IS THERE REALLY A MASS EXODUS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE CHURCH?
By Derrick P. Rodgers
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Over the years there has been much discussion about why young people are leaving the church. Some have concluded they are leaving because they cannot stomach the “intolerant church positions” from a range of issues from homosexuality to reckless social lifestyles.

Let’s be honest here and examine the fruit of those who have left the church. Many of them have loved this present world and have departed. To justify why some young people of the demographic from the age of 18 to 29 leave church is due to the claims of “the church intolerance and irrelevance” in most cases is an unprincipled characterization and glaring excuse for the most part to engage in worldly systems to quench their desirous appetite to fulfill inclusionistic ideologies. Far too many in this position attempt to rationalize their love for the world and their passion to coexist in hybrid climates by exporting anti-Bible talking points that are completely Bible-less, which is in line with a “growing inclusionistic culture.”

For Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10)

Some will contend that the church should water down the gospel and recalibrate it to coincide with today’s culture, because the young cannot really learn and understand Bible theology. However, this same segment of young people can decisively comprehend Hip-hop theology, while fluently articulating its philosophies and then living out its life style. The reason, in many cases, people cannot understand the word of God is simply that one cannot practice a lifestyle of darkness and then comprehend things of the light.

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:4, 5)

Because of the so-called mass exodus in the church by young people, some Christian leaders are restructuring their ministries to synchronize with antichrist world views to engineer a culture that will be palatable for some who are young, inexperienced, immature and in some cases a demonized demographic. These formulas and strategies that have been concocted by church growth gurus are primarily based on bias research, surveys, and polls excluding the Holy Spirit, God’s word, scriptural patterns and prayer. Much of this research is designed to persuade and convince churches to become more “trendy” by transitioning to a more seeker sensitive model and worldly integration format. Those who refuse to compromise the word of God will be deemed obsolete by such research.

Many of the young they are counting were never in the church, meaning their hearts were never connected to Father God in the first place. They may have been physically present because of their parents. However, that was the extent of their involvement.

“Some say the church is disconnected from the culture, I say the culture is disconnected from God.”

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:2)

The church, the body of Christ, is not some scientific case study that formulates its strategies based on the demands of a growing inclusionistic culture. The church is the household of faith that submits to the heart of God, embracing His teachings and His patterns. His thoughts become our thoughts; His ways become our ways. We are governed by the mind of Christ, loving His instruction and guided by the power of the Holy Spirit. His holy written word is written on the tablets of our heart. We are sanctified by His truth and His word is truth. As a result, we are separated from the world and demonstrate our own culture, which is called the Kingdom of God. Therefore, we do-not need to behave as if we are inferior, desperate and rejected. Neither do we need to compromise apostolic doctrine, foster excuses and make churches palatable for young people who refuse to yield and submit to Jesus Christ and allow Him to be Lord and King completely over their life. In the Kingdom of God, you cannot serve two masters. To really love and care for young people is to teach them the truth and lead them in the paths of our Lord.

Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22:6 NKJV)

A young inclusionistic generation cannot impose their immature and, in some cases, demonized influential values upon God and expect that the Father will just accept what they are offering. It doesn’t work that way. God is God, and man, which includes young people, must conform to His ways, His word, and His Spirit. Any other way will be considered nugatory. The call to young people and all people is to bow down and submit to Jesus with a willing heart.

Christian leaders who attempt to function in an extreme unconventional strategy with the sole intent to pander to or gain support of a young unregenerate segment of society always run the risk of violating and breaching God’s word. Are we really helping people when we violate and molest Gods word? There is safety in sound doctrine and proven contextual patterns of God’s course of action.
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Joyful are people of integrity, who follow the instructions of the lord. Joyful are those who obey his laws and search for him with all their hearts. They do not compromise with evil, and they walk only in his paths. (Psalms 119:1-3)

For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. (Jude 1:4, 11)