Why Do Young Adults Fall Away

There is an issue in Christian circles where young men and women who were brought up in the church suddenly leave the Body of Christ. This is no small matter nor is it to be laughed off but seriously considered by all Christians.  First I must say this, When dealing with a person who has “lost his or her faith” in Christ do not condemn them.  For many who feel they lose their faith, it is not truly a loss of faith in God but a discouragement on how the church acts, reacts, and functions. Before we get into how to encourage those who believe they are losing faith so they do not fall away (Next Blog Post), let us find out some reasons why people leave the church and eventually the Body of Christ.

1. High School Graduates go to college and lose themselves in the world.
            Many in the Body of Christ forget one major piece when their youth go forth to college; follow -up, follow -up, follow –up. Just because the child is now physically an adult (or close to it), does not mean he or she is spiritually mature enough to be sent into the world alone. We cannot let them loose without the comfort of knowing where they are with Christ. Just because the individual accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior does not mean that fellow Christians need to leave that person to their own devices. COME ON FOLKS, WAKE UP.
    
2. The church cares more about how much I tithe than my relationship with Christ.
        Which is more important:  how much a person gives monetarily to the church, or how is the person’s relationship with the Father?  I am not saying we should not tithe because God has had us give a percentage since the days of Joseph. What I am saying is we should not base a person’s membership in a place of worship on how much is placed in the offering plate. I pastored a church where the Deacon Chairman wanted to get rid of members because they we not tithing properly and come to find out that I was on that list. COME ON!!! My tithes go to more than one place and if ten %ed every one, I would have nothing to feed my family. Money matters, yes but when it takes the place of soul saving as a higher priority in a church, even people who are in high positions will leave. Brothers and Sisters, we lose more souls that way.
    
3. All I have to justify my faith is a book.
        The Bible is the Highest Authority because it is God’s written Word. Just having the book means nothing when you do not comprehend how to use it.  The Bible is the best God guided self-help book around. That is just it, people need to use what they learn and follow it but if not properly heard and instructed it is useless.
    
4. God does not exist because He wasn’t there when I needed Him.
        Why did this person have to die so young? Where was God when I was molested? Where was God when I was on the field of battle and everyone was dying? Where was God when I had to decide whether to give up or keep this child?   Oh have I got news for you!!! He was there, did you call on Him. Did you ever think that God may have wanted you to go through something to make you stronger but you lacked faith in yourself and others so you blame God?
    
5. Where is Christ’s Unconditional Love in this place of worship?
        Once again we have to deal with a place that cares more about numbers than souls. This should be a wakeup call but too many churches are doused so steep in traditions that they forgot the real reason to be there.
    
6. How can I justify God’s Grace in my life when all I am required to do is go to church?
         The old, “Come to church and you are saved” routine. Really folks, faith needs action. Chosen by grace, Justified through faith, faith without works means nothing (Matthew 28:19-20 His Commission means we must do this work). Sit on your butt because you are comfortable in your faith, riiight, NOT.
    
7. I doubt I was ever really saved maybe I was caught up in the moment.
        Wow, caught up in the music and the atmosphere, feeling the Spirit in this place, I think God is calling me, gotta accept Him now even though I really do not know what I am doing.  Ok so if you are really feeling you need to accept Him let us examine the truth?  Did the words of the music get to your heart or was it the performers? Was it in truth worship or just a concert?  You let Him into your life, we better tell you through His Words exactly what that means?
      
8. Just because I made one mistake fellow Christians now show hate towards me instead of love.
         I know this one all too well.  I was one who fell away when I was chided for one small insurrection and consistently reminded of my sin by a small group of people. Yes I am going to leave that.  God has already dealt with me and I asked forgiveness and HE forgave me. WHY CAN’T YOU??  Oh wait, because you never sinned you can judge me right??? John 8:7, go ahead challenge me on that.  Well, in that situation where His flock is unforgiving even though God already dealt with the person and forgave; people will not go back to a place of hardened hearts. What is worse is when a persons past is put to question and the thing happened 20 years ago. Good Lord, really, penance paid let it go.
    
9. Too many Christians pick and choose what to believe in the Bible a clear double standard.
         If you are doing one thing that is ok but do not do this or that.  SIN is SIN people. God does not pick and choose so we are not given the opportunity either.  The Old Testament readings are guidelines and lessons from the past to help mold our future. We should not pick and choose for ourselves.
    
10. The church failed to teach me compassion, and failed to be a safe place for the oppressed and marginalized.
         This one has a ramification on two different levels.  Either the pastor or church staff were not giving proper guidance and application, or the person just did not really listen.  TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL AND THEY WILL GROW IN CHRIST. 
     
         Any of those sound familiar? I thought so. These are some reasons we lose our youth to the world instead of them staying in Christ.  How do encourage them to stay in the Word and continue to follow The Way which is the Truth which is Jesus?
     
    Please share, if you wish, a situation of lost and how they recovered. Or if you are a found that was lost and found again, what helped you to come back???