to share from my aspect from being a young adult in the church. The problem first and foremost are cliques! The young adults whom stay in the church form their own groups and stay in those groups. They don't grow, they don't try to grow and they are not welcoming. Or they welcome others into a few things, but mostly exclude them. It is something that you can come into church and lift up your hands, you can say the right things, go on missions trips and look all so holy, but your actions speak a total different message. Granted, you can't invite everyone to everything or connect with everyone. You will have a certain set of friends and I get that. The problem is that many people don't try to connect with others. Some people don't love others as Christ calls us to. What good are those mission trips, bible studies, and lifting up the hands in worship if you don't love?
1st Corinthians 13:1-3 "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophesy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
We have got to show love. If the church wants to keep its young adults, it needs to be inclusive. Its young adults that are there, need to step up and love others and include and invite them to things, not just bible studies either. Conferences, day trips to some place, go see a movie, etc. It is not easy, and it can be particularly hard with those who are different than you. I know I messed up a few opportunities. It is not easy, but we have to do it! God gives us the grace to do it, we just need to ask him for it.
Galatians 6:10 "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Romans 12:9-10 "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."
Here I want to add that group leaders are people too and have lives and jobs and such outside of the church. I think its good to support these leaders and allow them to take breaks and do other things so they can take care of themselves and grow in the Lord too! Let's encourage them in doing that.
Things will be messy sometimes and conflicts can happen, they just do in this crazy world of ours, especially when there is a large gathering of people. We have to learn to bear with each other and keep the peace.
Romans 14:19 "Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification."
Romans 15:1 "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."
I mean, I really don't understand when someone leads a bible study but does not encourage or include their own people they are ministering too, to some big event that would help others grow and include people. Sometimes they need that to grow and not be with the group, but don't exclude the group from all of those. There will be times when those events would greatly benefit the group. Again, there are times when the leaders needs some time away for their own needs. Let the Spirit lead and make sure you are not becoming exclusive.
People don't want to help each other grow or include them. It feels to me that the young adults in the church simply wants to destroy and tear each other down. There is no unity!
Ephesians 4:3-6 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."
It seems like young adults in the church don't want to get out of their comfort zone and associate with non church goers either. Jesus spent a lot of his time with nonbelievers and we should too. In fact,
Jesus says:
Matthew 9:12-13 "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but the sinners."
I have been hearing talks about revival across our country, across our college campuses and that is awesome! Revival needs to happen in your own church too! We need revival in our church! Attending prayers and worship events are great, they are, but are you spending time in secular events too? Granted, don't go somewhere that you know will cause you to stumble or put you in danger, but go to concerts or something and be around others who are different than you. I enjoy church related activities, but I also enjoy doing things outside of church and being around others who do not attend church. I have met some cool people and have done some cool things with non church goers. You should give it a try if you are a believer and are reading this!
For me, I love to go to prayer and worship events, I mean, I wrote a blog about having a break through at a worship and prayer event. I enjoy missions trips, and bible studies and being in community with other Christians. However, it seems to me these things are becoming exclusive to those who fit certain molds like the pretty people, the popular people, the hip people, the wealthy people, the smart people, etc. We all have a part to play, we are all part of the body. Others want to experience that, others want to experience Jesus in a radical way too. What good is it doing to hold that back from people? Jesus is inclusive. He reached out to the unwanted people of his day. Lepers, the woman with the bleeding problem, blind-men, tax-collectors, ect. He even was inclusive to the man on the cross beside him crying out to be with him in heaven. Jesus did not deny him, he included him!
So church, I challenge you and I challenge myself to! We need to love others and include others. We do need to show grace to others. Sometimes you need just certain people to encourage you and so forth, or you click real well with certain people, which is cool, but make sure you still try to connect with others and be inclusive. And if that is something you cannot do, seriously, don't lead a bible study group. We as young adults need to rise up and throw off the chains that entangle us and run the race and help others run the race.
Be inclusive and loving. Bear with others and your self in your failings too, we all make mistakes!
Much love to you all!!
