Twentysomethings and Church

Welcome to Every Thought Captive, I’m Phil Steiger.

One of the more disturbing trends in the American church is how we lose the majority of young adults between their high school graduation and their early thirties. According to Barna, as many as 52% of them simply leave the church. Several pastors and authors explain this loss in terms of disillusionment-they argue that twentysomethings are disillusioned with the failed promises of the church.

One angle that can’t be ignored is the fact that every year adolescence lasts longer into people’s twenties. In other words, what sociologist label adolescence-a teenaged mentality and maturity level-is apparent in older adults all the time. Young adults are in general immature longer than they used to be.

Could it be that we are too used to having things exactly the way we want it? It is possible that we all need to learn that church will never be perfect, and that believers need to be a part of it as a matter of faithfulness and maturity no matter its flaws.

This has been Every Thought Captive, a Christian worldview minute sponsored by Quail Lake Community Church. For more information please visit quaillake.org.