More College Students Walking Away From Christianity

Hi Greg...

Interesting article! I do have questions in regard to whether it is [i]college[/i] that is the cause -- or if it is the newfound "liberty" and "independence" of this particular age (18-22 year olds) that might cause this "mass exodus" from the faith. I remember reading a Baptist study somewhere that stated that less than half of youth raised in Church will continue after they move out on their own (regardless of whether they attended college).

I think that a key is preparation. Have parents truly prepared their children for the real world?

I remember hearing a story told by a children's pastor about a mouse. The mouse was just starting to leave their nest, when Mommy Mouse told Junior, "[i]Stay away from the cheese on top of that wood[/i] (the mousetrap). [i]Otherwise, you'll be sorry[/i]!" Junior answered, "[i]Yes, Ma'am[/i]." Junior had no reason to doubt his mother's words. But as Junior passed by the cheese each day, he thought about the situation. "[i]The cheese certainly does LOOK good. It certainly does SMELL good. And I don't see any cats around at all[/i]!" So he climbs atop the wood, takes a nibble at the cheese and then -- BANG -- he gets killed by the trap!

The children's pastor who told this story (I have actually heard the same story several times from several preachers -- including one who used a pencil mouse and a mouse trap as the violent object lesson) stated a very familiar moral to the story: LISTEN TO YOUR PARENTS, BECAUSE THEY KNOW MORE THAN YOU. But is that the true moral to this story? I used to listen to the story as a kid in Sunday School and wonder, "[i]Why didn't the mother explain to Junior that this was a TRAP, and that the trap could kill him[/i]?" In other words, the moral might better be stated in that parents should better prepare their children for the traps of this world.

I know Christians parents who are quick to explain the terrible practices of this world (and the ultimate Hellish end to such practices), but they fail to adequately explain just [u]why[/u] such practices are dangerous. In the story of Junior Mouse, the mother could have said, "[i]Look Junior -- this is an important thing that you need to know. We live in a house on borrowed time. The owner of that house wants us DEAD. He creates traps all over the house in order to kill us and destroy our race. That piece of cheese on top of that wood? It is simply a trap meant to entice you by your lust for cheese. If you nibble on it, it will set off a lever in which a metal bar will snap forward and either snap your neck and chop off your head[/i]." Do you see how a better explanation of the entire situation might prevent some thought of indulgences within new adults?

Alas, I fear that children are sometimes far too sheltered without proper explanation. How many father's say, "[i]You'll do it because I told you so[/i]," and simply leave it at that? How many pastors say, "[i]Sex before marriage is wrong because the Bible tells you so,[/i]" without properly explaining just WHY it is wrong and WHAT the immediate, mid-range, long term and ultimate outcome of such an action could be? While I certainly agree with sheltering our children, I think that we might do a disservice by failing to explain the rationale behind the "rules" of our household. While it is ultimately God who justifies those rules (because the Bible tells us so), a good explanation of such things seems to be worthwhile.

My sister-in-law is going to graduate from high school in May. She is a wonderful and godly young lady, but she has lived a sheltered life. My wife and I are planning on writing a long and intimate letter to her that will explain REAL LIFE to her. We want to be extremely candid with her about the things that many others learn the hard way. This will not be a "birds and the bees" type of letter. Rather, it will attempt to identify as many traps as possible while explaining the WHAT and WHY and OUTCOME of each. I would recommend every parent (especially the fathers) to have the same sort of talk with their daughters and sons.

Again, this is a thought provoking article. I am glad that the subject of the article returned to the Lord through the Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship ministries located at many of today's colleges and universities. I actually met my wife through such a ministry! The incredibly godly student president of that local Chi Alpha was the "Best Man" at my wedding. It is nice to know that these sort of ministries exist at many institutions, and could be a wonderful incentive for enrollment.

:-)

Well we've segregated churches into youth and adult. We pamper our youths before we send them off into the real world. The children in todays churches aren't ready for the reality that they will face when they leave the nest. Instead of being equipped with the full armor of God, they leave church and their family entirely naked except for a WWJD wrist band.

The change needs to take place first at home, children must understand that the Bible has answers for every question brought against it, they must see their parents living in a biblical fashion and obedient to God. Then they need to be equipped in the church to be effective soul winners, not just for the souls of others, but for their own salvation. We need to teach our children to be Christian soldiers, not just baby-sit them until they're old enough to leave the church.

Too many youth groups are glorified social clubs, they need to be capital G Glorified! Unfortunately I don't see the trend changing unless the church of God repents for the lack of preparation we give to our children to stand firm in their generation.

There's plenty of failure to go around here:

1. The failure of campus student organizations. Almost all of them claim to combat this.

1b. The failure of the same groups to proclaim a Gospel which saves. Almost all of them (including BSM) are man-centered messages, focusing more on opportunities to socialize rather than seriously study the Word.

2. The failure of local churches to preach a Gospel that saves. A college student will not abandon his or her faith if they have it to begin with.

Blessings,

Jon

Hi Lawevangelis...

There's plenty of failure to go around here:

1. The failure of campus student organizations. Almost all of them claim to combat this.

1b. The failure of the same groups to proclaim a Gospel which saves. Almost all of them (including BSM) are man-centered messages, focusing more on opportunities to socialize rather than seriously study the Word.

Our local Chi Alpha's meetings consisted of intimate worship and messages that were quite powerful and relevant. We had ministers who distributed free copies of powerful books (such as T. Austin Sparks' [i]The School of Christ[/i], Tozer's [i]The Knowledge of the Holy[/i], Bunyan's [i]Pilgrim's Progress[/i] and Ravenhill's [i]Why Revival Tarries[/i]) to students. Our prayer meetings were incredible! Our group tended to shy away from the "social gospel" of many student groups and focused on a real and intimate relationship with Christ. Our advisors were excellent teachers who instructed us about many often ignored precepts. Even the day-to-day conversations of fellow Chi Alpha students centered on the immenency of Christ in our lives and how to introduce Him to others.

While I certainly agree with your assessment of Christian student organizations as a whole (which seem like the modern "social" youth groups found at many churches -- centered around social events, involvement and music), I have to believe that there are still other organizations that are just as committed to the work of the Lord as our group was. Our organization was extremely visible -- to the glory of God. No one really cared about our organization's name or involvement in the national group (although some did choose to attend some conferences). Rather, we focused upon provoking one another on this narrow path to Heaven -- inviting our neighbors to join us on the journey. As a result, we grew from a small ministry of 5-10 people to well over 100 (most of whom found Christ during our meetings on the campus and during our prayer meetings). Many of us still keep in touch via email. The best thing is that the majority of these have continued to walk with Christ long after graduation.

Why do so many 18-22 year olds walk away from the Lord when they move out on their own? I think that the culprit is not just the social gospel presented by the local youth groups. I don't think that it is simply the failure of campus student organizations and local churches. I think that many of the students, like you said, do not have a real or sound faith to begin with. And whose responsibility is it to introduce such a relationship?

Certainly the church is to blame for setting a bad example to youth through man-centered youth groups. Certainly, the same can be said about many campus student organizations. But ultimately, it boils down to the responsibility of parents. Have these youth been properly instructed in the ways of the Lord? Have they been prepared for their spiritual journey into the "real world?" Has the "whole counsel of God" been thoroughly presented to youth and young adults? Or has our instruction been diluted by an attitude to shelter children from evil or a desire to keep youth involved in the local Church (as a replacement for the inner desires for the world)?

This is an important thing to think about.

:-(

Hi NotMe...

The question is: do those young Christian boys and girls have to go to the modern college as a place to learn and grow? What do they usually go there for? Knowledge, status, recognition?

If I were a parent, I would never send my kids to college. They don't belong there as much as they don't belong in the pub house. They needn't go to college to see the world's system's vilest traits. They don't even need to go to college to learn the world's wisdom. Going to college will sure grant them some status and acceptance in the world. But this is all vanity. They don't belong there if they are Christian.

Every town needs skilled Engineers. People do not become licensed engineers by studying on their own. The same is true with nursing, doctors, pilots, etc... A degree is simply an opportunity that might not be afforded to a person without one.

Besides, most college CLASSES differ quite a bit from the "pub house." Most colleges have strict guidelines for conduct, and even enforce certain rules for study. Yes, there are some individuals who choose to engage in less than ideal extracurricular activities. But this is not the purpose of a college (and may, in fact, be a result of newfound "liberty" after moving away from home).

A truly responsible believer will not be "led astray" for learning skills at a University. While they may not agree with some of the things that are taught in regard to science or culture, they can still learn beneficial things (ask the great missionary Dr. David Livingstone) for ministry, work or profession. In fact, they can learn to rightly divide worldly wisdom from pure truth.

:-)

Instead of being equipped with the full armor of God, they leave church and their family entirely naked except for a WWJD wrist band.

Sad...but many times true.

We need to teach our children to be Christian soldiers, not just baby-sit them until they're old enough to leave the church.

Amen. Good post iansmith

While it's natural to critique the parents, the churches, and the college ministries, I think it's telling that we never quite hold the teens and twenty-somethings responsible for their own actions. Perhaps if they are reading this thread they'll happily agree with us...nothing they do is their fault. "We aren't carnal or anything...it's my youth pastor's fault. He believed in creationism and because I have so much intellectual integrity I could no longer be a Christian."

I was talking with someone yesterday, inquiring where a young twenty-something was who had been missing from church a few weeks. I was told the young person was mad at the church and had started drifting back into the hippie scene. I suggested that maybe we go and visit him. I was kindly rebuffed. "He just needs some time and to know we love him." The dad in me responded..."Huh, perhaps he just needs to grow up and stop blaming everyone else for his choices."

My comment might not have helped that young man, but to my son who was present, it was very instructional.

We need to stop acting like these kids are rational and innocent souls who came searching for truth but instead found only moral and intellectual disappointment with the hypocritical world of adults. That's just the ultimate expression of 'everyone owes me something' attitude that this generation is becoming famous for.

Our adult communities are failing these children for sure...failing to raise them into adults.

MC

The old blame game. You caused me to think this over again. Who is responsible...and for what? Who will be held accountable?

Thank you MC

Numbers 32:23
But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the Lord: and be sure your sin will find you out.

Much of this is simply reaping what one has sown.
When one looks at how these young adults have been trained it should surprise no one.

When they were babies they were tossed into the nursery, from there they went to children’s church, then teens, to young adults.
Why? Their parents cannot stand them, they were taught from the crib how to be selfish by the example of their ‘do not bother me’ parents.
Then by example they have learned how to shirk the responsibility of discipleship, while seeking to attain as many luxuries as the world has to offer.
To top it all off, they have been taught by the best in all the ways to run down the pastor and fellow members of their congregation.

What has happened to the children? The same thing that has happened to much of the so called church.
They are serving the ‘god of this world’.

In His Love
pastorfrin

Just a quick note...I wasn't dismissing the other perspectives, just wanting to make sure the kids themselves are among the lists of suspects.

My son told me a funny story that rather illustrates the responsibility of the adults in this equation. This week a teacher who had been instructing the class on the colonial period of America, absent-mindedly gave the class a pop quiz on the American Civil War.

That's kind of how it is in some circles of the church today. When the kids are young, they recieve narcisstic culturaly relevant instruction and all the while they get plenty of strokes for simply showing up to church. Then when they get out, the world tests them on the hard stuff...and they don't even recognize the material on the test.

Pastorfrin hit on something that I think can be rightfully seen as evil; there are adults who are inconvenienced by children in church to put it mildly. Children are seen to hinder the adult's sunday morning worship. And of course kids have disrespect for the adults.

I am fortunate, attending what is perhaps one of the last churches in America that doesn't segregate it's congregation according to age, worship styles, or other consumer driven demographics. We thankfully understand that the younger people need to see, watch, and learn from the older people, and to show respect for those who have studied and stood longer. Removing worldly self-serving divisions in the congregation is perhaps a small but crucial step to breaking the spell of modern American culture in our young people before they are teens.

Blessings dear saints. I am thankful none here have walked away from the Lord.

MC

I think it was Jesse Moriels Testimony of how he was sick of playing games and wanted to pray and read his bible and all they did is play games.
If you have grown up with computers, and games all your life nothing is new.
It is the power of God that changes peoples life, I know that if any young person really experienced the power of god I know that all the culturally relevant stuff will seem as nothing.

It is like if the Real God ever showed up to the queen or to the president whilst he was peforming the prayer in the senate or in the houses of parliment.
It is like mentioning the name of god but not actually knowing his character once they know him.
Everything will seem dull.