Dropping Out

A new study by an organization called LifeWay Research hit my desk recently. No, it's not about seniors but future seniors. Here are some of its findings. Seventy percent of 23 to 30 year-olds stopped attending Protestant churches. Then it gave reasons why: 26% said church members seemed hypocritical or judgmental; 25% moved away to go to school and stopped attending church; 20% didn't feel connected to people in their church. When these young people who had stopped going to church were asked if they had planned to do so when younger, 80% said no.

The good news is that about half of them eventually returned to the church, at least nominally. When those who did return were asked why, 39% said they were encouraged to do so by family [probably included some seniors] or friends; 28% said they felt God was urging them; 24% said they had children and felt the need to return; 21% said they had friends or acquaintances who encouraged them. Q. Was this a multiple-choice exam or essay?

Dropping out is hardly a new phenomenon. Nearly 40 years ago, I did a study of youth who had been through catechism (about 14-15 years of age). Taking a ten-year span, I tried to account for each one. This was quite a task and sent me on a few excursions, including some dead ends. The dropout rate was significant, even then. Some churches now actually hire staff to minister to post high school dropouts.

Dropouts do concern seniors especially if these youngsters are our grandchildren. Were we adults too judgmental? Did we make them feel disconnected? If so, how? Our senior moment could well occur if a youth drops out because of our hypocrisy or if they felt disconnected. Alas, this could occur at any age. I suppose there are surveys of why seniors as well no longer go to church.

Would this be significantly different? Probably not in many ways. Do seniors drop out because there are hypocrites in the pews? Because they have moved too far away and driving is a chore? Because of a feeling of isolation (like when a spouse is gone and the survivor no longer fits in)?

What is the church doing to remedy dropouts (of all ages)? Well, all kinds of stuff. We imitate our "soundbite" culture because our attention span is shrinking. We employ fast-moving, short, exciting (hopefully) services. We discard the old and bring in the new (choir and organ retreat, guitars and drums enter). We hire specialists for all ages. We remove pews and use flexible seating. We put words on big screens so no one gets carpal tunnel syndrome from holding a heavy hymnal. We lapel-mike the pastor so we don't need pulpits. We shuffle schedules so they don't conflict with sporting events or brunch. We trade suits for jeans. We go for size. Let's simply say, we've tried and we're tying.

But we've been doing this for a couple of generations now. Yet there still are dropouts. Let's ask again why people (of any age) quit going to church: No one misses us. We disagree with a few people or ideas. We can worship without the church. We need a day of rest. We don't fit in. Our faith needs a time-out. Sunday is the only day we are free. They only want our money. We're too tired after a tough week. We don't believe any more. Our theology has changed. We feel empty and expect more than we're getting. The world is too enticing. The church is out-of-date and out-of-tune ("It's boring"). It's too inelastic. And on and on the reasons and excuses go.

So, is it really true: Train up a child and when he is old he won't be a dropout? Ask Solomon.