Opening the church to young adults

Why do many young adults leave the church, and what will it take to bring them back? These questions are examined in Essential Church? by Thom and Sam Ranier. To read an excerpt, click here.

The book is based on a study of one-thousand "church dropouts" who were interviewed about why they left. Their answers have less to do with "losing their religion" and more about their desire for community that isn't made stale by simply maintaining the status quo.

The book offers four ways churches can make their worship community an essential part of these young people's lives again:

• Simplify - develop a clear structure and process for making disciples
• Deepen - provide strong biblical teaching and preaching
• Expect - let members know the need for commitment to the congregation
• Multiply - emphasize evangelism, outward focus, and starting new churches

I appreciate the insights of this book, and would add concerning its conclusions that what I think we are seeing in these young adults is two things:

1. A rejection of "Churchianity." By that I mean thy no longer see church attendance as a social advantage or imperative.
2. A longing for community. I believe this longling comes from an (often unknowing) experience of the union they have with God in Jesus, who unites all humanity to the "community" of the Father, Son and Spirit. This union is the basis of the "image of God" (imago Dei) that all humans bear (an image often distorted by sin). The church has the opportunity to make such community visible and accessible by being a loving community that is centered on Jesus and has doors wide open to include young people in their cultural setting. I hope we will do so.