It may be the facts, but it’s not the truth.
There’s lot of chat on the interwebs about Millennials leaving the Church and statistics supporting the claims. [And any time the words Millennials and leaving and Church are strung together, we have the Pajama Mujahedin come out of dark corners of their mother’s basement tear down proposing suppositions.] I have read numerous reports and facts claiming the demise of American Christianity and the decline of Evangelicalism in North America. Though the facts may be correct, it’s not the truth.
Friends, current reality does not determine our future. Just because our reality may place us against all hope of a prosperous future, that doesn’t mean it can’t exist.
I know the percentages of churches in decline, I’ve studied the waning participation and commitment to church membership, and I’ve read the facts about statisitcal data placing American as the upcoming Sodom and Gomorrah [insert thunder and lightening here]. So how can I still hold on to the hope of the Church? Because I’ve seen the truth. Or shall I get Lacanian and say, Truth? Yes, Truth with a capital T.
The Man who proclaimed to be the Way, the Truth, and Light is making a way, through truth, to shed light in dark places. To say Christianity for my generation is empty beliefs and plithy commitment is an affront to the people I teach, preach to, speak with, and mentor. To say the Church is hopeless in it’s attempt to connect with my generation doesn’t dissuade me from trying, it inspires me to reach up [to God], reach out [to the disenfranchised], and reach in [to those hurting in the Church].
Last night around a large table in an Italian restaurant my coworkers sat around a table with our interns to celebrate a successful completion of our internship program. We made fun of each other, we laughed, we ate, and I gawked over how handsome Juan Pablo is and how God answered my prayers to make him the new Bachelor [“the prayer of a righteous woman availeth much!” –BIV version]. As we passed out gag-gifts and awards, the night concluded with affirmation for each of our interns.
There—in the Buca di Peppo’s Romance banquet room replete with half naked Renaissance statues and vintage pictures of Italian icons—the Holy Spirit breathed life onto us in a way that I can’t explain it. It was palatable. And if you think I’m delusional or Pentecostal or a Charismatic, I will disappoint you and say I am neither of those. I’m a girl who witnessed the very presence of God reveal Himself to a room of women and men, Baptists and Pentecostals, conservatives and liberals in a way that shocked us all. Those who theologically believe the supernatural gifts of God ceased after Pentecost had a come-to-Jesus-moment of belief. Not conversion to a denomination or theological camp, but a Damacus road experience where the spiritual scales of our eyes fell off to behold the very presence of our Savior.
[Do I sound crazy? Dear God, I do! I know I do! This proves my husband right! But who cares?!]
If this crop of interns is a slice of the demographic of this generation, I believe. I believe change is coming. I believe their voice will carry. I believe their convictions will tarry. I believe the width, the breath, and the depth of their theological differences will not separate or alienate them from one another but collaboratively strengthen the reach of our commission to be the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior.
Internet, I am nothing more than a voice crying out to the interwebs begging you not to give up on my generation. We are a people of HOPE! [Sixty-four percent of my generation voted for President Obama on this very belief, for crying out loud?!] We are a people of change. We are a people who believe that out of ashes, beauty will rise; out of dust, humanity was formed; out of darkness, light will shine.
I feel like Joshua standing at the edge of the Jordan holding onto the words given to him by God Almighty, Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I wore to their ancestors to give them. Friends, the Promise Land is ours. We need not need to stay in captivity or wander the desert waiting for a sign. If you’re looking for a sign, THIS IS IT.
Get ready people, the Church is resurrecting. I can feel it in my bones like an Apache warrior senses rain.
I see a Church that is ours to inherit in the way Joshua saw the Promise Land…
- I see a Church who accepts the lost, the unloved, the skeptic, the sinner, the saint.
- I see a Church where the poor and rich value the blessings each possess and share their blessings with others.
- I see a Church where Black, White, Hispanic, Nomadic, Asian, Haitian, EuroAsian, Croatian, are one nation under God with one mission to fulfill: to love our God and to love our neighbor.
- I see a Church where the Holy Spirit has freedom to move in ways that are supernatural, yet biblical; shocking, yet expected; sacred, yet common.
- I see a Church where men, women, young and old, can serve and build the Kingdom no matter their status, gender, education, or training.
- I see a Church where worship is experiential, honest, humble, empowering, inspiring, and unifying.
- I see a Church with an allegiance not to a nation or denomination, but to a King who is over all, rules all, and controls all.
- I see a Church who believes the best is yet to come. Our future is stronger than our past, our history will not determine our legacy, our purpose is yet to be fulfilled.
- I see a Church who believes in the supremacy of an omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent God who is the first, the last, the beginning and the end.
- I see a Church with you and me standing knee deep in the facts, yet holding onto Truth.
So call me a prophet or call me crazy, I don’t care. I see a Church that I want to be a part of. What Church do you see?
This makes me want to go scream from the mountains. So, so good. Anointed, I think is the word I’m looking for.
Love ya, Juls!
B! I love this post so encouraging it really does seem like the media is taking a whack at the millennials! So good! >>>So call me a prophet or call me crazy, I don’t care. I see a Church that I want to be a part of!
It’s women like you that make me believe a remnant exists!
“I am nothing more than a voice crying out to the interwebs…” So brilliant! And so true! I hope everyone catches this!
Thanks for the love and support, Susanna 😉
Thank you SO much for writing this!! I have been frustrated recently with all the chat about Millennials leaving the Church because I’m a little like you … that’s NOT really what I see, but I just didn’t know how to respond.
I see a generation IN the Church who is wildly in love with Jesus, digging in deep to Biblical truth and committed to holding onto faith through the questions that don’t have easy answers. And they want their own generation to be a part of this.
I know I don’t have all the answers either, but I do think there’s a [huge] spark of hope in that!!
Again, thank you for your voice in this! If this is what crazy sounds like, I want to be crazy with you!!
We can get crazy up in here! WORD!
Supernatural indeed. This afternoon, before reading this post, I was reading EXACTLY what you wrote from Joshua. , Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I wore to their ancestors to give them.
On a personal level and I believe on a larger level, the Holy Spirit is nudging me to learn more about Joshua.
Get it, girl!
I think this is awesome!! and I know that Justin is a true lover of the light. He will never be defeated and will always strive to be the best he can be for The Lord! He’s my best friend and such a great inspiration of strength in our Savior.
I will tell him you send your greetings 🙂
As a milennial who grew up in the Church, I wholeheartedly agree with this blogpost. That being said, agree with the original article* on why a lot of youth are leaving. Unfortunately, I have seen a lot of what the argument touches on, and have felt the same in several areas.
However, I have seen the hope in my generation. I am blessed to attend BIOLA, where students my age are desiring to impact the world for Jesus Christ. I have friends who are helping women in India who escaped the streets, friends who are learning to care for the sick, friends who are studying to help the oppressed and mis-represented.
I think the original article has been great to express what a majority of a generation is feeling, but unable to convey to churches.
I hope, I pray Christians can learn to love their neighbors, to be able to lovingly share the gospel with a homosexual co-worker and invite them to church. To find peace with science, to find the stillness of God in His word, not in lighted worship productions. Not to encourage one another to practice abstinence before marriage, but how lack of purity cheapens Christ’s grace. To be Christians who have salted language, who are lights in dark places, to be gracious to all, exuding the love of Christ from every being.
This is the Church I want to be a part of. This is the part of the Church I am trying to be.
*http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2013/07/27/why-millennials-are-leaving-the-church/
Mainstream media has its own language, and it’s based on fear and doom. God’s Word tells a different story. I worship with thousands of millennials who love our Savior more every day.
B-
As a fellow millennial I love what you said. All the reasons you stated are why at the age of 24 I have decided to respond to the call to ministry. Keep sharing these spirit filled words- I know they have encouraged me to no end today!
Thanks! Xoxo
Ashley
The millennialist in me agreed with absolutely every word. Bring it!
I concur!! I see everything you see, Bianca, and I am so excited for what our amazing God has in store, using the millennial generation. That being said, I do not think the recent media coverage of millennials leaving the church is necessarily a bad thing. And certainly not a prophecy for our future. No, it is AN OPPORTUNITY for the church to inspect closely what we are teaching, and the atmosphere in which we are teaching it. Yesterday I posted about my 14- year old daughter’s recent experience visiting her friend’s church. If my daughter was not already a Holy Spirit-filled intimate-with-Christ teenager, she would have never set foot there again. The post is here: http://www.truthisaperson.com/2013/08/millennials-and-church.html
Thank you for your ministry – I love listening to your podcasts with Chris Caine! Bless you!