Ways to keep the youth out of our Church

[Stan]

Be sure and let them know, by action, that the Holy Spirit needs your help to convict them of their sins.

Let them know, that if they do not like our music, they can either learn to like it or go elsewhere.

Question every motive, let them know you do not trust them, and they are sinners, we were that age once, and we understand sin well.

Remind them of everything.

(add your own tips)

[Neil D]

Be sure and let them know, by action, that the Holy Spirit needs your help to convict them of their sins.

Let them know, that if they do not like our music, they can either learn to like it or go elsewhere.

Question every motive, let them know you do not trust them, and they are sinners, we were that age once, and we understand sin well.

Remind them of everything.

(add your own tips)

You know the first lie...the one that says " You will be like God!"...Well, one of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit is the ability to convict of sin. And what we love that ability to convict of sin! Why, it is one of the favorite things that we do, where we tell people THE TRUTH in the face of thier interpretated realities..

Why, Stan, with all those kids listening to that Hip Hop stuff...well we just know that it is the devil's music....

And I have this bridge that I can sell, reall cheap....Capish?

[olger]

Our children are growing up in a different world than we did. They need us to be patient, and they need strong examples of godliness.

[Dr. Shane]

I think seeing hypocrisy in their parents causes a lot of the children to leave the church when they reach age. I think that is true in pretty much any denomination. Regardless if the parents are conservatives, moderates, liberals or fanatical, if they are not practicing their own convictions, if they are living out a compromised faith, their children are going to be less likely to stay with their parent's religion.

[olger]

All true Shane.

[Clio]

As long as the church is about religion instead of relationship they will leave in droves.

Only a REAL Relationship has staying power.

Anything else is empty forms based on Adventist "culture".

[Dr. Shane]

In my life, Religion = Relationship. So making a distinction between the two doesn't make sense to me. Unless, of course, we are taking about false religion, which is not about a relationship with the Creator.

Our church has the right message. If it didn't we wouldn't be the fastest growing Protestant denomination in the world. Something is wrong with us, in western societies, that we (not Adventists but westerners) are losing our children. That phenomenon is not happening to our Adventist brothers and sisters in the developing countries.

[Neil D]

If religion = relationship, and if our children are leaving in droves, then I understand why....If we educate our children to have better oppertunities, and they are doing abstract thinking, then a simple concrete religion will never be satisfying to abstract thinkers....

Until the religious thinkers come up to abstract thinking, NO ONE will want a religion of activity/behavior/do-don't....because that sort of thinking for an abstract thinker always ends with him comparing himself to others...and an abstact thinker will not want to be saying the prayer of the Pharasee..."Lord, I thank thee that I am not like ....this sinner."

But for you, which is a good thing for you, Shane, the religion=relationship thingy is appropriate....

[Amelia]

Well, we can always be shocking like this church...

Neighbors, others object to Brush Prairie church's 'sex' sign

http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/...hs-sex-sign.cfm

Quote:

Bishop started Living Hope in 1997 with 25 members. He says the congregation now has grown to about 5,000 people who attend multiple services each weekend.

His actions are part of a growing trend, said Scott Spiewack, CEO of Seattle-based Fresh Impact PR, a public relations firm that specializes in representing ministries.

Churches are trying to reach different cultures and communities while trying to remain relevant. They'll do that however they can, Spiewack said.

What Bishop is doing might be seen as extreme, but from a publicity standpoint, it's working, Spiewack said.

"It's drawing attention to his church, sometimes controversy sells," he added.

[Amelia]

I know of at least 2 churches in my area that hold game weekends for this.

'Halo' found on the stairway to heaven

Churches lure teens with popular and violent video game

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/14/MNDOSLJ1O.DTL&feed=rss.news

[Dr. Shane]

Quote:

Until the religious thinkers come up to abstract thinking, NO ONE will want a religion of activity/behavior/do-don't....

In my experience, the majority Adventists I have met and worked with are very much so abstract thinkers. (Of course I haven't traveled to the far east either) I think that makes the job of an Adventist pastor much harder than the clergy of other denominations. But our pastors do a good job, from what I have seen, of working within this culture of abstract thinkers.

The fact we live in such an affluent society has a lot to do with our children not feeling the need for religion. It is almost like we have done too good of a job of providing for them.