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Hi my name is Eric (aka Joker) and I am a 30 something christian. Ok Sam- The search for the 30 to 40 something lost congregation members seemes to be across the board for most churches. There are so few in ours that we could form our own small group. I do know from checking out the local mega- contemporary churches that they are comprised mostly of this demographic. So is it that this age group are not church goers or not attenders of denominated christian congregations- I personally don't know- just a theory. I do know as a 30 something christian that has checked out these churches that even though the gospel rock bands sound cool, and the high tech A/V equipment blows you away, it seemed hollow. It all seemed like- how can I make myself feel better through God, rather than what does God need me to do to futher the Kingdom.
I do know here in southwest Ohio region of the United Methodist Church is on a mission of "Love First". If we follow the Great Commandment- the Great Commission will follow. Our Bishop has even proclaimed that the focus does not need to be on how many butts we can fit in the pews, but what are we doing for our local communities to fullfill the Great Commandment.
In other words, should energy be spent trying to "recruit" 30 and 40 year olds- an approach that sometimes tends to repell most people- or should we let them know we are christians "by our love" as the old hymn puts it. It should look and feel so inviting that folks want to be apart of it.
I have always said that the biggest enemy to the church is the church itself. Not always through bad intentions. Sometimes well meaning christians drive folks away.
So i don't really have an answer for you Sam. Except that I believe in the power of prayer. I will continue to do that, and share love with the people I come across.
-God Bless, Eric
Me and Jesus got our own thing going, Me and Jesus got it all worked out ,
Me and Jesus got our own thing going, I don’t need anybody to tell me what
Its all about. Im 27 and I have no use for a building or a man to tell me what
Spirit is. Look around you, the sky the mountains, the trees, the love
In your life, that is spirit. NOT an old building where we sit kneel and
Stand. So wile the rest of the people go to church I will be playing in
Gods playground that he has so nicely given to me. You don’t need a
building to be close to God I see Him in everything I look at and I thank
him by using what he has given me.
Hi Wichita Sam,
This is a far out one for me as not only am I Australian (and therefore non-religious) but I fall into the age catagory you are interested in, and it is for this reason I thought I would share some of my observations which may or may not be of any relevance. This is not a rant because spirituality is a journey and not a demarcation.
1. Religion was originally a form of mythology/spirituality formalized through the passage of time and by the various peoples of the Earth taking their own spin on things (All monkeys want answers). There is nothing wrong with this except that over time it became more of an excuse to alienate those who thought or acted differently (as we just don't like change). However because no judgement day has occurred - the very belief in a paternal figure measuring your soul for good or evil is just becoming outdated and out moded. As we discover more about ourselves and our universe the ideas of old just don't seem to mount up, lo and behold scientology. Put simply we don't buy it anymore no matter how it is packaged. To date religion has caused and will continue to cause more problems than perhaps it has solved...might be time to call it a day.
2. Alternatives - such as freemasonry which began as a reaction to catholocism is also noticing a drop in younger attendees. The organisation is being forced to move away from tradition (which defines it)and embrace newer ideas and concepts in an attempt to draw back the young (who naturally embrace new things and eschew the old) I don't know if it will work to save the freemasons from obscurity but it may be worth a try. Can any church try this, or is it a case of take it as it is? "So let it be written so let it be done " after all went out with the Egyptians
3. Ideas are easier to change than beliefs. As someone once said "The enemy of Faith is knowledge" As we now know everything is there room for anything else? If Jesus was alive today he would have to go on Jay Leno, what would happen if he said the Jews or the Muslims were right all along.....
Hope this helps, please don't be offended by what could be considered to be atheism/altruism.
Kindest Regards,
Will
One of the best blogs I've read about this subject:
http://www.mondaymorningmemo.com/?ShowMe=ThisMemo&MemoID=1413
check it out.
shane
Shane,
Thanks for the link..... I like the last line "in fact, I'm betting everything on it"... (meaning that Jesus is everything the Bible says he is). I am too. I guess it's somewhat a matter of style, but the problem that I originally posed still remains, "How to be bridge the generation gap so that the Gospel is intelligible to post modern persons?"
blessings,
Sam
Sam,
What if you didn't try to bridge the generational gap? What if you instead taught the young generation how to start their own church? (Thus raising up leaders to take the mission after even you are gone.)
Just thinking aloud on this one. Lemme vamp here...
What if you hung out with a couple younger members who have a heart for their own generation. And what if you took them under your wing and taught them about the great leaders who inspired you... What if your goal was to have them deal with the "generational bridge" problem instead of you?
still vamping here...
Don't teach a class on "how to bring more to Christ." That's kinda heartless and wishy washy. Instead, teach a class on "Here's some really cool crap that has inspired me and made me who I am." Tell stories in this class, not sermons. If something really REALLY inspired you, it's gonna cross that generational gap because revolutionary ideas are timeless.
Did you watch those "How to Play CBG" vids I just did? If so, you saw that I didn't give any technical crap for people to memorize or get lock-step into. Instead, I showed "some really cool crap that allowed me to get more life out of my cigar box guitar." Even though many others have made free CBG lessons online, people are going ga-ga over my vids. Why? Because they focus on inspiration only. People want to be inspired. They want to read books and see websites that inspire. They want to listen to others who will light a fire under their ass.
And they want it with candor. They don't want a holier-than-thou speech...because we live in a "keepin' it real" society right now. Tell your stories that include your screw-ups and how God still used you.
"If I can do it, so can you" is the final message.
And if they're inspired to start their own church, you can provide a current church building and staff to help them take the mission further...and a lot faster than you did when you were starting out.
...and your prayers for them can be the same types of prayers David said for Solomon (I can't remember verses). David prayed that Solomon would do even greater things than he ever did.
One more note:
Joel 2:28 b - "... Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions."
Dreams say "I long for this to happen."
Visions say "Hot damn, this is how we can make it happen!"
The elders have dreams. They inspire the younger crowd with their dreams...which makes the up-and-coming generation plot even greater revolutions."
Well, that's my vamp.
shane
Wichita Sam said:Shane,
Thanks for the link..... I like the last line "in fact, I'm betting everything on it"... (meaning that Jesus is everything the Bible says he is). I am too. I guess it's somewhat a matter of style, but the problem that I originally posed still remains, "How to be bridge the generation gap so that the Gospel is intelligible to post modern persons?"
blessings,
Sam
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